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

To: <BIRDEAST@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>

Subject: [BIRDEAST] Maine Bird Alert July 8, 2003

Date: Sunday, July 13, 2003 6:52 PM

Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert

Date: July 8, 2003

Area: State of Maine

Number: (207) 781-2332

Compilers: Steve Pollock and Kay Gammons

Transcriber: Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)

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

The fall migration is starting. We received reports of SWALLOWS having left

areas of northern Maine and SHOREBIRD arrivals along the mid and southwest

coast.

York County

An adult and 3 young PIPING PLOVERS were seen on Ogunquit Beach.

At Wells Beach, bird sightings included 8 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 4 PIPING

PLOVERS, 2 WILLETS, 50 COMMON EIDERS, 1 COMMON LOON, many TREE SWALLOWS and

many CHIMNEY SWIFTS. On the beach at Laudholm Farm also in Wells, there was

a LITTLE GULL, PIPING PLOVERS, BONAPARTE'S GULLS, and LEAST and COMMON TERNS.

Two AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS and two BLACK-CROWNED NIGHTHERONS were seen on

Cape Island, in Cape Porpoise.

At Goose Rocks there were 10 LEAST TERNS, 2 PIPING PLOVER nests, COMMON

TERNS, BONAPARTE GULLS, and nesting EASTERN BLUEBIRDS.

In Alfred there were CANADA WARBLER, EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, and WOOD THRUSH.

A PRAIRIE WARBLER was in Biddeford.

On the ocean in the Bayview section of Saco there were 2 COMMON LOONS in

breeding plumage and COMMON TERNS.

Scarborough Marsh Area

Behind the Pelreco building at Pine Point there were SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS

and 3 LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Along Route 1 near Anjon's restaurant there were 25

LEAST SANDPIPERS, 10 KILLDEER, and 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS. At Willowdale in

Scarborough there were 2 female TURKEYS with 13 young, plus ROSE-BREASTED

GROSBEAK, and BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. Both SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS were on the

marsh along Eastern Road.

Greater Portland and western Maine

A TENNESSEE WARBLER was banded at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth

along with 4 CAROLINA WRENS.

A pair of EVENING GROSBEAKS with 4 young were observed in Wilton.

Midcoast

At Seawall Beach in Phippsburg there were 15 COMMON TERNS, 2 ROSEATE

TERNS, 2 PIPING PLOVERS and 5 BONAPARTE'S GULLS.

On Westkeag marsh in Thomaston there were LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 4

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 4 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 5 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 22

KILLDEER, WILLETS, 15 SNOWY and 1 GREAT EGRET, 5 NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED

SPARROWS, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.

Eastern Maine

Five VIRGINIA RAILS, 5 SORA, 1 GREEN HERON, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK,

GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS, 2 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, 2 WARBLING VIREOS, 1 BROWN

THRASHER, and 2 RED CROSSBILLS were seen at the Baring Unit of the Moosehorn

National Wildlife Refuge.

Central Maine

In Dixmont there were WOOD THRUSH, VEERY, a family of 5 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS,

and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.

At Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden an AMERICAN BITTERN was seen flying

over. Also seen were a female BALTIMORE ORIOLE, a family of EASTERN

BLUEBIRDS, a pair of BOBOLINKS guarding their fledglings, and 2 LINCOLN'S

SPARROWS near the entrance to the Brook Trail. Also at the Center were two

evasive WINTER WRENS singing off the Ravine Trail and NORTHERN PARULA,

BLACK-THROATED BLUE, and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, 1 PINE SISKIN, and

perched near the Ravine Trail plus an adult COOPER'S HAWK. On July 1, an

AMERICAN KESTREL, 4 GREEN HERONS, and 8 BOBOLINKS were seen.

On the Oak Point Trail at the Sunkhaze National Wildlife in Milford were: 2

GRAY JAYS, 2 BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS, a BARRED OWL, and an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER.

Northern Maine

On Saturday, 7/5 two male THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS were found in Baxter State

Park in the same general area where they have been described in the Birder's

Guide to Maine by Pierson, Pierson and Vickery, and in the August 2002 Bird

Observer article on birding in Baxter by Jim Sweeney.

A SPRUCE GROUSE was seen along the Golden Road west of Millinocket.

The list from Houlton this past week included: 1 MERLIN, RED-EYED VIREOS

MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, NASHVILLE WARBLERS, SAVANNAH SPARROWS and BOBOLINKS.

In Fort Kent this week there were VEERY, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, CANADA,

BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN and NASHVILLE WARBLERS, SCARLET

TANAGER, and BALTIMORE ORIOLE.

There are Bird Walks every Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m. at the Scarborough

Marsh Audubon Center. We have a special Sharp-tailed Sparrow walk on July

23 at 7:00 a.m. For more information and prices call 883-5100.

Upcoming Maine Audubon Programs- Please contact lledoux@maineaudubon.org

Or 207-278-2330, ext. 215 for questions or to make reservations.

Stratton Island III

Stratton Island, less than a mile and a half off the Scarborough shore, is a

nesting colony and roosting site for a remarkable diversity of coastal

birds. Owned and protected by Audubon, the island is a sanctuary for little

blue, green and tricolored herons. Snowy egret, glossy ibis, common and

roseate terns, wood and black ducks, common eider and the state's only pair

of breeding American oystercatcher also can be found here. Additionally,

hundreds of seals haul themselves out onto the surrounding rocks to soak in

the sun. Because Stratton Island is not normally accessible to visitors,

this trip provides a special opportunity for birders. A portion of the fee

helps keep the island a sanctuary for these birds. This trip is timed to see

the sun set and the herons return to their roosts on the island.

Participants will need to get in and out of boats and inflatable dinghies;

agility is required.

From Pine Point

Friday, July 18

4-8 p.m.

Led by Linda Woodard, Pat Moynahan

$32/member, $40/nonmember

Limited to 12 participants

Whales and Seabirds of the Gulf of Maine I

Some of the most awe-inspiring and memorable wildlife-watching opportunities

in Maine are easily accessible to young and old alike within a short

distance of the coast. Every summer, humpback, finback and minke whales

converge on the submerged banks 25 miles offshore to feed. These marine

mammals are consistently and readily observed here, as are several dolphin

species and often many seabirds, such as storm-petrels, gannet and

shearwaters. The boat ride from Kennebunkport aboard the First Chance

offers a whale-watching experience that is not intrusive or overly long and

is comfortable and safe. This is a must-go trip for every Maine resident or

visitor.

From Kennebunkport

Saturday, July 19 (weather date July 20)

10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Led by Pat Moynahan

Member: $28/adult, $15/child (16 and under)

Nonmember: $35/adult, $18/child

Limited to 70 participants

Puffin Cruise II

With its colorful, clown-like face and oversized bill, the Atlantic puffin

is a most charismatic seabird. Nearly extirpated from the Maine coast 30

years ago, this species has staged a significant comeback thanks to the

efforts of dedicated biologists who re-established the birds' breeding

colonies. Now puffins return each year to nest on a handful of offshore

Maine islands. This ever-popular evening boat ride sails out of New Harbor

to Eastern Egg Rock, the southernmost and most accessible puffin breeding

colony in Maine. In addition to the puffins, other alcids such as black

guillemot and common murre are good possibilities for sighting, as well as

northern gannets, terns and shorebirds. The trip is timed with the sunset

and the rise of the moon, making for the perfect opportunity to combine

birding and a lovely summer evening on the Maine coast.

From New Harbor

Friday, July 25 6:30-9 p.m.

Led by Pete Salmansohn

$27/member, $35/nonmember

Limited to 75 participants

For Birdeast archives, and to join, leave, or change address, see:

http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdeast.html