Date: February 2, 1999
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 is the bird alert brought to you by Maine Audubon on Tuesday, February
2, 1999. Small loons have been continuously, but intermittently been
reported from the Cliff House in Ogunquit this winter. Most reports
identified these as PACIFIC LOONS, and the number has varied between one
and two individuals. An adult PACIFIC LOON with all field marks including
the so-called "chin strap" was seen by multiple observers at different
times near the Cliff House in Ogunquit again this past week. Additionally,
the bird alert has received queries or undocumented reports that a smaller
loon near the Cliff House was an ARCTIC rather than PACIFIC LOON. This past
week, on one occasion, two smaller loons were simultaneously present. One
of these was described as having all of the correct field marks for the
PACIFIC LOON. The second bird was described as having field marks typical
of an ARCTIC LOON following the April 1997 article in Birding. For the last
three or four years PACIFIC LOONS have been rare, but annual along the
coast. If you have seen a loon which you believe to be an ARCTIC LOON, we
would appreciate it if you would send a brief description along with the
date, time, location, numbers of observers etc., and mail it in care of
Linda Woodard at Maine Audubon in Falmouth.
Good birds in Naples this week included the TUNDRA SWAN plus 1 DOUBLE
CRESTED CORMORANT, 1 CANVASBACK, 1 RING-NECKED DUCK and a BARROW'S
GOLDENEYE. A MUTE SWAN was seen near Ogunquit Beach. Two male CANVASBACKS
were near Dunstan Landing at Scarborough marsh. A CAROLINA WREN was seen at
a feeder on the Shaw's Mill Road in Gorham. A GREEN WINGED TEAL and a WOOD
DUCK were seen in Yarmouth off East Elm Street. A RED BELLIED WOODPECKER
was found in Bath. Notables at Pemaquid this week were an ATLANTIC PUFFIN,
2 COMMON MURRES, 1 THICK BILLED MURRE 1 DOVEKIE, 2 RAZORBILLS and a BLACK
GUILLEMOT. Waterfowl in Fairfield this week included 1 RING NECKED DUCK and
a LESSER SCAUP along with 3 BARROW'S GOLDENEYES. A FOX SPARROW was seen in
York and another was seen in Thorndike.
York County
A ROUGH LEGGED HAWK was in York.
Notable birds at the Cliff House in Ogunquit this week included: 1 KING
EIDER, 7 HARLEQUIN DUCKS, 1 ICELAND GULL, 2 THICK BILLED MURRES, 1
RAZORBILL and 1 BLACK GUILLEMOT, along with a PACIFIC and an unconfirmed
ARCTIC LOON. HARLEQUIN DUCKS were in Perkins Cove in Ogunquit. A DOVEKIE
was seen along Marginal Way in Ogunquit.
Located at Goose Rocks this week were 15 HORNED LARKS and 12 TREE SPARROWS.
Ten BRANT, 2 GREAT CORMORANTS, 1 THICK BILLED MURRE, A HORNED LARK, 1
YELLOW RUMPED WARBLER, and PURPLE SANDPIPERS were seen at Biddeford Pool.
Cumberland County and Western Maine
Fifty AMERICAN ROBINS were along Eastern Road at Scarborough marsh. A
COMMON RAVEN and AMERICAN ROBINS were along the Mitchell Hill Road in
Scarborough.
A HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen at Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth.
An ICELAND GULL was at Willard Beach in South Portland.
Two BOBWHITE have been seen on Cushing Island since November.
A flock of 35 CEDAR WAXWINGS is frequenting the University of Southern
Maine campus in Gorham.
One ROUGH LEGGED and 4 RED TAILED HAWKS were found in Yarmouth.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK and a RED TAILED HAWK were seen in Freeport.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE and 3 COMMON RAVENS were in Pownal.
A SHARP SHINNED HAWK and 2 PURPLE FINCHES were seen in Bridgeton.
Central Maine
Seven HORNED LARKS were in Turner.
A COMMON RAVEN was seen in Bowdoin Center.
A BARRED OWL was near the Waterville airport.
Thirty HORNED LARKS were found in Clinton.
A pair of BALD EAGLES are engaged in nest building near Unity Pond.
Four PURPLE FINCHES were seen in Dixmont.
A pair of BARROW'S GOLDENEYES were at the outlet stream of the Fields Pond
Nature Center in Orrington.
A GLAUCOUS GULL flew over the Bangor Mall.
Midcoast
The list from Monhegan Island this week included: immature and adult BALD
EAGLES, ICELAND GULL, WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS and CEDAR WAXWINGS.
One BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and a SHARP SHINNED HAWK were near the Stinson
factory in Bath.
A HOODED MERGANSER and COMMON RAVENS were seen in Georgetown. A NORTHERN
SHRIKE was near Indian Point.
Two RED THROATED LOONS and a SHARP SHINNED HAWK were seen at Popham Beach.
Five EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen near Clary Hill in Union.
Eastern Maine
BALD EAGLES and COMMON RAVENS were noted on Mount Desert Island.
Numbers of GREATER SCAUP were seen near Hadley Point.
CANADA GEESE were seen in Trenton.
In the vicinity of East Quoddy Head and Lubec there were a total of 250
AMERICAN ROBINS seen in several flocks on the thirty-first. Also near
Quoddy were 2 BLACK GUILLEMOTS.
Northern Maine
WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS were seen in Wallagrass and PINE SISKINS were seen
in Fort Kent.
Upcoming Maine Audubon Birding Field Trips
The Alcids of Campobello and Lubec
Date & Time: Saturday, March 27, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (EST)
Meeting Place: Campobello Island, NB
Cost: $15 member, $20 nonmember
Limit: 16 people
Leaders: Bill Sheehan, Chuck Whitney
Birding Down East is a treat at any time of year, but in winter one has
the possibility of some very exciting and rare sightings. The trip will
cover Liberty Point, East and West Quoddy Head, and some points in between.
Possibilities include black guillemot, razorbill, thick-billed murre,
glaucous and Iceland gull, and great cormorant. We'll look for rafts of
eiders and scoters, red-necked and common loons, and other waterfowl.
Murres and dovekies are possible. Land birds could include lapland
longspur, horned lark, rough-legged hawk and black capped chickadee. We
will caravan from place to place - bring a hot thermos to drink along the
way! Campobello is on Atlantic time, but please meet the group at 9:00
Eastern Standard Time.
Harlequins of Isle Au Haut
Date & Time: Sunday, March 28, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Meeting Place: Stonington
Cost: $25 member, $30 nonmember
Limit: 25 people
Leader: J. Dwight
A little over 9 square miles in size, Isle Au Haut sits approximately 8
miles off the coast of Stonington in Penobscot Bay. This popular summer
residence for out-of-staters becomes the wintering grounds for small rafts
of harlequin ducks. Isle Au Haut's steep rocky shoreline is perfect
wintering habitat for this particular species. Here, they dabble and dive
for crustaceans, mollusks, and fish while readying for their migration to
breeding grounds in Newfoundland, Baffin Island, and Greenland.
On this trip, we charter the island's mail boat and circle to look for the
ducks. We may also have sightings of common eider, all three scoters,
oldsquaw, common goldeneye, and bufflehead, along with the likelihood of
red-throated and common loon, horned grebe, and brant. Participants will
want to dress very warmly; a hot thermos might be a welcome refreshment to
pack along with you.
An Introduction to Ornithology
Dates & Times: Tuesdays, April 6, 13, 20, 27, 6:30-9:00 p.m.; field trip
Saturday, May 8, 7:00-12:00 noon; field trip weather date Sunday, May 9
Meeting Place: Gilsland Farm Environmental Center
Cost: $110 member, $125 nonmember
Limit: 25 people
Instructor: Dr. Herb Wilson
This course is designed for the novice birder and for those more
experienced birders who would like to review. In four indoor lectures and
one field trip, Dr. Wilson will cover ornithological topics including
general anatomy, classification, identification, vocalization, and optics
for bird watching. In terms of biology, participants will study foraging
habits, migration, nesting, and courtship rituals. An emphasis on the major
family groups of birds will be given in order to place species in context.
A field trip will provide the opportunity to observe, identify, and study
birds in their natural habitats. This is a great opportunity to hone your
birding skills and strengthen your appreciation and understanding of these
captivating members of the animal kingdom.
Dr. Herbert Wilson is a professor of Biology at Colby College where he
teaches various courses including ornithology and ecology.