Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert

Date: March 5, 2003

Area: State of Maine

Number: (207) 781-2332

Compilers: Steve Pollock and Kay Gammons

Transcriber: Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

On March 3 an EASTERN SCREECH OWL and 3 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were heard in East Sebago between 7-10 on Maine Audubon's owl survey project. A MERLIN was in downtown Saco.

York County

HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen at the Cliff House in Ogunquit.

Along Cat Mousam Road in Wells there was a male RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER.

A BALD EAGLE was along the Kennebunk River in Kennebunkport.

Eighteen HORNED LARKS, 2 BALD EAGLES, 7 COMMON LOONS, and SURF SCOTERS, were at Goose Rocks Beach. TREE SPARROWS along with the usual suspects were at feeders.

About 30 DUNLIN were present behind Hattie's at Biddeford Pool.

At the Saco Yacht Club there was a RED-TAILED HAWK. An immature BALD EAGLE was sitting on a chimney warming itself in the steam plume along the Ferry Road on one of the colder mornings this past week.

Greater Portland and western Maine

Six HOODED MERGANSERS are near the Nature Center at Scarborough marsh. The LAPLAND LONGSPUR was still along Pine Point Road where the River comes in on Route 9 by the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center.  Ten HOODED MERGANSERS and 25 CEDAR WAXWINGS were on Broad Turn Road.

The BRANT were seen again at Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth. There were 17 BRANT at Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth in the narrow cove straight ahead just after entering the park.

The ICELAND GULL continues at Willard Beach in South Portland.

A NORTHERN GOSHWAWK was seen on Peaks Island.

 Two BALD EAGLES were seen along the Presumpscot River in Portland.

A GREAT BLUE HERON was on the Royal River in Yarmouth.

A NORTHERN PINTAIL was seen in Basin Cove Falls in Harpswell

A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was seen in North Pownal.

In Fryeburg Harbor there were 35 SNOW BUNTINGS, 5 HOODED MERGANSERS, and COMMON GOLDENEYE.

Central Maine

A NORTHERN PINTAIL was seen at Shawmut Ban, on the Kennebec River in Hinkley.

Ten SNOW BUNTINGS were in Dixmont and 5 were in another location also in Dixmont.

A Flock of 25 CEDAR WAXWINGS were in Newport on Saturday.

A SAW-WHET OWL was in Orono.

Western Maine

In Greenville CEDAR WAXWINGS were seen eating Mountain Ash berries.

Midcoast

Two BARRED OWLS were in Georgetown (in different places).

NORTHERN PINTAILS were at Squirrel Point Light on Parker Head Road in Phippsburg (the back way to Popham). A HOODED MERGANSER was seen by Parker Head Road. A RED-TAILED HAWK was seen near Dromore Bay- Route 209 heading to Popham.

Two BROWN CREEPERS were eating suet in Bath.

A GREAT BLUE HERON was seen in New Castle just past the Newcastle/Damariscotta exit on Route One north.

Two SNOWY OWLS and 25 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen on the Clary Hill blueberry barrens in Union. In the vicinity of Clary Hill in Union there were 25 SNOW BUNTINGS and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS.

An adult male KING EIDER was at Linekin Bay - which is east of Boothbay Harbor.

A BARRED OWL was seen at Pemaquid Point.

Two BLACK-HEADED GULLS were behind Littlefield Baptist Church in Rockland: along with a first winter ICELAND GULL

Six EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen along Rt. 215 in Jefferson.

A NORTHERN PINTAIL has been seen in Penobscot River from the end of Kaler Street in Winterport

Eastern Maine

Six HARLEQUIN DUCKS are being seen off Schoodic Point and one was in Sorrento Harbor. The ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in Bar Harbor has company as a RED-TAILED HAWK has also taken up residence in the downtown area. Both are actively hunting pigeons among the downtown buildings every day. A BLACK-HEADED GULL was in Arey Cove across from the entrance of the Schoodic Navy Base. Up to 50 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were on the Old Soaker off Ocean Drive in Acadia National Park. About 100 were on the Ingles Island bar in Sorrento. A single RAZORBILL was off Ocean Drive in Acadia National Park on 3/2. Several BLACK GUILLENOTS are in nearly full summer plumage in Bar Harbor as of 3/3. A BARRED OWL was heard calling in Bar Harbor on 2/27. GRAY JAYS are being seen on the Navy base at Schoodic Pt. NOTE: It is now possible to drive and walk around the old Navy base grounds. At this time the gates are open but it is a courtesy to stop and tell the resident Park Ranger that you are there.

Northern Maine

Six WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were seen at Katahdin Lake Wilderness Camps, east of Baxter Park.

TREE SPARROWS were in Presque Isle.

An albino RAVEN was seen in Limestone.

In Mayback (35 miles southwest of Allagash), a mature BALD EAGLE and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were seen.

In Fort Kent the albino RAVEN that was seen last winter has been seen again. A pair of WHITE-BREASTED NUTHACHES were at the feeders today- the first all winter.

Linda Woodard
Maine Audubon
20 Gilsland Farm Rd
Falmouth, Maine
207-781-2330 ext. 213