Alright, while it is my goal of mine to start sharing some of the sightings I have around the Portland area I promise I'm not going to send out an email every other day. But I just got back from introducing a few of my students (and members of our school-based birding club) to American Woodcocks and thought I would share. (I was probably as excited as the students were.)
-- We met at River Point Conservation area in Falmouth at 7p. The trails are closed currently but I had secured special permission prior to our visit, as I work with Falmouth students. While we waited for everyone to gather we were treated to three high flying Great Blue Herons. Once together we headed down to the fields just past the red barn. Along the way we flushed a Ruffed Grouse. A FOY for me and a fun treat for the Portland area.
Once at the fields we waited and got to see and hear American Robins, Eastern Phoebes, a small flock of Glossy Ibis flyover, a couple Wood Ducks and a few others. Around 7:20 while examining a rather interesting piece of--what I think was--fox scat we heard our first 'peent' of the evening. We listened to it 'peenting' for about 10 minutes before we saw a second bird fly right in front of us. After another five minutes we got to watch the first bird take off and do its display flight.
After watching it display a couple times we caught movement across the field and watched a Coyote cross the field and spend more than a few minutes checking us out before moving on with its evening. At one point it started to head down the trail toward us and one student started to hiss/growl at it. To no noticeable effect.
After the Coyote passed the second woodcock returned and the two birds went after each other in flight before taking off out of sight. Then a few moments later one of them returned and commenced its work. We proceeded to watch and enjoy its 'peenting' and displaying until around 8 at which point we headed back to the parking area.
As a teacher I know I'm biased, but I can't speak highly enough about the joys of helping to introduce young folks to birding and the natural world. With that in mind, I would like to give a plug for the Maine Young Birders Club run by Seth Davis and Marion Sprague. If you don't know about the club check them out https://www.maineyoungbirders.org/ and if you do consider directing a young person toward them or offering some financial support.
Be well and good birding
Nathan Hall
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