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

To: <BIRDEAST@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>

Subject: [BIRDEAST] Maine Bird Alert September 17, 2003

Date: Sunday, September 21, 2003 10:26 AM

Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert

Date: September 17, 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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A LARK BUNTING: female-type, was flushed from edge of a dry panne way out by

a hummock in the Scarborough marsh @ ~ 7:15 am. It was seen for about 10

minutes before it flushed into large stand of cattails, and was then

relocated along side Eastern Road at ~ 9am. There were great scope views

photographs taken. It was observed for ~30 minutes as it foraged on the road

and in the grass/weeds alongside, with several Savannah Sparrows. It was

flushed by joggers and bikers several times, but kept returning so seemed

content to be there. At ~9:30am it was ~100 yards from ft bridge's

north/east side. This bird appeared somewhat paler, and less heavily

streaked on breast/underparts and w/bolder wing flash than another

individual seen at Appledore on 7-Sept. It called fairly frequently

"hew-ey", soft whistle. (It was seen on Saturday September 20, once by the

bridge and another time down the road on top of the biggest bayberry bush.)

In Wells, were 2 LAWRENCE'S WARBLERS. On Monhegan this past week there were

YELLOW-THROATED and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, LARK SPARROW and a WESTERN

KINGBIRD. Seen at Egg Rock in Frenchman Bay on 9/7, a female or an immature

WHEATEAR was hawking insects from driftwood perch on north end of island.

Hawk Watch totals for Acadia National Park for September as of the 15th

were: OSPREY 45, BALD EAGLE 1, NORTHERN HARRIER 38, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 501,

COOPER'S HAWK 24, NORTHERN GOSHAWK 1, BROAD-WINGED HAWK 66, RED-TAILED

HAWKS15, AMERICAN KESTREL 186, PEREGRINE FALCON 2, and MERLIN 29.

York County

In Ogunquit, on 9/3 were 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS and 4 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS.

At Parsons Beach in Kennebunk there were 100 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, and 3

PIPING PLOVER, with a flyover of 3 GREAT EGRETS in the fog. At Goose Rocks

there were 300 SHOREBIRDS including RUDDY TURNSTONES and SANDERLINGS.

A partial list at Biddeford Pool included 2 EASTERN KINGBIRDS, 1 TREE

SWALLOW, NASHVILLE, BLACK and WHITE and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and a

combined group of 17 SNOWY EGRETS and immature LITTLE BLUE HERONS.

At the Bayview section of Saco there were 62 COMMON, 2 ARCTIC and 2 FOSTER'S

TERNS, 60 SANDERLINGS, 2 BAIRD'S and 75 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, and a

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER.

Scarborough Marsh Area

On the out-going tide at Pine Point on the 14th there were 3 AMERICAN

OYSTERCATCHERS, 1 adult 2 juveniles, 1 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 3 WESTERN, 2

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, 1 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 24 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 3

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 1 DUNLIN, 1 LEAST and many SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS,

1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and 1 MERLIN that caught a peep and carried it off. At

Pine Point also there were 30 COMMON and 2 ROSEATE TERNS, 7 RED KNOTS, and

17 GREAT EGRETS.

Greater Portland and western Maine

A MERLIN and a COOPER'S HAWK were near the Eastern Prom in Portland. A

PEREGRINE FALCON was seen along Congress Street in Portland.

A banding station in Freeport caught the first NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL of the

season on the 17th.

A female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was at a feeder off Route 115 in Gray

Over in Wilton there were 50 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, and an

OSPREY.

Central Maine

In Turner this week there were 7 AMERICAN PIPITS, 1 WHIP-POOR-WILL, LINCOLN'

S SPARROW, COOPER'S HAWK, and 2 YELLOW WARBLERS.

A trip to the arboretum in Augusta on the 15th produced a few migrants and

some lingering late-breeding activity, these included: 2 RED-EYED VIREOS, 3

WARBLING VIREOS (feeding young), 1 BLUE-HEADED VIREO, 4 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS (2

with 2 young), 2 NASHVILLE, 2 BLACK-THROATED GREEN, 1 BLACK AND WHITE

WARBLES, 2 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, SONG SPARROW fledglings and adults,

A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was elsewhere in Augusta.

In Dixmont BLACKBIRDS were migrating along with RED-EYED VIREO,

BLACK-THROATED GREEN, NASHVILLE and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, EASTERN PHOEBES,

and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS.

Northern Maine

Our observer in Houlton reported 4 RED CROSSBILLS, PURPLE FINCH, and

BLUE-HEADED VIREO.

The list from Fort Kent this week included RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD,

SOLITARY SANDPIPER, OVENBIRD, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN and

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.

Midcoast

On Monhegan this past week there were 13 species of WARBLERS plus ORCHARD

ORIOLE, EASTERN KINGBIRD, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, and

numerous other species.

Seen in Georgetown were RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, COMMON RAVEN, CEDAR

WAXWING, and GREAT and SNOWY EGRETS.

At Seawall Beach in Phippsburg there were 80 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 200

SEMIPALMATED, 30 LEAST, and 3 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS.

In the mid coast region on Sunday 9/14 afternoon, on an incoming tide, found

several LESSER YELLOWLEGS, a few GREATER YELLOWLEGS--one of which fled

successfully from a PEREGRINE FALCON. A MERLIN seemed to be following in the

Peregrine's wake. Also seen were, a handful of GREEN-WINGED TEAL and a

couple of BLUE-WINGED TEAL, six SNOWY EGRETS, two SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS

alternately chasing and being chased by BLUEJAYS, and a few fly-by small

peeps, probably SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS. Two probable NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED

SPARROWS were reported as well.

Eastern Maine

Four RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS were seen coming in from the open ocean near

Mt Desert Island at 10:30 a.m. also there were 6 BALD EAGLES, 2 ad, 1 third

year, 2 second year, 1 first year, harassing gulls. Two adult NORTHERN

GANNETS were seen just off the island. During the trip across the bay there

were 11 SHARP-SHINNED, 2 COOPERS HAWK, 2 OSPREY, 3 TURKEY VULTURES, and 8

BROAD-WINGED HAWKS. These numbers coincide with a high count day at Cadillac

Mt. Three RED-NECKED GREBES were seen at Hadley Pt., Bar Harbor on 9/14. Two

HORNED GREBES were at Schoodic Pt. on 9/13. Six or more NORHTERN FULMAR were

seen in the fog east of Mt. Desert Rock on 9/15.

Up to 500 GREATER SHEARWATER were seen at various whale watch areas around

and to the east of Mt. Desert Rock on 9/12-15. SOOTY SHEARWATER numbers are

lower but 1-2 are still being seen every day. WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS are

still common but LEACH'S are down in numbers with only 1-2 seen each day.

About 50 NORTHERN GANNETS were working over a school of Yellow-fin Tuna 13

miles south of Schoodic Pt. on 9/14. Vees of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS are

passing across the bay from Schoodic Point to the south end of Mt. Desert

Island almost every hour of the past week. GREAT CORMORANTS, mostly

immature, are now common all around Frenchman Bay. As many as 20 GREAT BLUE

HERONS can be seen on many tidal flats, particularly at Thompson Island

between Mt. Desert and the mainland, and along the Taunton River by the

Sullivan-Hancock Bridge.

A few male COMMON EIDERS are showing up off Schoodic Pt. A dense flock of an

estimated 5000 COMMON EIDERS was just east of Schoodic Point on 9/13.

Another dense flock of at least 1000 birds is at Egg Rock (Frenchman Bay) as

of 9/16. Six BLACK DUCKS flew by the mouth of Frenchman Bay, headed east on

9/14. A small flock of 12 BLACK SCOTER was off Egg Rock on 9/15. A winter

plumaged LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen off Ironbound Island on 9/11. Twelve

TURKEY VULTURES were over Bar Harbor the afternoon of 9/14. An adult male

NOTHERN HARRIER passed over Frenchman Bay on 9/16. On 9/14 during a two hour

cruise around Frenchman Bay a total of 12 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 2 RED-TAILED

HAWKS, 17 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, and 1 COOPER'S HAWKS passed over the boat. On

9/14 a PEREGRINE FALCON was chasing BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS at Egg Rock. Up to

20 RUDDY TURNSTONES are being seen on Egg Rock. RED PHALAROPES are being

seen regularly along floating mats of seaweed to the east and south of Mt.

Desert Rock 9/12-14.

On 9/15 over 100 BONAPARTE'S, 20 LAUGHING GULLS (both winter plumaged and

immatures) were seen various places in Frenchman Bay. On 9/13 several

hundred HERRING, BLACK-BACKED, RING-BILLED,and LAUGHING GULLS were hawking

flying ants in a major hatch taking place over Bar Harbor. Ninety Five% of

the BLACK GUILLEMOTS are in winter plumage with the rest still in full

breeding plumage as of 9/15. A single PUFFIN was just off the west end of

Egg Rock on 9/16. A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was window-killed at the Acadia

Nation Park visitor's center on 9/13. Twelve COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were feeding

at a gravel pit in Bar Harbor on 9/10. A few RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are

being reported at feeders as of 9.15. On 9/14 two passed over a boat at the

mouth of Frenchman Bay, about 2 miles from land in all directions. A late

GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER was seen at Great Meadow in Acadia National Park on

9/14. A late BARN SWALLOW was at the Egg Rock Lighthouse, Frenchman Bay on

9/12. Two fall plumaged BLACKPOLL WARBLERS were feeding in birches at Fabbri

Picnic area in Acadia National Park on 9/13.

There were 2 TURKEY VULTURES over the University of Maine Machias campus.

At Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge this past week there were PIED-BILLED

GREBE, RING-NECKED DUCK, GREEN-WINGED and BLUE-WINGED TEAL, WOOD DUCK,

AMERICAN BITTERN,NORTHERN HARRIER, BROAD-WINGED HAWK and SOLITARY SANDPIPER.

The list from Princeton included 6 AMERICAN PIPITS, PALM and COMMON

YELLOWTHROAT WARBLERS, OSPREY, and BROAD-WINGED HAWK.

Upcoming Maine Audubon Birding Trips

Please call 207-781-2330, ext. 215 or email lledoux@maineaudubon.org for

more information or to make reservations.

THIS TRIP IS BEGINNING TO FILL UP!!! IF YOU HAVE NOT MADE RESERVATIONS

PLEASE DO SO!

Pelagic Birding

The cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Gulf of Maine support a vast array of

marine life. In the past these waters have been accessible to birders only

incidentally via the Bluenose ferry, but Maine Audubon's cruise in a

111-foot power catamaran (ensuring a smooth and stable ride) opens exciting

new possibilities for pelagic birding. From Bar Harbor we'll cruise by

Schoodic Point and Petit Manan before heading some thirty to forty miles

offshore. We can expect to see northern gannet, several species of

shearwater, red phalarope, black-legged kittiwake, jaegers, alcids and

possibly great skua. We may also see finback, humpback and minke whales. The

cruise will loop back in toward the waters of Mt. Desert Rock, and we should

have spectacular views of the mountains of Acadia. This is an exciting

opportunity to fill in some of those empty blanks on your life lists in the

unique birding habitat of the Gulf of Maine.

From Bar Harbor

Saturday, October 4 (weather date October 5)

6 a.m.-1 p.m.

Led by Jan Pierson, Lysle Brinker

$70/member, $80/nonmember, $35/student

Limited to 125 participants

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