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

To: <BIRDEAST@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>

Subject: [BIRDEAST] Maine Bird Alert 10/23/03

Date: Friday, October 24, 2003 9:48 PM

Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert

Date: October 23, 2003

Area: State of Maine

Number: (207) 781-2332

Compilers: Steve Pollock and Kay Gammons

Transcriber: Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)

A BLUE-WINGED WARBLER was singing at Acadia National Park early on the

morning of 10/19. Five SANDHILL CRANES flew over Goose Rocks in Kennebunk on

the 17th.

York County

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were reported from Wells.

The list from Goose Rocks included: 30 SANDERLINGS, 8 DUNLIN, 3 SEMIPALMATED

PLOVER, and 1 BAIRDS SANDPIPER.

At Biddeford Pool this week there were about 36 BUFFLEHEADS, many RED-NECKED

GREBES, 1 RED-THROATED and numerous COMMON LOONS, 300+ DUNLIN, many

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 2 WILLETS, a dozen or so GREATER YELLOWLEGS,

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 50+ RUDDY TURNSTONES, 1

immature LITTLE BLUE HERON, 6 NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS, 2 SAVANNAH

'IPSWICH' SPARROWS, 1 BLUE-HEADED VIREO, numerous YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS,

and a few COMMON YELLOWTHROATS. At the Hills Beach section of the pool there

were 150 BRANT, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, DUNLIN, WHITE-CROWNED and CHIPPING

SPARROWS, and RUBY and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS.

Scarborough Marsh Area

At Pine Point there were about 300 to 500 BONAPARTE'S, 1 BLACK-HEADED and at

least 2 LITTLE GULLS, 1 WILLET, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, hundreds of SANDERLINGS

(one flock of 199 by actual count),SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 82 DUNLIN,

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 6 GREAT EGRETS, 1 LITTLE BLUE HERON, and 10

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS. There was a long line of BRANT (approx. 40) in

flight off Pine Point Beach. PASSERINES at Pine Point included YELLOW-RUMPED

and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, and 3 HERMIT THRUSHES.

On Prout's Pond off Pleasant Hill Road in Scarborough there were 3 GREATER

SCAUP and a PIED-BILLED GREBE.

Greater Portland and western Maine

A GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was seen near Capisic Pond in Portland. A FOX SPARROW

was at edge of mixed deciduous-evergreen woods on the far backside of

Evergreen Cemetery along with a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, which swooped overhead in

same woods. Many other sparrows were throughout backside of cemetery: SONG,

SWAMP, WHITE-THROATED. Warblers present inlcuded: NASHVILLE, YELLOW-RUMPED

(most abundant), and BLACK-THROATED BLUE. Also present were GOLDEN and

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and HERMIT THRUSH. In the fields near the Dragon

Cement plant off Rt. 9 in Portland there were 3 DICKCISSELS, and 1

SHORT-EARED OWL, which was inadvertently spooked from the weeds; it then

soared up high, with crows in pursuit, and exited South West. Also, good

numbers of sparrows, including ~1 WHITE-CROWNED wre seen. Since they have

completely mowed the large field (capped landfill), most of the bird

activity is in a smaller weedy patch accessed by a trail off the gravel rd

on the right (quarry on your left) just before the large field. The Dragon

fields are located on the west side of Route 9 in Portland just south of the

Falmouth town line; small parking area just north of and down slope from the

Dragon cement plant on the east side of Route 9, walk across Route 9 and

around large concrete blocks to start of gravel rd that leads to fields and

quarry.

150 NORTHERN SAW-WHET and 1 BARRED OWL have been banded in Freeport since

the beginning of the month.

DARK-EYED JUNCOS, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and 60 CANADA GEESE were seen in

Bridgeton.

There was a female LONG-TAILED DUCK on Lower Kimball Pond in Fryeburg. In

Fryeburg Harbor there were 11 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS.

Midcoast

Reported from Phippsburg this week were 7 BRANT, 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL,

30 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 20 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 20 DUNLIN, 1 RED KNOT, 1

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, 6 PIPITS, 1 IPSWICH SPARROW, and 1 YELLOW-BREASTED

CHAT.

In South Thomaston along St. George Rd (Rt. 131) there were several LINCOLN'

S SPARROWS, 2 SWAMP SPARROWS, 2-3 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, PINE SISKIN,

and a COMMON REDPOLL. There was a feeding frenzy on a school of fish by

BONAPARTE'S and LAUGHING GULLS. This was at a protected cove at Lucia Beach,

Owls Head. Also in South Thomaston there were lots of WHITE-THROATED

SPARROWS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and DARK-EYED JUNCOS. Other sparrows of the

past week or more included LINCOLN'S and SWAMP plus RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS.

In Westkeag there were quite a few peeps at least a dozen GREATER

YELLOWLEGS, and a raft of BUFFLEHEAD. Last Thursday evening at about 9 p.m.,

there was an AMERICAN WOODCOCK heard.

On the way to Monhegan and on Monhegan there was a SKUA, and a nice steady

flow of FULMARS. A PEREGRINE FALCON and an OSPREY hitched rides on the boat.

The following is a list of "pelagic" 159 GREATER SHEARWATERS, 2 MANX

SHEARWATERS, JAEGERS, 4 TERN species that appeared to be Common Terns

roosting on a log, and 7 PUFFINS. Other birds noted were CASPIAN TERN,

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO,

PHILADELPHIA VIREO, CAROLINA and WINTER WRENS, several HERMIT THRUSHES, and

13 species of WARBLERS including 1 MOURNING WARBLER. Ten species of sparrows

including 2 CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, and 1 TREE and 1 FIELD SPARROW, 2

DICKCISSELS and several RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.

Eastern Maine

There has been a continued increase in COMMON LOONS as expected at this time

of year. On a 2-hour trip around Frenchman Bay we now have seen 50-75 birds.

RED-THROATED LOONS are also arriving with 5-6 being seen daily. Both HORNED

and RED-NECKED GREBES are starting to be seen on open ocean areas. Numbers

are a bit higher at Mt. Desert Narrows at the north end of Frenchman Bay

where 10-20 are seen daily. NORTHERN FULMARS suddenly dropped off in numbers

with none seen at sea on 10/17-20. GREATER SHEARWATERS are still present in

considerable numbers with 200+ seen daily within 40 miles of shore. No other

shearwater species have been seen in the past week. 10-20 LEACH'S PETRELS

are being seen daily in the vicinity of Mt. Desert Rock but WILSON'S PETREL

numbers have dropped with less than 10 being seen per trip offshore. Up to

50 NORTHERN GANNETS are being seen daily offshore, most of the sub adults.

GREAT CORMORANTS are common in Frenchman Bay. DOUBLE-CRESTED are still

common. Vees of over 100 of the latter are seen daily passing southward

with an estimated 5000 total in 22 vees passed by in two hours on 10/19.

COMMON EIDERS number about 5-10 thousand in Frenchman Bay daily as of 10/20.

Hunting pressure is very high in the bay particularly on weekends. Flocks of

up to 50 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER are in with many of the eiders. Small numbers

of hawks are still being seen passing over Frenchman Bay. On 10/19 there

were 4 KESTRELS, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 2 PEREGRINE FALCON, 6 BALD EAGLES, and

2 MERLIN counted on a two-hour period as the passed between Schoodic Pt. and

Cadillac Mt. It is not know if the Acadia National Park hawk watch is still

underway, there have been no updates since 10/14. Two PEREGRINE FALCON have

taken residence in downtown Bar Harbor where they are feeding on pigeons.

Several times a day one can watch a flock of 100+ pigeons wheeling above

Main St. and the waterfront area as the PEREGRINE FALCON hunt as a pair. On

10/16 at a point 21 miles south of Schoodic Pt. and 23 miles east of Mt.

Desert Rock a SAW-WHET OWL attempted to land on a whale watch boat. A Great

BLACK-BACK GULL and then a GREATER SHEARWATER attacked it. It was hesitant

to land and when the boat accelerated to 40 knots it was left behind and

immediately lost to view. Other birds landing on the boat or seen from it at

sea this past week were NORTHERN CATBIRD, CEDAR WAXWING, PALM WARBLER,

INDIGO BUNTING, and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS.

A nice walk out Petit Manan Sunday afternoon produced just a few SPARROWS

and WARBLERS. Birds on the ocean included RED-THROATED LOON, RED-NECKED

GREBE, BLACK GUILLEMOT, and 6 GREEN-WINGED TEAL.

A KING EIDER was seen at Roque Island along with 2 ATLANTIC PUFFINS, 1

NORTHERN GANNET, 1 GOLDEN PLOVER, 1 NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW, 10 BOREAL

CHICKADEES, 10 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, 1 PIPIT, and numerous other species

in good numbers.

Central Maine

On Sebasticook Pond there were 93 RUDDY DUCKS, 1 BUFFLEHEAD, and a

RED-NECKED GREBE.

In Sabattus there were SCAUP, RUDDY DUCKS, and 2 PIED-BILLED GREBES.

Two HERMIT THRUSHES, PURPLE FINCHES, 1 BLUEBIRD, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS

were reported from Dixmont.

Three HERMIT THRUSHES were seen at the entrance to the Fields Pond Audubon

Center's Ravine Trail.

In Hinckley there were 5 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS.

In Oakland there was a HERMIT THRUSH.

Things have quieted down on near the ponds on Taylor Road in Orono this

week. There's been no duck activity other than a couple of HOODED MERGANSERS

and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Still there was one BELTED KINGFISHER as well as a

GREAT BLUE HERON at the first pond, but no shorebirds for a couple of weeks

now. AMERICAN ROBIN activity is increasing in the area. WHITE-THROATED

SPARROW, SONG, CHIPPING, and SWAMP SPARROWS are still flocking, along with

plenty of DARK-EYED JUNCOS. The GREAT HORNED OWL was again calling late

yesterday afternoon from the woods in the area between the first and second

ponds. Feeder activity is also on the rise. PURPLE FINCHES have been

increasing in numbers and we had the year's first NORTHERN CARDINAL today.

Hanging out with the feeder birds have been both KINGLET species and the

occasional YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.

Northern Maine

WHITE-CROWNED, WHITE-THROATED, CHIPPING and SONG SPARROWS were in Houlton

along with DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.

In Caribou on Collins Pond there were 4 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 4 BLUE-WINGED

TEAL, 20 SNOW GEESE, 1100 CANADA GEESE, and a single BOHEMIAN WAXWING.

In Presque Isle on Arnold Brook Lake there were 60 BLACK SCOTERS, 70 COMMON

and 50 HOODED MERGANSERS, 3 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and a GREAT BLUE HERON.

A NORTHERN HARRIER was seen in Woodland.

Fifty AMERICAN ROBINS were flocking on a Mountain ash tree in Fort Kent.

Also in Fort Kent were PURPLE FINCHES and a GRAY JAY.

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