[Maine-birds] Prothonotary on 10/8 and Yellow-rump Coastal Fallouts

Others have reported on re-finding the Prothonotary Warbler in Kennebunkport on 10/8.  Congrats to those who found this bird!  I was able to get 2 very brief views of the bird at about 8:30 AM on Monday.  It was a new species for my Maine statelist.

 

But then while waiting another hour in vain for better views of this elusive bird, I spent more time looking at the other birds in the area - which were principally Yellow-rumps.  Not only were there almost constantly 5-10 Yellow-rumps in the immediate vicinity, but then every few minutes another group of 5 or more Yellow-rumps would fly through the thickets and head inland.  I didn't count them, but included a very conservative total of 70 in my eBird checklist.  I also had a Blackpoll in the group.  If I had focused on the Yellow-rumps instead of the Prothonotary who knows what the actual total might have been.  (Though I likely wouldn't have seen the Prothonotary.)

 

With the help of the advice of a couple birders standing with me at Fishers Lane, I next headed to Timber Point to try my luck with migrants there.  The fallout of Yellow-rumps continued here as well.  I did my best to make an exact count which was 176 in the 90 minutes I was there.  I tried not to double-count any birds, but it was impossible to tell for sure since they were always coming and going, often with 5-10 in view anywhere there were shrubs and edges.  I also picked up a late Redstart, and two cooperative Swainson's Thrushes.

 

Then off to Biddeford Pool and the South Point thickets.  20 more Yellow-rumps here plus a most cooperative Gray-cheeked Thrush.

 

Last stop was at the Nubble Thickets in Ogunquit - but I didn't have a single warbler!  And the only migrants were one White-throat and one Junco.  Highlight was a Green-winged Teal out on the ocean in a large flock of Common Eiders.  Go figure.

 

 

Mike Resch

www.statebirding.blogspot.com

Pepperell, MA

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