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

To: <BIRDEAST@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>

Subject: [BIRDEAST] Maine Bird Alert 3/17/04

Date: Monday, March 22, 2004 8:26 AM

 

Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert

 

Date:  March 17, 2004

 

Area: State of Maine

 

Number: (207) 781-2332

 

Compilers: Steve Pollock and Kay Gammons

 

Transcriber: Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)

 

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This past week we received a very large number of TURKEY VULTURE reports

ranging from York and Cumberland Counties in southwestern Maine through

central and midcoastal regions into eastern Maine. There was a high

count of 12 TURKEY VULTURES in Camden.

 

BRANT are now common along much of the southwest coast. WATERFOWL are

confined to the southwest coast this week most reports were from

Scarborough south.

 

Early FOX SPARROWS showed up in one or two places. A SONG SPARROW or two

were reported and a few early migratory AMERCIAN ROBINS also made it

into the state ahead of the snow storm.

 

York County

 

Seen in York this week were 2 FOX SPARROWS and a singing CAROLINA WREN.

A THICK-BILLED MURRE was at the Nubble Light.

 

An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was seen in Berwick. An ICELAND GULL was at the

Cliff House in Ogunquit.

 

The KING EIDER continues at Wells Harbor.

 

One hundred fifty PURPLE SANDPIPERS were at Kennebunk Beach. A BARRED

OWL was at Gooserocks Beach also in Kennebunk..

 

Two RING-NECKED DUCKS were at the south end of Lake Arrowhead in North

Waterboro.

 

One hundred BRANT were at Hills Beach in Biddeford. At Biddeford Pool

there were 17 DUNLIN, 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE, and 4 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.

 

A WOOD DUCK was seen along the Ross Road in Scarborough.

 

Off Route 111 there were HOODED MERGANSERS and a WOOD DUCK.

 

Along the Saco River in the open water both below and above the dams in

Saco there were HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS, RING-NECKED DUCKS, and

GREEN-WINGED TEAL.

 

Greater Portland and western Maine

 

The list from Pine Point and the Pelreco building this past week

included: the SNOWY OWL, which is being seen infrequently near the

Clambake restaurant, 30 BRANT, BONAPARTE'S GULL, and NORTHERN PINTAIL.

An IPSWICH race of SAVANNAH SPARROW was at Pine Point Beach feeding in

dune grasses at jetty end of beach. At Scarborough marsh in the vicinity

of the Audubon Nature Center there were 18 SNOW GEESE, NORTHERN

PINTAILS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, GADWALL, 3 GREATER SCAUP, and KILLDEER. A

CAROLINA WREN was seen at Dunstan Landing. BOHEMIAN and CEDAR WAXWINGS

were seen in the vicinity of Dunstan Corner. At feeders near Grondin

Pond in Scarborough there were 50 COMMON REDPOLLS and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD.

 

At Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth there were 20 BRANT, 1 ICELAND GULL,

and 6 BRANT. A BELTED KINGFISHER was seen along the Spurwink River in

Cape Elizabeth.

 

A birder had 300 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in his yard on Dennett St in

Portland.

 

A FOX SPARROW and 2 WOODCOCK were seen in Cumberland.

 

EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen in Harrison.

 

EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, 20 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, 20 GRACKLES, and 20 COMMON

REDPOLLS were in Wilton.

 

Central Maine

 

EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen in Brunswick. A FISH CROW and BOHEMIAN

WAXWINGS were on the Bowdoin College campus.

 

A SONG SPARROW appeared in Richmond.

 

A NORTHERN GOSHAWK and AMERCIAN ROBINS were seen in Belgrade.

 

A dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was reported from Waterville.

 

The SNOWY OWL continues along the Hinckley Road in Clinton. Also in that

area were RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, COMMON GRACKLES, and a KILLDEER.

 

In Plymouth along Route 7 there was a HOODED MERGANSER in the open water

of Plymouth pond.

 

A HOARY REDPOLL stood out amongst a flock of COMMON REDPOLLS at a feeder

in Orono.

 

COMMON REDPOLLS were reported in Dover Foxcroft.

 

Northern Maine

 

In Fort Kent this week there were 20 COMMON REDPOLLS and in Frenchville

there were 12 SNOW BUNTINGS.

 

Midcoast

 

At Hansen's Bay in Woolwich there were NORTHERN PINTAILS and RING-NECKED

DUCKS.

 

A FOX SPARROW was seen in Phippsburg. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen at

Morse Mountain in Phippsburg. Fifteen SNOW BUNTINGS and a NORTHERN

HARRIER were at Popham Beach.

 

A male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was in Belfast Harbor.

 

 Two BLACK-HEADED GULLS were behind the Littlefield Baptist Church in

Rockland.

 

Birds seen on Samoset Rd. in Boothbay Harbor of interest included a

small flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, RUDDY TURNSTONES, and SONG SPARROWS.

 

Eastern Maine

 

A flock of about 15+ COMMON GRACKLE with 5 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS was

seen in Machias. Along the East Machias River there was a BARROW'S

GOLDENEYE, 16 Common Grackles, 12 Red-winged Blackbirds, 6 American Tree

Sparrows, and a COMMON REDPOLL. A single TURKEY VULTURE was over

Hannaford's along Rte. 1 in Machias.

 

East of Roque Bluffs, along Roque Bluffs Road, there were 25 COMMON

GRACKLES and 3 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS.

 

Upcoming Maine Audubon Programs: Please call 207-781-2330 x 215 to

register or email lledoux@maineaudubon.org

 

Introduction to Ornithology

 

Dr. Herb Wilson, a biology professor at Colby College, will teach this

course designed for both novice and experienced birders. Herb will cover

many basics of bird biology, including anatomy, identification,

classification, vocalization, foraging, migration, nesting, courtship

and mating. A field trip will provide the opportunity to use what you've

learned and observe birds in field.

 

Classes: Tuesdays, April 6, 13, 20 and May 4; 6:30-9 p.m.

 

Field trip: Saturday, May 8

 

$115/member, $140/nonmember

 

Reservations necessary

 

 

 

Waterfowl of Deer Hollow Sanctuary

 

Deer Hollow Sanctuary-aka Mud Pond-is a tiny little hidden body of water

behind bustling Route 302 in Windham that usually loses its ice cover

before all the big lakes nearby. So for a few short weeks every spring

it becomes a staging area for migrant waterfowl pushing inland with the

advancing spring. Ring-necked ducks, buffleheads, hooded mergansers and

other waterfowl often gather here by the hundreds. We will sneak in for

a peek at the ducks and then take a short walk around the pond.

 

Windham

 

Wednesday, April 7, 6-7 pm

 

Led by Bob Bittenbender

 

$6/member, $8/nonmember

 

Limited to 8 participants

 

 

 

 

Linda Woodard

Maine Audubon

20 Gilsland Farm Rd.

Falmouth, Maine

207-781-2330 ext 213

lwoodard@maineaudubon.org

 

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