[Maine-birds] Northern Maine Birds: Iceland Gulls, Long-tailed Ducks, Snow Buntings, Evening Grosbeaks

Northern Maine is finally getting more seasonable weather after two bonus months of summer. 

Until recently, warm temperatures and regular southerly breezes seemed to have substantially stalled the movement of later fall migrants.  The makeup of local goose flocks has remained relatively unchanged since mid-October.  Only a couple Rough-legged Hawks have been reported.  Sparrow migration has been unimpressive and only in the past couple days have finch numbers seemed to tic upward.

The Aroostook Birders' field trip to Long Lake on Saturday turned up a few good sightings.  The Snow Goose flock (49) that arrived in St Agatha in mid October continues and a Red-breasted Merganser and a Long-tailed Duck were noteworthy this far inland.  A late Lesser Yellowlegs at St Agatha and not-so-late Wilson's Snipe in Sinclair were the only shorebirds seen.  Over fifty Bonaparte's Gulls seen in two flocks on the north end of the lake were unusually late and numerous.  A flock of late Cedar Waxwings stood in for the Bohemian Waxwings we usually find on this annual outing.  A low count of Common Loons was likewise noteworthy...  Typically ice up in shallower area lakes has begun by now.  This usually will concentrate these birds here a Long Lake but clearly this is not the case this year.

Collins Pond in Caribou continues to host nearly two thousand Canada Geese daily.  The flock of 12-15 Cackling Geese, first found in early October, also continues to return to the pond daily and were seen again this AM.  Also noteworthy is an apparent hybrid Canada Goose x Greater White-fronted Goose that has a white head and brown breast which continued to be seen from the 18th until late last week.

At least four lingering Northern Shovelers and over fifty Gadwall were observed today at Lake Josephine in Easton.  Three Long-tailed Ducks, several Bufflehead and 16 Lesser Scaup were also seen here.

The first Iceland Gulls of the season were spotted in a Caribou potato field on Saturday and the first big flock of Snow Buntings were seen on the Ouellette Cross Road in Cross Lake on the same day.

Evening Grosbeaks were reported at Madawaska, Frenchville and Woodland late last week and Pine Siskin and Purple Finch numbers are rapidly increasing in northern and central Aroostook but these have yet to be reported at feeders.

Good birding

Bill

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Bill Sheehan
Woodland, Aroostook Co., Maine
http://northernmainebirds.blogspot.com/

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