Tuesday, 27 October 2020

Re: [Maine-birds] Selasphorous Hummingbird (probable Rufous), Yarmouth, 10/26

Many thanks to Derek and the Billmeiers for getting information about this bird out and allowing people to try seeing it. To help with sharing the access information I created a stakeout hotspot in eBird that includes a tinyurl to Derek's instructions. With so many people using the eBird app to create checklists from the field, I know people will find it difficult or be delayed in having these instructions in each list, but hopefully if everyone uses this hotspot that will keep the rules attached to each report.

The stakeout hotspot is called: stakeout Rufous Hummingbird (2020) Access: tinyurl.com/2020ruhu
This should also make finding updates on sighting easier by accessing recent sighting here (but I encourage the more timely reporting method of using this listserv): https://ebird.org/hotspot/L12605016

And you've probably noticed I named the hotspot "Rufous Hummingbird" because Louis Bevier shared a spread-tail photo that appears to show a slight notch in r2, a broad white tip to r3, and r5 looks relatively wide, which on an immature male is good for Rufous over Allen's.

Hope this helps!

Good birding,


Doug Hitchcox
Maine Bird Atlas - Outreach Coordinator
Maine Audubon - Staff Naturalist
207-781-2330 x237
dhitchcox@maineaudubon.org

> On Oct 26, 2020, at 8:04 PM, 'Derek Lovitch' via Maine birds <maine-birds@googlegroups.com> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> An immature male Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird is coming to a feeder in Yarmouth and the homeowners, Randy and Nancy Billmeier are graciously welcoming visitors.
>
> It has been present since the 17th or 18th, but just came to our attention today, thanks to our annual call for late hummingbird reports in our store's newsletter. Jeannette and I observed and photographed it as he visited the feeder and the last hosta blossoms in the side yard and (a purple flower out front that I do not know the name of) in the front yard. He came three times between 4:30 and 5:00pm this evening, in a cool light rain and a temperature of 43F!
>
> I believe the extent of rufous on the back (appears to be coming in in places where rufous is not present on Allen's)might be enough to confirm this as a Rufous Hummingbird, but we were unable to observe or photograph the spread tail. Perfect photographs of a spread tail should be enough to confirm that this is not an Allen's Hummingbird (yes, that is a challenge!), which I believe is overdue in Maine.
>
> Assuming it makes it through another chilly night and doesn't depart at first light, this is the first chaseable Selasphorous in Maine in quite some time, so we are very thankful to have been given permission to share this. Please, please, follow the instructions carefully and tread very lightly in this lovely, quiet neighborhood. As usual, we need to be on our best behavior as a birding community to not overstay our welcome and not make the gracious homeowners in any way regret their hospitality.
>
> The bird is at 97 Ledgewood Drive in Yarmouth. Ledgewood is a lightly traveled neighborhood road, but it is rather narrow. Please park along one side of the road only (the homeowner's side/odd numbers) so as not to block traffic. Please be sure not to block any driveways, and avoid turning around in driveways whenever possible. We saw numerous young children out on bikes despite the weather, so please drive very slowly and carefully.
>
> Once at the house, walk to the white picket fence on the RIGHT side of the house. The small hummingbird feeder is on the backside of the bay window. The best line for observations and photographs is several feet to the right of the gate.
>
> Under no circumstances should anyone enter the yard, neighboring yard, or walk in, through, or on any garden beds.
>
> Please include the above instructions in EVERY eBird or any other post...We cannot let people show up with only a GPS location or address and assume they'll figure out where to see the feeder or where not to be a bother.
>
> Ellen Blanchard, the host of the Golden-crowned Sparrow was in the store today and raved about the best behavior of the birders who were fortunate enough to visit. Let's make sure the Billmeiers and their neighbors have only good things to say about the birding community here, too.
>
> Jeannette's photos from this evening can be seen here:
> http://www.facebook.com/198877036808925/posts/3891399680889957/?extid=0&d=n
>
> Happy twitching,
> Derek and Jeannette
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
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Read More :- "Re: [Maine-birds] Selasphorous Hummingbird (probable Rufous), Yarmouth, 10/26"

[Maine-birds] American Pipits, Farmington

Greetings, birding friends! The turn of the year is well along now in the western mountains. We had our first "frozen precipitation" event on Saturday night. Hearing Pine Siskins regularly and encountered my first Common Redpolls :-D on Saturday. This morning in farm fields along the Sandy River in Farmington, Tashi flushed a skittish flock of 12 American Pipits. Also down that way were Savannah, White-crowned, Song, Chipping and White-throated Sparrows plus Dark-eyed Juncos, Yellow-rumped Warblers (already on the wane) a female Common Merganser, and tracks and other sign of American River Otter. A beautiful morning for sure.

Peace & good birding,

Scott Cronenweth
Industry, ME
scottcronenweth@icloud.com




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Read More :- "[Maine-birds] American Pipits, Farmington"

[Maine-birds] Webber pond, Bremen

October is wood duck month here--with as many as 12 wood ducks foraging for acorns in my yard near the pond at the beginning of the month and more recently over 24 diving for acorns along the shoreline. Also had a hooded merganser pair along the shore yesterday, and to my surprise two loons were in the middle of the pond calling--(think it may have been this summer's young loon and one adult)--
the geese are still around--grackles have been sweeping through, and robins are on the apples and crabapples--
red bellied woodpecker on the suet--
cardinals around more often and an occasional purple finch
-- crow numbers have gone from 5 to 7 regulars--with squirrels chasing them yesterday--
today the crows actually managed to get onto the platform feeder and reach down for the suet--

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Read More :- "[Maine-birds] Webber pond, Bremen"

[Maine-birds] Pine Siskins South Portland

At least 65 around my feeders this morning.
Had been averaging only 25 at a time for last several days.
Spotted a Redbreasted Nuthatch again yesterday.  Thrid sighting this year.
3 Juncos and several White-throated Sparrows  around most of the time along with my usual feeder birds.
M




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Read More :- "[Maine-birds] Pine Siskins South Portland"

Re: [Maine-birds] Selasphorous Hummingbird (probable Rufous), Yarmouth, 10/26

It is still present at the same location this morning at 8-9:20.
Tod

On Mon, Oct 26, 2020, 8:04 PM 'Derek Lovitch' via Maine birds <maine-birds@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Hi all,

An immature male Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird is coming to a feeder in Yarmouth and the homeowners, Randy and Nancy Billmeier are graciously welcoming visitors.

It has been present since the 17th or 18th, but just came to our attention today, thanks to our annual call for late hummingbird reports in our store's newsletter. Jeannette and I observed and photographed it as he visited the feeder and the last hosta blossoms in the side yard and (a purple flower out front that I do not know the name of) in the front yard. He came three times between 4:30 and 5:00pm this evening, in a cool light rain and a temperature of 43F!

I believe the extent of rufous on the back (appears to be coming in in places where rufous is not present on Allen's)might be enough to confirm this as a Rufous Hummingbird, but we were unable to observe or photograph the spread tail. Perfect photographs of a spread tail should be enough to confirm that this is not an Allen's Hummingbird (yes, that is a challenge!), which I believe is overdue in Maine.

Assuming it makes it through another chilly night and doesn't depart at first light, this is the first chaseable Selasphorous in Maine in quite some time, so we are very thankful to have been given permission to share this. Please, please, follow the instructions carefully and tread very lightly in this lovely, quiet neighborhood. As usual, we need to be on our best behavior as a birding community to not overstay our welcome and not make the gracious homeowners in any way regret their hospitality.

The bird is at 97 Ledgewood Drive in Yarmouth. Ledgewood is a lightly traveled neighborhood road, but it is rather narrow. Please park along one side of the road only (the homeowner's side/odd numbers) so as not to block traffic. Please be sure not to block any driveways, and avoid turning around in driveways whenever possible. We saw numerous young children out on bikes despite the weather, so please drive very slowly and carefully.

Once at the house, walk to the white picket fence on the RIGHT side of the house. The small hummingbird feeder is on the backside of the bay window. The best line for observations and photographs is several feet to the right of the gate.

Under no circumstances should anyone enter the yard, neighboring yard, or walk in, through, or on any garden beds.

Please include the above instructions in EVERY eBird or any other post...We cannot let people show up with only a GPS location or address and assume they'll figure out where to see the feeder or where not to be a bother.

Ellen Blanchard, the host of the Golden-crowned Sparrow was in the store today and raved about the best behavior of the birders who were fortunate enough to visit. Let's make sure the Billmeiers and their neighbors have only good things to say about the birding community here, too.

Jeannette's photos from this evening can be seen here:
http://www.facebook.com/198877036808925/posts/3891399680889957/?extid=0&d=n

Happy twitching,
Derek and Jeannette

Sent from my iPhone

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Read More :- "Re: [Maine-birds] Selasphorous Hummingbird (probable Rufous), Yarmouth, 10/26"

[Maine-birds] I have finally seen migrating American Crows

As many of you know, I have spent many a sunset period watching crows come into the Lawrence MA winter crow roost (some of you have even been to see it with me) but, until Sunday I had not seen massive numbers of migrating crows..

 

NEW HAMPSHIRE - October 25th, from the Woodmont Farm parking lot in Hollis NH where I was sitting while Bob, my husband,  unsuccessfully was searching for Susan Wrisley's rare Longspur, I finally witnessed crows migrating. Over a thousand crows from 9 - 11 am they came up low from low from the NE, crossed Rt. 122 and then went up over the hill of Woodmont Farms to the SW and out of sight.  There was a steady stream of them with periodic pods of 40 or so.  A few landed in the apple trees but most just flowed over. A few flocks swirled. According to the Birds of North America, they often spend the night in existing roosts on their way north or south.

 

MASSACHUSETTS - Wayne Petersen of Mass Audubon just alerted me that the hawk watch at Mt. Wachusett MA had 1,200 American Crows pass by.  The same crows????? Oh, how much more I would like to know.

 

MAINE -  Allan from near Waterville, Maine reported thousands of crows at Exit 130 off of Rt. 95 in Waterville on October 20th.    

 

My posting on NHBirds prompted All Maley to email me this today:

 

ONTARIO CANADA -  Here's a comment from Holiday Beach on the north shore of Lake Erie in Ontario:

 American Crows were abundant today with 7,230 individuals migrating over.

They have a knack for finding the perfect time to fly; at the same time as

masses of Turkey Vultures. Makes for good clicker fun!

They normally record over a hundred thousand crows here each fall 

 

Please let me know if you see more migrating crows.

Thanks,

Dana Duxbury-Fox

North Andover, MA

 

Read More :- "[Maine-birds] I have finally seen migrating American Crows"

Fwd: [Maine-birds] Selasphorous Hummingbird (probable Rufous), Yarmouth, 10/26 - YES, 10/27

Randy Billmeier reports the hummer made his first appearance around 7:30 this am. Please see visitation instructions below.

And let's get some tail photos!

-Derek

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: 'Derek Lovitch' via Maine birds <maine-birds@googlegroups.com>
Date: October 26, 2020 at 8:04:41 PM EDT
To: Maine-birds <maine-birds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Maine-birds] Selasphorous Hummingbird (probable Rufous), Yarmouth, 10/26
Reply-To: Derek Lovitch <freeportwildbird@yahoo.com>


Hi all,

An immature male Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird is coming to a feeder in Yarmouth and the homeowners, Randy and Nancy Billmeier are graciously welcoming visitors.

It has been present since the 17th or 18th, but just came to our attention today, thanks to our annual call for late hummingbird reports in our store's newsletter. Jeannette and I observed and photographed it as he visited the feeder and the last hosta blossoms in the side yard and (a purple flower out front that I do not know the name of) in the front yard. He came three times between 4:30 and 5:00pm this evening, in a cool light rain and a temperature of 43F!

I believe the extent of rufous on the back (appears to be coming in in places where rufous is not present on Allen's)might be enough to confirm this as a Rufous Hummingbird, but we were unable to observe or photograph the spread tail. Perfect photographs of a spread tail should be enough to confirm that this is not an Allen's Hummingbird (yes, that is a challenge!), which I believe is overdue in Maine.

Assuming it makes it through another chilly night and doesn't depart at first light, this is the first chaseable Selasphorous in Maine in quite some time, so we are very thankful to have been given permission to share this. Please, please, follow the instructions carefully and tread very lightly in this lovely, quiet neighborhood. As usual, we need to be on our best behavior as a birding community to not overstay our welcome and not make the gracious homeowners in any way regret their hospitality.

The bird is at 97 Ledgewood Drive in Yarmouth. Ledgewood is a lightly traveled neighborhood road, but it is rather narrow. Please park along one side of the road only (the homeowner's side/odd numbers) so as not to block traffic. Please be sure not to block any driveways, and avoid turning around in driveways whenever possible. We saw numerous young children out on bikes despite the weather, so please drive very slowly and carefully.

Once at the house, walk to the white picket fence on the RIGHT side of the house. The small hummingbird feeder is on the backside of the bay window. The best line for observations and photographs is several feet to the right of the gate.

Under no circumstances should anyone enter the yard, neighboring yard, or walk in, through, or on any garden beds.

Please include the above instructions in EVERY eBird or any other post...We cannot let people show up with only a GPS location or address and assume they'll figure out where to see the feeder or where not to be a bother.

Ellen Blanchard, the host of the Golden-crowned Sparrow was in the store today and raved about the best behavior of the birders who were fortunate enough to visit. Let's make sure the Billmeiers and their neighbors have only good things to say about the birding community here, too.

Jeannette's photos from this evening can be seen here:
http://www.facebook.com/198877036808925/posts/3891399680889957/?extid=0&d=n

Happy twitching,
Derek and Jeannette

Sent from my iPhone

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Read More :- "Fwd: [Maine-birds] Selasphorous Hummingbird (probable Rufous), Yarmouth, 10/26 - YES, 10/27"