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

To: <BIRDEAST@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>

Subject: [BIRDEAST] FW: Bird ALert

Date: Monday, April 05, 2004 10:18 AM

 

Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert

Date: 3/30/04

Compilers: Kay Gammons and Steve Pollock

Transcribers: Maine Audubon  (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)

 

The TUNDRA SWAN continued at Scarborough marsh.

 

A HOARY REDPOLL was seen in a flock of approximately 100 COMMON REDPOLLS

at a feeder in Old Town.

 

TURKEY VULTURE, BALD EAGLE, and WILD TURKEY reports were too numerous to

mention individually.

 

Arriving this week were GREAT and SNOWY EGRET, GREAT BLUE HERONS, GLOSSY

IBIS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, PIPING PLOVER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, PINE

WARBLER, CHIPPING SPARROW, AMERCICAN KESTREL, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, MERLIN,

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, and EASTERN PHOEBE to name a few.

 

York County

 

A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, 6 FOX SPARROWS, and 3 AMERICAN WOODCOCK were

found in York.

 

At the Sanford sewer ponds there were 23 RING-NECKED DUCK, 2 AMERICAN

WIGEON, 1 SOLITARY SANDPIPER, 2 COMMON MERGANSERS, HOODED MERGANSERS, 2

SWAMP SPARROW, 2 EASTERN MEADOWLARK, and KILLDEER.

 

In North Berwick there were FOX SPARROW, EASTERN PHOEBE, and CHIPPING

SPARROW.

 

At the Cliff House there were 1 COMMON MURRE, 3 EASTERN PHOEBES, and 20+

HARLEQUIN DUCKS. Three TREE SWALLOWS were on the golf course pond

opposite Cliff House along with 2 RING-NINGED DUCKS and 2 HOODED

MERGANSERS.

 

In Wells there was 1 MERLIN. The KING EIDER continued to be seen

intermittently in Wells Harbor.  Two GREAT BLUE HERONS were flying over

the marsh at Laudholm Farm, also in Wells, on March 24.

 

A flock of 85+ BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was seen on Goose Rocks Rd. in

Kennebunkport, just west of Guinea Rd. junction on the 25th.

 

RING-NECKED DUCKS were at Fortune's Rocks in Kennebunk.

 

A mixed flock of 150+ WAXWINGS - mostly BOHEMIANS were at Saco Island

(aka Factory Island). A GREAT BLUE HERON was seen at the mouth of the

Saco River

in Saco.   An EASTERN PHOEBE was seen in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco.

An

EASTERN MEADOWLARK, and 4 AMERICAN KESTRELS were along the Boom Rd. in

Saco

 

Greater Portland and western Maine

 

SNOWY EGRET and a GREAT EGRET arrived at Scarborough marsh along with

GLOSSY IBIS, and an AMERICAN KESTREL. Behind the Pelreco building there

were 4 NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and a NORTHERN HARRIER.

Behind the Clambake there was a GADWALL. An EASTERN PHOEBE was in the

Willowdale section of Scarborough.  AMERICAN WOODCOCK were displaying

near the sewage plant along Eastern Road in Scarborough. Near Grondin

Pond in Scarborough there were WHITE CROWNED, WHITE THROATED, and FOX

SPARROWS. Five PIPING PLOVERS arrived at Higgin's Beach in Scarborough

on the afternoon of April 1.  In a small pond off of Blackpoint Road

about 1/2 mile down from Oak Hill there was a pair of WOOD DUCKS.  On

Marion Ross Rd there was a MERLIN.

 

Twenty BRANT were at Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth and a FOX SPARROW was

elsewhere in Cape Elizabeth.

 

An EASTERN MEADOWLARK was above Portland's East End Beach (Friday,

3/26/04). Also a flock of 45 cedar waxwings.

 

An Enormous flock (est. 1,200 individuals) of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was seen

on Friday, at first in the top of silver maples behind Island View

Apartments, North and Walnut streets, Portland, then in the top of a

group of trees above Eastern Promenade Trail. The huge number of birds

made it impossible to count them.

 

Approximately 150+ BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were feeding on berries behind

CASA, Inc. at 741 Warren Avenue in Portland. Elsewhere approximately 120

BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were feeding on crabapples outside the main entrance

to the Chancery on Ocean Ave. in Portland. The Chancery is next to St.

Pius church.

 

In and around the Mouth of the Presumscot River there were 2 PIED-BILLED

GREBES, 3 AMERICAN WIGEON, ~40 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 5 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 1

LESSER SCAUP, 2 GREATER SCAUP, ~250 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 1 COMMON

MERGANSER, 2 KILLDEER, and an early PALM WARBLER.

 

An early VEERY was singing in Yarmouth.

 

A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was heard in Gray. A FOX SPARROW and an EASTERN

PHOEBE were also present at this location.

 

A PINE WARBLER was in Yarmouth.

 

An EASTERN PHOEBE was in Freeport. PINE WARBLERS and 6 FOX SPARROWS were

in Freeport. A BROAD-WINGED HAWK arrived in Freeport.

 

An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was seen in Bridgton.

 

Two KILLDEER arrived in Stow.

 

Central Maine

 

An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was seen in Topsham. FOX SPARROWS were seen in

Brunswick and Topsham.

 

An EASTERN PHOEBE was in Bowdoinham along with 30 SONG SPARROWS and an

AMERICAN WOODCOCK.

 

Three KILLDEER and an AMERICAN WOODCOCK were seen in Turner.

 

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was in Richmond

 

An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was in Readfield. Along Route 17 in Readfield there

was a NORTHERN SHRIKE at Kents Hill Apple Orchard.

 

A COMMON MERGANSER, 1 FOX SPARROW, and 2 COMMON REDPOLLS were in

Augusta.

 

A pair of BARROW'S GOLDENEYES were with some 10 COMMON GOLDENEYES in the

Penobscot River just north of Bangor, where the cemetery and route 2

come close to the river about 2 PM on March 20, 2004.

 

Northern Maine

 

On March 27, A pair of NORTHERN PINTAILS dabbled in a flooded field in

Lee.

 

A GRAY JAY visited a feeder in nearby Carroll.

 

Twenty BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, and AMERICAN ROBINS

arrived in Houlton.

 

Local arrivals/new birds in Aroostook County for the year are CANADA

GOOSE, HOODED MERGANSER, WOOD DUCK, NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK,

KILLDEER, BARRED OWL, AMERICAN ROBIN, and DARK-EYED JUNCO.

 

CANADA GEESE were about a week early in their arrival date. Small groups

were seen in Houlton, Bridgewater, Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle and

Caribou

 

BALD EAGLES are working on the nest in Fort Fairfield but still no sign

of egg laying or incubation.

 

Three early WOOD DUCKS were on Presque Isle Stream in Presque Isle.  A

RED-TAILED HAWK the first one seen this year, was circling over Presque

Isle. MALLARD, BLACK DUCK, and COMMON GOLDENEYE numbers have increased

with flocks of 20+ seen in Caribou and Presque Isle. COMMON MERGANSERS

are widespread but in low numbers. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen this week

with 28 in Caribou and 2 seen in Presque Isle. The first KILLDEER of the

season were seen on the river ice in Caribou and Presque Isle. HOODED

MERGANSERS (mostly

drakes) arrived on schedule with 2's and 3's seen on the Aroostook River

in Presque Isle and Caribou.

 

AMERICAN ROBINS were quick to overspread the area. The first birds were

seen on Saturday the 27th in Woodland and Washburn and #'s from across

the area were being reported by Tuesday. Flocks of AMERICAN CROWS are

still being seen with 66 reported in Washburn.

 

BOREAL CHICKADEES were heard in T8R7 and Woodland. A male NORTHERN

HARRIER, the first one seen this year, was in Woodland.  An adult

NORTHERN SHRIKE was sighted in Woodland. A BARRED OWL was heard in

Woodland. PILEATED WOODPECKERS were heard in T8R7 near LaPomkeag Lake

and Woodland. PINE and EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen in Woodland

 

GRAY JAYS were seen in T8R7 and a COMMON RAVEN is incubating eggs at a

nest in Easton.

 

DARK-EYED JUNCOS arrived and singles and small groups were seen in

Caribou, Woodland and T8R7. SONG SPARROWS were singing in Caribou,

Presque Isle and Woodland. SNOW BUNTINGS were seen over LaPomkeag Lake

in T8R7. Small to medium sized flocks of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and

COMMON GRACKLES were reported from throughout the area

 

In Fort Kent there were 15 COMMON REDPOLLS and the first AMEICAN ROBINS.

 

A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen in Mapleton.

 

Midcoast

 

In Merry Meeting Bay there were 800 CANADA GEESE, 60 GREEN-WINGED TEAL,

600 BLACK DUCKS, 20 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 8 WOOD DUCKS, and 2 HOODED

MERGANSERS.

 

Two SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were feeding at the waters edge of a mill pond

in Saint George.

 

An early BROAD-WING HAWK was seen on Sunday morning over the road on the

way into Friendship.

 

On Monhegan Island this week there were EASTERN PHOEBE, NORTHERN

FLICKER, 1 FOX SPARROW, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, and CEDAR WAXWINGS.

 

Six HOODED MERGANSERS were on the Penobscot River north of the village

of Winterport

 

Eastern Maine

 

On Blue Hill Peninsula there were 10 COMMON MERGANSER and 20+ HOODED

MERGANSER, near the south end of the Bagaduce River in Brooksville.

 

A male NORTHERN HARRIER hovered over the Blueberry Barrens adjacent to

Frost Pond in Sedgwick. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was on the telephone wire on

Pertville Road in Sedgwick

 

A group of six WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS (2 males, 4 females) were on Ship

Harbor trail in Acadia-Mount Dessert Island

 

Two AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were on Bog Road in Fayette.

 

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

 

Building Bird Houses

Chickadees, tufted titmice, tree swallows and bluebirds are all

cavity-nesting birds common in many back yards in Maine. All are

"secondary cavity nesters," meaning they don't do any excavating

themselves but use old woodpecker holes, or other natural or man-made

cavities. Naturalist Maurice Dauphin will teach you how to construct a

standard bluebird house (which can be used by many different species),

so you can provide nesting opportunities in your yard. Maurice will also

review nest box placement and habitat preferences for different species.

All supplies included, but please bring a Phillips-head screw driver.

Saturday, April 10 10-noon $25/box/member, $30/box/nonmember

Reservations necessary

 

Nature Book Discussion Group

Reading the Forested Landscape by Tom Wessels

"Reading the landscape is not just about identifying landscape patterns;

more importantly, it is an interactive narrative that involves humans

and nature. For those interested in enhancing their sense of place, I

know of no better way than by becoming intimately acquainted with their

local forests and the fascinating stories they tell." So begins Tom

Wessels landmark book, which will help you learn to read a landscape and

discover how it was used in previous generations. Tom will not be here

for the book discussion, but he will be here on April 24 to conduct a

slide show and hands-on program (see page xx for details). Monday, April

12 7:00 p.m. Free

 

Woodcock Watch

Each spring the woodcock engages in one of the animal kingdom's most

interesting and demonstrative courtships. This evening we will watch a

short video on woodcocks (taken at Maine's Moosehorn National Wildlife

Refuge), then venture out to a place where the woodcocks are reliably

found to observe their spectacular display. Be sure to bring binoculars,

wear wet-weather gear and be prepared for a little walk. Wednesday,

April 14 6:30-8:30 $8/member, $10/nonmember Reservations necessary

 

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