From: "Linda Woodard" <lwoodard@MAINEAUDUBON.ORG> To: <BIRDEAST@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU> Subject: [BIRDEAST] Maine Bird Alert 3/27/01 Date: Thursday, March 29, 2001 6:01 AM
Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert
Date: March 27, 2001
Area: State of Maine
Number: (207) 781-2332
Compilers: Steve Pollock and Kay Gammons
Transcriber: Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)
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The NORTHERN HAWK OWL is still on the corner in Sidney. This week saw first arrivals of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, SNOWY EGRET, SNOW GEESE, and AMERICAN WOODCOCK. FOX SPARROWS were sparingly reported. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES were occasional into the northern and eastern part of the state. Waterfowl were confined to the open marshes along the southwestern coast, where CANADA GEESE were the most abundant species reported. HORNED LARKS were also seen in the coastal marshes.
York County
A TURKEY VULTURE and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK were in York. At the Nubble Light there were: 8 HARLEQUIN DUCKS, 3 RED-NECKED GREBES, showing change to breeding plumage.
On Ogunquit beach there was an AMERICAN PIPIT checking the seaweed.
At Wells harbor two GREAT BLUE HERONS were standing around a salt panne. In Wells there was a FOX SPARROW. On Drake's Island Beach in Wells near low tide, there were six PIPING PLOVERS feeding together at the tide line. Off Drake's Island Road there was a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS. At Wells Beach there were 3 GREAT CORMORANTS and 1 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen cruising north across the Webhannet marsh. On Laudholm Beach there were 4 PIPING PLOVER feeding on the wet sand. A NORTHERN HARRIER and 15 BRANT were sighted elsewhere in Wells. A TURKEY VULTURE was seen near Turnpike Exit 2.
A FOX SPARROW was in Arundel.
AMERICAN WOODCOCK arrived in Kennebunk. At Goose Rocks Beach this week there were PIPING PLOVERS, HORNED LARKS, HOODED MERGANSERS, and a GREAT BLUE HERON. The EASTERN TOWHEE reported at a feeder has successfully wintered over.
At Eastern Point at Biddeford Pool there were 2 THICK-BILLED MURRES. At Hills Beach there were 5 BRANT close in by the rocks in the outer channel. Also far out in the outer channel was a KING EIDER. Elsewhere at the Pool there was a DOVEKIE, 25 BRANT, 1 PIPING PLOVER, 1 FOX SPARROW, 45 HORNED LARKS, 2 HARLEQUIN DUCKS, and a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT.
Between Laurel Hill Cemetery and the Saco Yacht Club in Saco there were 20 GREATER SCAUP, 2 AMERICAN WIGEON, 2 HOODED and 3 COMMON MERGANSERS, KILLDEER, and a GLAUCOUS GULL. Along Water Street in Saco, below the dam there were 12 RING-NECKED DUCKS. Along the Ferry Road in Saco there was an early EASTERN TOWHEE along with 2 FOX SPARROWS and a PURPLE FINCH. Two pair of AMERICAN WOODCOCK were along the Boom Road in Saco.
Scarborough Marsh Area
At Scarborough marsh there were 51 SNOW GEESE near the Maine Audubon Nature Center this afternoon. Additional birds at the marsh this past week included, at various times: 2 adult BALD EAGLES, 2 HOODED MERGANSERS, 7 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 4 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 1 KILLDEER, and 2 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS near the Nature Center. The first SNOWY EGRET arrived at Dunstan Landing on Sunday the 25th. Other birds at Dunstan's Landing included 20 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 2 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 30 HORNED LARKS, SNOW BUNTINGS, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, and NORTHERN PINTAILS. KILLDEER were both at Dunstan Landing and behind the Pelreco building on the Pine Point Road. On Higgins beach there were 2 flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS.
Greater Portland and western Maine
The following birds were seen at Two Lights State Park in Cape Elizabeth, along the Shore edge trail: 2 BLACK GUILLEMONTS, 2 THICK-BILLED MURRES, and 2 HARLEQUIN DUCKS. On the Strawberry fields in Cape Elizabeth there were 35 HORNED LARKS. Two FOX SPARROWS were seen elsewhere in Cape Elizabeth.
At Willard Beach in South Portland there was an ICELAND GULL and 60 BRANT.
An AMERICAN KESTREL was near the jetport in Portland.
Observed in Westbrook was a KILDEER and 2 TURKEY VULTURES just off Eisenhower Drive. At the corner of Eisenhower and Saco Street, a MERLIN just missed taking a junco.
A SNOW GOOSE and 2 AMERICAN WOODCOCK were at Maine Audubon's Gilsland Farm Sanctuary in Falmouth.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was on Scott Drive in Gorham, and on route 237 in Gorham there was an AMERICAN KESTREL.
In Cumberland there were 2 TURKEY VULTURES.
Good birds in Wilton included: 1 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, 1 COOPERS HAWK, 1 KILDEER, 15 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, 15 COMMON GRACKLES, 1 TURKEY VULTURE, 1 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, 25 PURPLE FINCHES, 30 PINE SISKINS, 1 NORTHERN FLICKER, 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE, 3 TREE SPARROWS, and 3 COMMON MERGANSERS.
Midcoast
In Phippsburg this week there were 2 FOX SPARROWS, 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS, 1 BALD EAGLE, 1 TURKEY VULTURE and 6 PURPLE FINCHES.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was at Reid State Park in Georgetown.
A GLAUCOUS GULL was at the Stinson factory in Bath.
A COOPER'S HAWK was at Lincolnville Center.
Birds at Maine Audubon's Hog Island Sanctuary in Bremen included RAZORBILL, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, and 3 BALD EAGLES.
Five PINE SISKINS and a FOX SPARROW were seen on Westport Island.
Eastern Maine
The first neighborhood AMERICAN WOODCOCK of the year appeared on (3/21) at Machiasport on Holmes Bay. Two were conducting aerial displays and another three or four were peenting.
At Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge there were RED CROSSBILLS, EVENING GROSBEAKS, AMERICAN WOODCOCKS, and a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL.
Central Maine
Thirteen TURKEY VULTURES were found in Lewiston.
A pair of AMERICAN KESTRELS, 3 EVENING GROSBEAKS and 6 CANADA GEESE were seen in Turner.
A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was found in Lisbon Falls.
An AMERICAN WOODCOCK and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK were seen in Richmond.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was found in Gardiner, and 30 HOODED MERGANSER also in Gardiner on Cobbosseconte Stream at the foot of West Street.
In Augusta this week there was a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, PURPLE FINCH, and PINE SISKINS.
Eight EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen in Dixmont.
In the Bangor area there were RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, COMMON GRACKLES, and RED-TAILED HAWK. There were 10 HOODED MERGANSERS and 1 GLAUCOUS GULL in the Penobscot River near the middle bridge in Bangor. A first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL was on the Penobscot River in Bangor. In the Penobscot River between Veterans' and Chamberlain Bridges the list included 8 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 1 LESSER SCAUP, 2 HOODED MERGANSERS, 21 COMMON MERGANSERS, 1 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, 2 TURKEY VULTURES, 1 ICELAND GULL, 1 GLAUCOUS GULL, and AMERICAN ROBINS in small numbers throughout the area.
In very little open water in Orrington Marsh 12 HOODED MERGANSERS, 1 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, 5 BLACK DUCKS, and 1 RING-NECKED DUCK. Later in the week there were 19 HOODED MERGANSERS in Orrington Marsh near the Fields Pond Nature Center. Two SNOW BUNTINGS on Long Hill Rd. in Orrington
Northern Maine
In Houlton this week there were 200 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, SNOW BUNTINGS, and HOODED MERGANSERS.
Good birds in Fort Kent this week included: PINE SISKINS, SNOW BUNTINGS, PURPLE FINCHES, and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS.
A COMMON GRACKLE arrived in Estcourt.
Maine Audubon's Wildlife Conference Supported by the Joanne Roberts Van Sambeek Memorial Fund
Maine Audubon is pleased to present the organization's annual Wildlife Conference on April 7, 10 am - 4 pm, at Gilsland Farm Environmental Center, 20 Gilsland Farm Road.
The conference offers a special opportunity to learn about the current research on New England's wildlife and conservation issues as biologists from across the region present summaries of their field projects. This program is intended for anyone with an interest in wildlife and will provide an excellent overview of current research. Cost (includes lunch) is $10/student, $15/Maine Audubon member or volunteer, $20/nonmember.
A list of speakers and subjects include:
Tom Hodgman Dr. Diane Cowan
Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife The Lobster Conservancy
Louisiana Waterthrush: status and distribution in Maine Trends in lobster populations in Maine
Gerry and Joyce Longcore Dr. Rebecca Holberton
University of Maine, USGS University of Maine
Kitrid fungus affecting amphibians in Maine Endocrinology and its effects on bird migration
Dr. Philip deMaynadier Bill Townsend
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Guillemot: Newsletter of the Sorrent
Keeping track of winged jewels: Scientific Society
The Maine dragonfly and damselfly survey Christmas bird count trends in Maine
Dr. James Gilbert Christopher Hoving
University of Maine Graduate Student, U. of Maine,
Using radio telemetry to monitor migrating Historical Occurrence & Habitat Ecology of
seal populations Canada Lynx in Eastern North America
Norman Smith
Blue Hills Trailside Museum, MA Audubon
Snowy owls studies in Mass.
For more information or to register, call Maine Audubon at 207-781-2330 x 237.
Snow Geese of the St. Lawrence, April 26-29, 2001
Leaders: Dick Anderson, Linda Woodard
Join us on this early spring outing to see phenomenal numbers of snow geese preparing for the last leg of their long migration northward. This year we include a visit to Lac Saint-Pierre, a hotspot for snow goose migration along the Saint Lawrence River where we are likely to see thousands of pintails, ruddy ducks, shovelers and several other species of waterfowl migrating north. We'll spend the next two nights in the historic city of Québec with ample time to explore its charms, and visit Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, an annual stopover point for nearly a million snow geese. Maine Audubon members: $395, Nonmembers: $425, ncludes: leadership, entrance fees, transportation, accommodations (based on double occupancy).
For more information or to register, call Maine Audubon at 207-781-2330 ext 209
Linda Woodard Maine Audubon Society 20 Gilsland Farm Rd Falmouth, Maine 04105 lwoodard@maineaudubon.org
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