*****************************************
Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04032
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com
****************************************
*****************************************
Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04032
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com
****************************************
On Thursday, October 8, 2026, 11:47 AM, 'Christine Roberts' via Maine birds <maine-birds@googlegroups.com> wrote:
It’s our first winter arrival.
Kokadjo/Piscataquis.
Christine
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It’s our first winter arrival. Kokadjo/Piscataquis. Christine -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds https://sites.google.com/site/birding207 --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/1A784BE3-1100-4BF8-909F-FE7D49512262%40fairpoint.net.
On Oct 6, 2026, at 4:23 AM, maine-birds@googlegroups.com wrote:
- Merlin app issues - 1 Update
- Marsh Wren? - 1 Update
Boots. <bootsg@gmail.com>: Oct 05 09:30AM -0400
Hi all,
I use Merlin frequently for various projects.
It’s not my sole record keeping system but it contains a lot of recordings
and notes that I would be hard pressed to recreate.
This morning the app will not load *any* of my Sound ID Sessions. I’m using
most recent updates on both Merlin (4.2) and my iPhone (26.6.2). I’ve fully
closed the app and hard rebooted my phone. No luck.
Any help/suggestions or comments from others who have also encountered this
would be appreciated.
I left a message on Merlin help section in the app but don’t anticipate a
response.
*~Boots.*
*"Social media algorithms don't nurture human connection, they exploit it."*
—*Alec Watson*
Mike Chace-Ortiz <mchaceortiz@gmail.com>: Oct 05 08:34AM -0400
Good morning All
Heard this faint, very fast, trilling song next to a reed bed in Wells yesterday.
Merlin would not ID. I think it might be a March Wren.
Here’s a short recording <https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8eml3eqz0oxhopr2dj8c5/20261004-0730-Wells-ME.wav?rlkey=4ahkevkoqd5ryb978mkh6aptm&dl=0>. Can anyone confirm?
Cheers
—mco
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*****************************************
Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04032
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com
****************************************
*****************************************
Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04032
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com
****************************************
PLEASE NOTE - I WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE LOCATIONS OF MOST OR ALL OF THESE NESTS QUIET UNLESS THE CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT AND I ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO FINDS A NEST TO KEEP THE LOCATION SECRET. THE POPULARITY OF THESE BIRDS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS (AND BIRDERS WITH CAMERAS) IS A MESSY SITUATION WITH HOME OWNERS AND NEIGHBORS. The kites don't seem to care at all, but the people do. The population of Mississippi Kites in New Hampshire continues to dangle by a thread as the summer of 2026 produced ZERO new chicks and no new pairs were detected. The Kites first became famous by nesting in Newmarket in 2008 and this is (at least) the 19th consecutive year that kites (between 1 and 4 pairs) have nested in New Hampshire in this isolated, rare, nesting colony. DURHAM - Things started out wonderfully with the pair that successfully fledged a chick last year returning to their territory in Durham. First reported on May 17th, the birds decided to build a new nest about 100 yards from last year's nest. The nest was very similar to last year's; in the crotch of a tall white pine, very high up. Nest building was reported on May 23rd and incubation started on or about June 3rd. No evidence of young on July 9th, but hatching was presumably confirmed with an adult appearing to feed young on July 10th. Then things started going downhill and it's still a puzzle as to what might have happened!? Visits after the 10th failed to see any additional feedings and the female acted strangely; sometimes she appeared to be brooding over a chick and at other times standing on the edge of the nest, and even sitting on nest as if still incubating! The male was rarely seen. This odd behavior continued for 3 weeks (!) until July 31st when the female seemed to be at times still incubating! Both birds then departed the nest and disappeared soon after this. Hard to say what happened, but it seems clear the chick died early, but why did the female continue on the nest? Was she caring for a dead chick? Or did she discard a dead chick (as they will do) and then attempt to incubate a 2nd egg in the nest that never hatched. Mississippi Kites generally lay 2 eggs in their normal range, but in New Hampshire WE HAVE NEVER SEEN TWO CHICKS IN A NEST. Always just one. DOVER - Like the Durham pair, the Dover pair returned and everyone was optimistic!! They chose to nest in the exact same spot as last year in the top of a white pine, but the nest was difficult to see. The first report of a bird came with photos of a male on May 26th. By June 6th, two birds were confirmed with adults exchanging food away from the nest and on June 7th and 8th they were seen copulating. By June 14th incubation was under way, but it's not clear when it started. As of July 9th everything looked fine with the female at the nest still incubating. But then, like Durham, everything fell apart. There were no visitations from anyone to the nest territory between June 9th and June 17th, but on June 18th a single bird was seen flying in the area. A visit on July 20th, however, showed NO BIRDS AND NO NEST AT ALL! EVERYTHING WAS GONE! My best guess is that a strong storm blew down the nest sometime within the previous week or perhaps a predator climbed up the tree and took down the whole nest. OTHER PAIRS - This wasn't a good year for finding new pairs, but it's possible that there were two additional pairs in the general area and possibly a hidden nest....or two!? My guess is that there's a nest somewhere in Newmarket, but not sure where. Two birds were seen flying overhead there on June 2nd and additional single bird sightings were received on June 11 and June 13. In addition, it's still unclear if there might be a 2nd pair in Durham. Two birds were seen near the old nesting area on Madbury Road on June 1st! But aside from these isolated reports, no strong evidence of a territory or nesting behavior was observed. The best way to find nests is when they're feeding young, so any sightings of kites in July or August need to be followed up on! A summary of confirmed fledged Kites (and pairs of kites present) from recent years in NH: 2026 - 0 (2 pairs) 2025 - 2 (4 pairs) 2024 - 0 (3 pairs) 2023 - 1 (4 pairs) 2022 - 1 (4 or 5 pairs) 2021 - 1 (4 pairs) 2020 - 3 (3 pairs) Thanks to all who helped out this year and contributed to this information. Steve Mirick Bradford, MA -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds https://sites.google.com/site/birding207 --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/206856f6-db5a-42d8-87c6-20d0062d9a3e%40comcast.net.
Survey of birds encountered during UNH research trip aboard UNH R/V "Gulf Challenger". Boat did not stop or steer toward birds. Jane and I were invited guests on UNH boat that was performing ocean experiments offshore. The boat traveled east to the CO2 buoy just beyond the Isles of Shoals and collected water samples. It then continued east across Jeffrey's Ledge and just beyond to the "Wilkinson's Basin Water Sampling Spot" where it deployed the water sampler and collected net samples. It returned on the same route toward Portsmouth Harbor. We DID NOT SLOW DOWN, OR CHANGE COURSE TO SEE BIRDS. This was not a birding trip. Weather and seas - There was some some minor chop and waves in the morning, but it flattened out nicely offshore and for the rest of the trip. We could ride the bow for most of the outbound and all of the inbound. Partly to mostly cloudy. Time - 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Trip Summary ------------------- * There was an incredible mix of winter and summer pelagic birds with some real nice rarities making for a fantastic trip! * The great birds started before we even left the dock. As we were waiting for the boat to leave, a Forster's Tern (uncommon) and a Little Gull (rare) flew around the boat! * Offshore we were treated to incredible diversity with 13 species of pelagic birds including: * 6 species of shearwaters and petrels (including 2 LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS and and an early NORTHERN FULMAR) * 2 species of alcids including a young ATLANTIC PUFFIN! * Only 1 species of jaeger (Pomarine), but any jaeger is a nice one and we had lots. * 10 species of gulls (total including harbor) including 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Little Gull and TWO very rare pelagic SABINE'S GULLS! eBird checklists submitted and eBird trip list with documentation photos at this link: https://ebird.org/tripreport/572885 List from the Pier in New Castle -------------------------------------- Forster's Tern 1. With a small number of Common Terns. LITTLE GULL 1. Great views of a sub-adult Little Gull from the boat while we were still at the dock! With a few Bonaparte's Gulls. Bonaparte's Gulls - Several. Total list of birds offshore (east of Isles of Shoals) --------------------------------------------------------------- Common Eider 1 moving north by itself over Jeffrey's Ledge. Surf Scoter 1 migrating south offshore with WWSC. White-winged Scoter 1 migrating south offshore with SUSC. Red-necked Phalarope 3 Pomarine Jaeger 7. Lots of jaeger activity offshore. jaeger sp. 5. Most/all appeared to be Pomarines. What's happened to the Parasitics? ATLANTIC PUFFIN 1. Juvenile. A bit early. Razorbill 1. Juvenile. Black-legged Kittiwake 1. Juvenile. A bit early. SABINE'S GULL 2. Both juveniles far apart. My FIRST EVER for this boat and my first from a boat in New Hampshire waters! Laughing Gull 2 American Herring Gull 38 Great Black-backed Gull 21 Lesser Black-backed Gull 22. HIGH COUNT. Though increasing and great time of year for them offshore as they migrate from Greenland to Florida. The funny thing is that almost all of the gulls occur at the "Wilkinson's Basin" stop. When we stop the boat, there is ZERO birds, but when they hear the winch lowering equipment, the birds appear out of nowhere! gull sp. 30 Common Tern 2 Wilson's Storm-Petrel 169. HIGH COUNT for date. LEACH'S STORM-PETREL 2. Great views of at least 2 Leach's Storm-Petrels. Now 3 times in a row from this boat on this trip. storm-petrel sp. 1. Probably a Leach's NORTHERN FULMAR 1. Winter arrival. A bit early? Cory's Shearwater 65 Great Shearwater 14 Manx Shearwater 1 shearwater sp. 3 Northern Gannet 18 Marine Mammals ------------------------ ZERO! Fishes --------- Ocean Sunfish - 1 Blue Shark - 9! Lots of shark activity. All seemed to be consistent with this species. Steve and Jane Mirick Bradford, MA -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds https://sites.google.com/site/birding207 --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/5edeeff4-3036-4c77-a9ca-806a98d14723%40comcast.net.
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Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04032
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com
****************************************
Ben Griffith and I led an all day pelagic trip last Tuesday aboard the "Granite State" out of Rye Harbor, NH. The trip was organized by the Seacoast Chapter of NH Audubon. https://ebird.org/tripreport/569486 We started off by heading out to the Isles of Shoals where we did a quick tour of Square Rock, Lunging Island, and White and Seavey Islands. Here we located some specialty Island birds at this date including American Oystercatcher, Black Guillemot, and Great Cormorants. And once again, we spotted an adult Northern Gannet sitting on Square Rock. Funny how this always happens....never juveniles or sub-adults.....always adults. Generally Northern Gannets are rarely seen sitting on land. We then continued offshore to an area known as "Old Scantum" where there had been recent whale activity. We found the whales, but they were uncooperative, so we chased them around a bit while encountering numerous Wilson's Storm-Petrels and an occasional small flock of Red-necked Phalaropes. While chasing the whales north past Old Scantum to a point approximately 10 miles ESE of the Isles of Shoals we chanced upon the rarest bird of the day and possibly the rarest bird ever seen in NH! A CHILEAN SKUA! While we didn't know that it was a Chilean Skua at the time, we knew it was a Skua. It was extremely wary, but we continually pursued it for over 30 minutes. Unfortunately, we never got too close and the gray, cloudy skies didn't help, but we managed to get lots of photos. At this time we were uncertain whether it was the most likely South Polar Skua or the very rare Great Skua.....we didn't know there was a 3rd option!! We then resumed our planned route back south and east and found more Phalaropes (including Red!) as well as an occasional Cory's Shearwater. Manx Shearwaters were a bit more wary, but we managed some decent views. The most common shearwater is generally Great Shearwater, but we managed only a single flyby down the side of the boat. We worked over Jeffrey's Ledge and even off the eastern edge of Jeffrey's, but it was rather quiet out there so we turned back. Heading back in we ran into an incredible pod of roughly 50 Common Bottlenose Dolphins! This species is different (larger and more pelagic) from the typical bottlenose dolphin now known as Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin and found south along the coastal beaches to Florida. The pod gave an incredible show as they rode the wakes and jumped high out of the water several times. As we headed in, someone spotted a jaeger on the water and as we turned to try to relocate it, it flew and Ben quickly announced LONG-TAILED JAEGER! Sadly, it just kept flying and flying.....but Captain Pete continued the pursuit and we finally caught up to it! A beautiful juvenile Long-tailed Jaeger! Finally, we were running late and turned and cruised home.....but there was more excitement! As we passed through the area of the previous skua sightings, we relocated the Skua! This time we had very brief views, but VERY CLOSE views and in great lighting. It passed by the side of the boat and continued out of sight. But not before a few people got the best photos of the day of this bird. These photos showed some semblance of a Great Skua so we excitedly announced that it was a Great Skua! But when we got home, it was apparent something was wrong! The first thing I said to Jane when I uploaded the photos onto my computer was: "Jane, look at the strange color of this Skua!" Then Sam Zhang, who wasn't even on the boat started texting me. And then Ben texted me. It soon became apparent that this bird looked like a CHILEAN SKUA! The Chilean Skua is a species that breeds off the southern coast of Argentina and Chile, with wandering birds found as far north as Peru (one report in Ecuador) and Brazil. They are not known for long migrations like the South Polar Skua. THERE ARE NO RECORDS FOR NORTH AMERICA AND POSSIBLY NO RECORDS FOR THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE FOR CHILEAN SKUA! Ben Griffith has been working very hard on researching Chilean Skua and seeking opinions of Skua experts from around the world. Thus far, I don't know of anyone that has any doubt that this bird is within the range of variation of pure Chilean Skua and all have ruled out the possibility that this is any other species. The Chilean Skua is actually the most distinctive of all of the Skuas! The only "fly in the ointment" is that this species is not known for long migrations and the unlikeliness of this occurrence is generating some "what-if" scenarios. There is a HYPOTHETICAL possibility that this is a hybrid South Polar X Chilean Skua which expresses itself phenotypically as a pure Chilean Skua but adopts the DNA from a South Polar Skua which tells it to head north! For lots of photos and a bit more discussion of the Chilean Skua, see this checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S391300574 Thanks to Holly Bauer for organizing this trip through the Seacoast Chapter and to Captain Pete Reynolds and crew for helping to spot whales and birds! 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM Cloudy with brisk NW winds in the morning, clearing in the afternoon with winds dying down. Seas 1 to 3 feet. Map of Trip ---------------- https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevemirick/55522780243/in/photostream/lightbox/ Birds ----------- Common Eider 86 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 migrating between Rye harbor and Isles of Shoals American Oystercatcher 3 all on Lunging. Black-bellied Plover 2 Semipalmated Plover 2 Hudsonian Whimbrel 1 on Seavey Island RED PHALAROPE 3 mixed in with Red-necked Phalaropes. Red-necked Phalarope 119 scattered in mats of Rockweed offshore. Ruddy Turnstone 3 on Lunging Island Sanderling 23 Semipalmated Sandpiper 8 LONG-TAILED JAEGER 1 juvenile which we chased and caught! POMARINE JAEGER 1 adult/subadult which flew by and disappeared. CHILIAN SKUA 1. Bird of the day! Year! Life! Black Guillemot 2 at Isles of Shoals Bonaparte's Gull 2 Laughing Gull 5 Ring-billed Gull 5 American Herring Gull 69 Great Black-backed Gull 202 Lesser Black-backed Gull 11. Mix of adults and juveniles offshore. Common Tern 8 Wilson's Storm-Petrel 351. Scattered throughout the trip. CORY'S SHEARWATER 36 GREAT SHEARWATER 1 brief flyby of only one for the day. MANX SHEARWATER 6. Scarce in recent years. Nice to see a few even if tough to approach. shearwater sp. 2 Northern Gannet 3. One adult SITTING on Square Rock. Great Cormorant 7. Most around Isles of Shoals, but one flyby of adult offshore. Double-crested Cormorant 184 Bald Eagle 1. Adult in Rye harbor. Belted Kingfisher 1 in Rye harbor. Merlin 1 on White Island Peregrine Falcon 1 on White Island. Tree Swallow 4 in Rye harbor. Barn Swallow 1 in Rye harbor. Cedar Waxwing 14. Flock of 10 and flock of 4 far offshore! passerine sp. 1 Marine Life ------------------ Humpback Whale - 6. Repeated sightings and some nice fluke shows, but generally not cooperative. One named "Chromosome". Minke Whale - 1 COMMON BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN - 50. Spectacular performance! Riding the bow and stern wakes and swimming under the bow. Numerous full body breaches. Extended long views, photos, and videos! Mola Mola (Ocean sunfish) - Several Blue Shark - 3+ with one large individual Steve Mirick & Ben Griffith Leaders -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds https://sites.google.com/site/birding207 --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/1c93810f-b254-4fb5-953d-13bcdfd4843c%40comcast.net.
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Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04032
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com
****************************************
I’ve seen a relatively tame Merlin for three years now, who hunts around The Maine Mall. Rolled up to work yesterday at 8am and there he is in his favorite tree. Cheers —mco > On Sep 4, 2026, at 10:17, Jay Pitocchelli <jpitocch@gmail.com> wrote: > > Merlin flyover and heading south, Basin Cove, Harpswell, ME 9/3/26 > > Dr. Jay Pitocchelli, Professor Emeritus > Biology Department > Saint Anselm College > Manchester, NH 03102 > > Blog: http://mourningwarbler.blogspot.com/ > > -- > Maine birds mailing list > maine-birds@googlegroups.com > http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds > https://sites.google.com/site/birding207 > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com <mailto:maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com>. > To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/379e1c4b-5e5e-4efb-b083-3deed5eb871cn%40googlegroups.com <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/379e1c4b-5e5e-4efb-b083-3deed5eb871cn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds https://sites.google.com/site/birding207 --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/AF9CC2F9-E57C-4822-B0DA-B09CD3A4F742%40gmail.com.
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Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04032
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com
****************************************
Two Oyster Catchers and an Eagle at Obeds rock H. Donovan Sent from my iPad -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds https://sites.google.com/site/birding207 --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/61DB1902-BAB5-48C6-A05A-CC9165B32E0D%40aol.com.
2 Great Egrets along the shoreline (8/23/26), Pectoral Sandpiper in the pond above the north end of the cove (8/23/26), Basin Cove, Harpswell, ME
Dr. Jay Pitocchelli, Professor Emeritus
Biology Department
Saint Anselm College
Manchester, NH 03102
Blog: http://mourningwarbler.blogspot.com/
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Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04032
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com
****************************************
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Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04032
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com
****************************************
*****************************************
Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04032
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com
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