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

To: <BIRDEAST@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>

Subject: [BIRDEAST] Maine Bird Alert September 25

Date: Friday, September 26, 2003 2:09 PM

Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert

Date: September 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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A female LARK BUNTING delighted many birders along Eastern Road at

Scarborough marsh near the footbridge from last Thursday through Sunday. It

has not been seen since. A SANDHILL CRANE was also seen at Scarborough

marsh as a flyover.

York County

At Mount Agamenticus in York, a week ago today there were 2 OSPREY, 1

NORTHERN HARRIER, 5 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 6 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 2 AMERICAN

KESTRELS, 1 MERLIN, 3 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 1 hatch-year NORTHERN GOSHAWK, and 8

local TURKEY VULTURES. At least 3 COMMON RAVENS were also up there. Winds

were reported as light from the northwest and soaring conditions seemed to

be pretty good. On Sunday at Mount Agamenticus there were a dark-morph

RED-TAILED HAWK, along with a good flight of BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 23 OSPREY,

2 BALD EAGLES (both sub adult), 4 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 44 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS,

9 COOPER'S HAWK, 8 AMERICAN KESTREL, and 6 MERLIN.

At Biddeford Pool on the 23rd, except for 1093 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS,

and 12 GREAT CORMORANTS, it was a day of raptors and shorebirds at Biddeford

Pool. There were 6 PEREGRINE FALCONS, and 2 MERLIN'S swooping at the shore

birds on the beach. Several crows harassed a GREAT HORNED OWL in a tree by

the golf course. Shorebirds noted were BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED

PLOVER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, RUDDY TURNSTONE,

SANDERLING, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER,

DUNLIN, and SHORT-BILLED DOWICHER. Also seen were GREAT BLUE HERON, GREAT

and SNOWY EGRET, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, LAUGHING GULL, and 150 RING-BILLED

GULL.

Resting Raptors in the Saco Heath included 3 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 1 MERLIN, 1

SHARP-SHINNED, and a COOPERS HAWK. Also in the heath were COMMON RAVEN and

EASTERN TOWHEE.

Greater Portland and western Maine

Two AMERICAN BITTERNS, SHARP-TAILED and SAVANNAH SPARROWS were at

Scarborough marsh along with lingering wading birds and a few Shorebirds. A

GOLDEN PLOVER and 3 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were at Pine Point. On Pine

Point beach there were BAIRD'S, WESTERN, WHITE-RUMPED and SEMIPALMATED

SANDPIPERS, SANDERLINGS, and BONAPARTE'S GULLS.

At Back Cove in Portland there were SHORT-BILLED DOWICHER, DUNLIN,

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, and an OSPREY. A SCARLET TANAGER was in Evergreen

Cemetery.

There was a good flight of songbirds through and over Sandy Point on Cousins

Island in Yarmouth, on the 22nd. Highlights included a calling, fly-over

DICKCISSEL, and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER foraging low in the power line cut

area. A total of 15 species of warblers, mostly BLACKPOLLS, BLACK-THROATED

GREEN WARBLERS, and NORTHERN PARULAS were seen.

At Brownfield on Perry Mountain there were 198 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 6

SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 4 TURKEY VULTURES, and 3 OSPREY on the 21st.

In Fryeburg Harbor on 9/24 there were 1 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 2 GREATER

YELLOWLEGS, 11 KILLDEER, 4 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 14 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and 1

SOLITARY SANDPIPER. On 9/25 there were 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 2 LEAST

SANDPIPERS, 14 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and 1 WILSON'S SNIPE.

Over Viana Mountain near Wilton there were 127 hawks including 98

BROAD-WINGED, 13 SHARP-SHINNED, 9 COOPER'S, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 2 OSPREY, 2

AMERICAN KESTRELS, and 2 RED-TAILED HAWKS.

Midcoast Maine

The Maine Audubon trip to Monhegan this past weekend had a pretty good

showing of birds, with over 90 species seen. Highlights include five species

of vireos: BLUE-HEADED, PHILADELPHIA, WARBLING, RED-EYED, and

YELLOW-THROATED. Twenty species of warblers including: 1 PINE, lots of

PRAIRIES and PALMS, one BLACKBURNIAN, many BLACKPOLLS, and WILSON'S, among

all the usual suspects, and a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. There was also a great

raptor show: PEREGRINE FALCON, AMERCIAN KESTREL, and MERLIN'S all in the

same field of view. The MERLIN- FLICKER show was fantastic, and several

times the PEREGRINES would dive bomb the ravens, which would then flip over

onto their backs as the peregrines approached- it was an incredible display.

There were three BALD EAGLES, two adults and one immature, along with many

COOPER'S and SHARPIES. On Friday, Sunday and Monday, there were raptors

flying almost any time you looked at the sky. Also seen were a DICKCISSEL,

BLUE GROSBEAK, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, and 2 RAZORBILLS on the crossing.

Central Maine

EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were in Bowdoinham and Richmond. Also in Richmond there

was a NORTHERN HARRIER and a BALD EAGLE.

In Turner this week there were 2 GOLDEN PLOVERS, 6 AMERICAN PIPITS, INDIGO

BUNTING, WARBLING VIREO, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET.

A BLACKPOLL WARBLER, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, and an INDIGO BUNTING were seen in

Fairfield.

A SOLITARY SANDPIPER, 6 BLUEBIRDS, 2 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS and an AMERCIAN

KESTREL were seen in Dixmont.

At the Taylor Bait Farm in Orono there were 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 3 LESSER

YELLOWLEGS, 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 2 KILDEER, 6 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 2

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 6 AMERICAN PIPITS, 6 HOODED MERGANSERS, and 12

GREEN-WINGED TEAL. The Immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK was again present near the

second Taylor Road pond. There were 36 HOODED MERGANSERS (8: second pond,

28: third pond) and 5 WOOD DUCKS, along with GREAT BLUE HERON and BELTED

KINGFISHER at the pond. Shorebird numbers at the first pond have dropped off

greatly over the past couple of weeks. Today there were a few each of

GREATER and LESSR YELLOWLEGS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, KILLDEER, and 1 each of

SEMIPALMATED and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and SANDERLING. Also a loose mixed

flock of Sparrows in the brush near the road: SONG, SWAMP, LINCOLN'S and 1

WHITE-THROATED.

Northern Maine

In Houlton this week there were 10 BLUE-HEADED VIREO, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET,

NASHVILLE WARBLERS, NOTHERN PARULA, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, RUBY-CROWNED

KINGLETS, and PURPLE FINCHES.

Immature BALD EAGLES were near the Aroostook River in Caribou and on Arnold

Brook Lake in Presque Isle. NORTHERN HARRIER numbers are increasing in

Presque Isle, Caribou, and Woodland. Individual AMERICAN KESTRELS are

lingering in Woodland and Washburn.

The 6 RUDDY DUCKS continue their presence out at Christina Reservoir in Fort

Fairfield.

Waterbirds on Collins pond in Caribou were probable migrants. These included

NORTHERN PINTAIL and LESSER SCAUP. Also AMERICAN WIGEONS are being seen in

numbers. GREEN-WINGED and BLUE-WINGED TEAL numbers are increasing throughout

the county. CANADA GEESE flocks are increasing in Caribou, Presque Isle,

Washburn and Fort Fairfield. 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHTHERONS were seen at

Caribou Dam and 3 BONAPARTE'S GULLS were on Arnold Brook Lake. Shorebirds in

the area include: 2 PECTOAL SANDPIPERS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SOLITARY

SANDPIPER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and KILDEER on Aroostook river in Caribou

yesterday.

Warbler migration is slowing, but the following birds were seen in Woodland:

CAPE MAY, MOURNING, NASHVILLE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT,

and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. WARBLING, BLUE-HEADED, and RED-EYED VIREOS are

still present in Woodland and Caribou and still singing! Three EVENING

GROSBEAKS and 1 PINE GROSBEAK were in Woodland on Thursday. There was a

juvenile COOPER'S HAWK in Woodland on 9/18. An adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK buzzed

a yard in Woodland.

An AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was on Collins Pond until last Friday. AMERICAN

PIPITS have arrived in numbers throughout central Aroostook County.

The last RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD departed from Portage feeder last

Thursday.

In Fort Kent there were BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, and

NOTHERN PARULA WARBLERS.

Eastern Maine

This report covers from Wed. 9/17 through Monday 9/22. GREATER SHEARWATERS

continue to be seen in the vicinity of Mt. Desert Rock. Numbers still range

in the 100's. Only two SOOTY SHEARWATERS were noted this past week. WILSON'S

STORM-PETRELS continue to be abundant off shore and there has been a slight

increase in the numbers of LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS being seen. The numbers of

male COMMON EIDERS in Frenchman Bay are starting to increase. Added to the

immatures and females already present, trips around the bay are now noting 2

to 3 thousand birds. The past week has been good for JAEGERS. A total of 21

POMARINE and 11 PARASITIC were seen on 9/19-20. GREAT SKUAS are more common

this fall and1 to 5 are being seen on each trip to the vicinity of Mt.

Desert Rock. Ten to twenty LAUGHING GULLS, in both winter and immature

plumage are being seen in Frenchman Bay daily. A single ATLANTIC PUFFIN was

seen off Schoodic Point on 9/20. RUDDY TURNSTONES are being seen on Egg Rock

daily. An AMERCIAN WOODCOCK was seen walking down a road in Bar Harbor 9/19.

A BARRED OWL was heard calling during the day at Sieur de Mont Spring in

Acadia NP on 9/22. This is the location where two young were fledged back in

August. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS were being seen at various feeders in Bar

Harbor through 9/18. A GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER flew aboard a whale watch

boat 20 miles south of Schoodic Pt. the morning of 9/21. A mixed flock of

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES appeared at a feeder in Bar Harbor

on 9/23. These were the first seen in over a month. Acadia National Park

reports that between 9/17 and 9/21 inclusive, 29 hours of hawk watching on

Cadillac Mt. observed: OSPREY, 23 BALD EAGLE, 1 NORHTERN HARRIER, 10

SHARP-SHINNED, 154 COOPER'S, 15 BROAD-WINGED, 111 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 5

AMERICAN KESTREL, 311 MERLIN, and 10 PEREGRINE. Due to the whale-watch

"wars" the price of offshore trips has fallen to $25, probably the lowest

anyone will see this year. Not intended as a commercial, this is pointed out

as it is an excellent chance to get off shore this fall at a reasonable

price compared to other years.

In Township 5 near 3rd Machias Lake there were 12 AMERICNA PIPITS,

BLUE-HEDED VIREO, and SPRUCE GROUSE. AMERICAN PIPITS. PIPITS were also on

Roque Island.

Upcoming Maine Audubon Birding Trips

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

more information or to make reservations.

Greater Portland Naturalists' Forum: Costa Rica

A program by Rodolfo Zamora

Monday, September 29, 7:00 p.m. FREE

Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Falmouth

This month, join Rodolfo Zamora, native of Costa Rica and one of the premier

naturalist birder guides in that country, for a showing of slides of his

beloved homeland. A true Renaissance man, Rudy is a farmer, has studied

chemistry, has worked as a professional musician and has led numerous zoo,

Audubon and nature groups through Costa Rica since 1987. Rudy has also

traveled the world, visiting the United States (where he attended the

University of Arizona), Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador and Europe.

The Portland Naturalists' Forum is an informational monthly program

featuring local speakers who share their expertise on a natural history

topic. Meetings generally take place on the last Monday of each month. For

more information, please call Maine Audubon at 781-2330 or e-mail Judy

Walker at jwalker@maineaudubon.org.

THE PELAGIC 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

Linda Woodard

Maine Audubon

20 Gilsland Farm Rd

Falmouth, Maine

207-781-2330 ext. 213

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