From: "Linda Woodard" <lwoodard@MAINEAUDUBON.ORG>

To: <BIRDEAST@listserv.arizona.edu>

Subject: [BIRDEAST] Maine Bird Alert March 25, 2003

Date: Sunday, March 30, 2003 2:54 PM

Date: March 25, 2003

Area: State of Maine

Number: (207) 781-2332

Compilers: Steve Pollock and Kay Gammons

Transcriber: Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)

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Arriving this week on the open marshes along the southwest coast were early

GREAT and SNOWY EGRET, several species of WATERFOWL, FOX SPARROWS and

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS.

Also, in the York County area, there was a dramatic increase in COMMON

GRACKLES, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, SONG SPARROWS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and

AMERICAN ROBINS. KILLDEER numbers also increased and TURKEY VULTURES

continued to move into the state.

York County

In York there were 6 AMERICAN WOODCOCK, and 1 pair of CAROLINA WREN.

At the Cliff House & Marginal Way, Ogunquit there were HARLEQUIN DUCKS and 2

RED-THROATED LOONS.

A GREAT EGRET landed in Ogunquit Marsh at 4:40 PM on March 23.

In Wells Harbor there was a KING EIDER, 10 PURPLE SANDPIPERS and a KILLDEER.

Elsewhere in Wells there were PURPLE FINCHES, RED-WINGED BLACK BIRDS, COMMON

GRACKLE, and WHITE-CROWNED and SONG SPARROWS, CAROLINA WREN.

At Goosefare Brook in Kennebunk there were HOODED MERGANSER, SONG and TREE

SPARROWS, and EASTERN BLUEBIRD. At Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunk there were

2 FOX SPARROWS.

A pair of HARLEQUIN DUCKS was off Eastern Point at Biddeford Pool. Also at

Biddeford Pool were 1 EASTERN MEADOWLARK, 2 FOX SPARROW, 1 RED-THROATED

LOON, 1 MERLIN, 1 AMERICAN KESTREL, 2 PURPLE SANDPIPERS, 1 WHITE-CROWNED

SPARROW, COMMON MERGANSERS, KILLDEER, and AMERCIAN WOODCOCK.

In Dayton there were 4 TURKEY VULTURES, AMERCIAN WIDGEON, 1 FOX SPARROW, and

1 MERLIN.

At the Saco Yacht Club there were 1 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, 62 COMMON

MERGANSERS, 3 BALD EAGLES, and a CAROLINA WREN. On the marsh below Laurel

Hill Cemetery there were 2 WOOD DUCKS and 129 CANADA GEESE. Three FOX

SPARROWS were at a feeder along the Ferry Road in Saco. At Flag Pond Rd also

in Saco there was an AMERCIAN KESTREL.

Greater Portland and Western Maine

At Dunstan Landing in Scarborough, there were 2 SNOWY EGRETS and 1 SNOW

BUNTING. At the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center there were GREEN-WINGED

TEAL, AMERICAN BITTERN and PEREGRINE FALCON. On Winnock's Neck Road there

was a RUSTY BLACKBIRD. There were 6 AMERCIAN WOODCOCK at Seavey's Landing.

Behind the Pelreco building at various times there were 4 to 6 GADWALL, 3

NORTHERN PINTAIL, 1 RING-NECKED DUCK, 6 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 1 NORTHERN

SHOVELER, AMERICAN WIDGEON, KILLDEER, 3 GREAT BLUE HERONS, and 1 NORTHERN

HARRIER.

An AMERICAN KESTREL arrived in Cape Elizabeth. There were 18 BRANT at Kettle

Cove. At Two Lights State Park there were 5 RAZORBILLS and 4 BLACK

GUILLEMOTS.

Along the Eastern Promenade, Portland there was a GLAUCOUS and an ICELAND

GULL. In Payson Park there was a MERLIN. At the Sewage Treatment Plant in

Portland there was a COOPER'S HAWK and a RED-TAILED HAWK. At Capisic Pond

there was a SHARP-HINNED HAWK. At Evergreen Cemetery there was a PILEATED

WOODPECKER.

A FOX SPARROW, EASTERN PHOEBE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, SNOWY EGRET, and a FISH

CROW arrived at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth.

In Bridgton there was an unconfirmed report of a GYRFLACON on Ridge Rd.

Also in Bridgton, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and TURKEY VULTURES arrived this

week along with 20 CEDAR WAXWINGS.

In Durham there was an AMERCIAN WOODCOK and an EASTERN BLUEBIRD.

Central Maine

One male and 3 female EVENING GROSBEAKS were at a feeder in Bowdoin.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE, 1 REDPOLL, 1 KILLDEER, 1 TURKEY VULTURE, 1 AMERICAN

WOODCOCK, and 2 EVENING GROSBEAKS were in Augusta.

In Mount Vernon there was an EASTERN PHOEBE.

In Belgrade there were 6 EVENING GROSBEAK and 1 AMERICAN KESTREL.

At the Shawmet Dam in Hinkley there was a BARROW'S GOLDRENEYE.

In Winslow there were 41 COMMON MERGANSERS.

In Wilton there was a BROAD-WINGED HAWK, 8 TURKEY VULTURES, and 1 RED-TAILED

HAWK.

In Turner there were KILLDEER.

In Dixmont the following returned: RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, COMMON GRACKLES,

and AMERCIAN ROBINS.

KILLDEER are in Plymouth.

In Bangor there were 125 AMERICAN ROBINS and 1 BALD EAGLE.

Midcoast

In Bath there was 1 RUSTY BLACKBIRD. On the marshes off of Rt. One, east of

Bath there were 2 NORTHERN PINTAILS and 1 LESSER SCAUP.

In Woolwich there was a COOPER'S HAWK.

At Popham State Park there were 1 GREAT BLUE HERON and 20 BRANT.

An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was in North Harpswell.

Along Route 128, on the east side of Merrymeeting Bay, in strawberry fields

there were 20 HORNED LARKS and 7 KILLDEER.

Three RED-THROATED LOONS were across from Squirrel Point Light, in

Phippsburg. Before the park entrance, marsh on the left there were 6 or more

HORNED LARKS, on the right side 3 male & 1 female NORTHERN PINTAIL, and 1

GREAT BLUE HERON. Also in Phippsburg was a TURKEY VULTURE.

There was 1 BELTED KINGFISHER at Parker Head.

At Fort William Henry, near New Harbor there was a NORTHERN SHRIKE.

In Wiscasset there were a TURKEY VULTURE and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK.

Near Reid State Park in Georgetown there were 2 WOOD DUCKS (pair in a small

pond on right hand side of Seguin and Rd approaching Reid St park). Also in

Georgetown were 1 TURKEY VULTURE, 2 GREAT BLUE HERONS, 1 YELLOW-BELLIED

SAPSCUKER, and 1 GREEN-WINGED TEAL.

In Richmond there were 40 COMMON MERGANSERS, KILLDEER, NORTHERN FLICKER, FOX

SPARROW, and a BARRED OWL calling.

In Weskeag Marsh there were 3 GADWALL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and 10 AMERICAN

WIDGEON.

Eastern Maine

In Whiting near Cutler, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was atop a tree 100 yards away

from Look's Canning.

Northern Maine

In Houlton there were AMERCIAN ROBIN and 1 BALD EAGLE.

In Woodlawn there were COMMON GRACKLES, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS, 15 BOHEMIAN

WAXWINGS, and 2 EVENING GROSBEAKS.

At Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge there were SONG SPARROW, 1 COMMON

MERGANSER, COMMON GRACKLES, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS.

In the Aroostic River in Caribou there were 1 NORTHERN SHOVLER and 1 BELTED

KINGFISHER.

In Presque there was an EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and a MERLIN.

Upcoming Maine Audubon Programs: To reserve your spot call (207) 781-2330,

ext. 215 or email lledoux@maineaudubon.org

Exploring Maine's Ecology with Dr. Herb Wilson-This course is designed to

give you an introduction to the ecology of Maine. We will investigate the

processes, such as climate, geology, succession that control the

distribution and abundance of plants and animals. We will begin with a

consideration of global climate patterns and then work our way down to

smaller and smaller scales (biomes, communities, populations). Topics to be

discussed will include predation, competition, physical stresses, zonation,

nutrient cycling and forest succession. Recommended text: The Economy of

Nature (fifth edition) by Robert Rickefs. Herb Wilson teaches Ecology,

Ornithology and Biology at Colby College, and is a regular contributor to

many newspapers in Maine, including the Maine Sunday Telegram.¨ 6:30-9:00

p.m. Tuesdays April 8, 15, 22 and 29, 6:30-9:00 pm with field trip May 10.

Cost: $120/member, $150/nonmember. Limited to 20 participants.

Reservations necessary-only four spaces left.

Birds, Bellybuttons, and the Meaning of Life- Do you remember the bird that

changed your life? Have you ever wondered why there are so many small brown

birds? Join author and video producer Dick Walton for a lighthearted and

decidedly personal investigation into that mystery of mysteries - why

birders bird. Using video from across North America, Dick will present one

birder's answer. ¨ 7:30 pm Friday, April 11 Cost: $12/member, $15/nonmember,

Reservations necessary

Birding by Ear: An Introduction to Birdsong with Dick Walton - Did you know

that most birders, from beginners to experts, identify many of the birds

they encounter by their vocalizations? Join Dick Walton, co-author of the

Peterson Field Guide Series - Birding by Ear, for an in-depth workshop

designed to assist birders develop techniques for learning birdsong as an

aide to field identification. We will focus on our most common songsters and

learn how to recognize and recall their vocalizations. Suitable for

beginning students of birdsong. Participants will receive workshop materials

and registration is limited to 25. ¨ 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Saturday, April

12. Cost $50/member, $65/nonmember. Reservations necessary, only five

spaces left!

Linda Woodard

Maine Audubon

20 Gilsland Farm Rd

Falmouth, Maine

207-781-2330 ext. 213

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