Happy New Year

Wishing all of you a very happy and prosperous New Year!!

 I leave you with a few images of a Red-Tailed Hawk that we happened upon on the way back from Bath, Maine Sunday. My last bird photo of 2007. Click a thumbnail for a larger view.

Happy birding!

Technorati Tags: images, Hawk, Maine, bird, birding

Sphere: Related Content

Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert: Dec. 27

Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert
Reporting Period: December 21 – December 27, 2007
Area: State of Maine
Compilers: Eric Hynes and Stella Walsh

Of Special Note

BARRED OWLS and NORTHERN SHRIKES continue to be found at an above average rate.

PINE GROSBEAKS, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS and COMMON REDPOLLS remain numerous and widespread.  Look for the grosbeaks and waxwings at fruiting trees, particularly ornamental crabapples.  Redpolls are being seen frequently at feeding stations.  To a lesser extent, EVENING GROSBEAKS are being reported statewide as well.

Other species of note this week include: SNOW GOOSE, BLACK VULTURE, SHORT-EARED OWL, NORTHERN HAWK OWL, SNOWY OWL, DOVEKIE, COMMON MURRE, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, RUSTY BLACKBIRD and HOARY REDPOLL.

York County

Birds seen out in Saco Bay included two DOVEKIES and one COMMON MURRE.

Greater Portland

A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER turned up in a yard on Cousins Island on December 23.

An immature GLAUCOUS GULL has been frequenting the Lobster Co-op parking lot at Pine Point.  Southwest winds and a high tide brought over 50 COMMON LOONS and more than 40 HORNED GREBES into the Pine Point harbor.

A SNOW GOOSE was seen with Canada Geese near 1685 Congress Street in the Stroudwater section of Portland.

The 42 participants in the Portland CBC on December 22 tallied 91 species.  Noteworthy birds included a SHORT-EARED OWL at Two Lights State Park, a GLAUCOUS GULL at Pine Point, a DOVEKIE from Dyer Point and another from Prout’s Neck, and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD in a Scarborough yard.  New record high counts were recorded for fifteen species, likely resulting from this winter’s invasion and the deep snow concentrating birds at feeders.

Midcoast

Highlights from Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg on December 23 included an immature ICELAND GULL at the mouth of the Morse River, a SHORT-EARED OWL hunting over the dunes, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and BARRED OWL over and on the marsh off Route 209, an AMERICAN KESTREL, 75 SNOW BUNTINGS, over 78 HORNED LARKS in several small flocks, two LAPLAND LONGSPURS, an AMERICAN PIPIT, a NORTHERN SHRIKE near the entrance road, a RUFFED GROUSE, and four RED CROSSBILLS heard overhead.

A dark-phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen at Popham on December 26.

Two first winter ICELAND BULLS are reliable at the Sebasco Resort property in Phippsburg.

December 23 proved to be an excellent day at Reid State Park highlighted by 227 RED-NECKED GREBES, a SHORT-EARED OWL, 2 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, two HOODED MERGANSERS, plus 66 SNOW BUNTINGS, 15 HORNED LARKS, and 24 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS.

Two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen at feeders on Indian Point Road in Georgetown.

A BLACK VULTURE continues at a turkey farm on Route 1 north of Moody’s Diner in Warren, where good numbers of BALD EAGLES are also being seen.

A SNOWY OWL was by the church on Monhegan Island and another SNOWY OWL was found in Port Clyde.

Lewiston-Auburn

Preliminary figures from the Lewiston-Auburn CBC on December 22 indicated at least 42 species seen.  Highlights included an AMERICAN WIGEON at the North Bridge, 109 PINE GROSBEAKS with 50 in one flock seen closely off US 202 south of the Auburn Turnpike exit, 140 SNOW BUNTINGS in one large flock, and new records of over 200 WILD TURKEYS and five PILEATED WOODPECKERS.

The PEREGRINE FALCON at the old St. Mary’s church was seen on count day chasing two of the 14 BALD EAGLES seen.

Other irruptive species recorded including 3 NORTHERN SHRIKES, a single flock of 15 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, and 109 COMMON REDPOLLS.

A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was found outside a home in Monmouth.

Kennebec Valley (Augusta-Waterville)

A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was vocalizing along Eight Rod Road in Augusta where a GREAT HORNED OWL was also calling.

BARROW’S GOLDENEYES continue at Fort Halifax in Winslow, joined this week by a drake RING-NECKED DUCK and a pair of COMMON MERGANSER.

A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK sailed over the Tiffany Road in Sidney.

Central - Bangor

One hundred and fifty BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS with 18 PINE GROSBEAKS were seen at the botanical garden at University of Maine in Orono on December 24.  This is a historically reliable spot for these species.

Penobscot Bay

A SNOWY OWL has been seen on Beech Hill on South Street between Rockville and Beech Hill Roads in Rockport.

Among the birds seen from the Maine State Ferry from Rockland to Vinalhaven this week were 42 COMMON LOONS, six BALD EAGLES, 45 RAZORBILLS, one BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, 70 BLACK GUILLEMOTS, and 50 BONEPARTE’S GULLS.

Downeast

A HOARY REDPOLL was seen at a feeder in Eastport on December 23.

Highlights from the Eastport CBC included two GREATER SCAUP, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, at least two MERLINS, six RED PHALAROPES, two GRAY JAYS, and 16 BONAPARTE’S GULLS.

Northern Maine- Aroostook County

A truly exceptional species for northern Maine in the winter was the RUSTY BLACKBIRD that showed up at a feeder in Presque Isle.

A pair of BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS were heard and seen on the Ouellette Crossroad in T17R5 near Dickey Brook on December 22.

A report of a NORTHERN HAWK OWL came from the Christina Reservoir area in Fort Fairfield on December 19, but has not been relocated since.

In Presque Isle, a hearty TUFTED TITMOUSE continued to show up at the feeder where it has been seen for over a month.

Unusual anytime of year, but exceptional in winter was a FIELD SPARROW reported at a feeder in Presque Isle.

A few lingering DARK-EYED JUNCOS and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS have also been seen in Woodland, Caribou and Presque Isle.

A number of NORTHERN CARDINAL reports in northern Maine stand out in a season in which one cardinal is a rare treat.

A HOARY REDPOLL was among a flock of COMMON REDPOLLS at a feeder in Mt. Chase.

Report provided by:
Eric Hynes
Staff Naturalist / Gilsland Farm Center Manager
Maine Audubon
20 Gilsland Farm Road
Falmouth, ME 04105
207-781-2330 ext. 237
ehynes@maineaudubon.org
www.maineaudubon.org

Sphere: Related Content

A Cape Cod Christmas

Tiring of the snow and cold here in Maine, and wanting to see what grass looks like, we spent our holiday weekend on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. With no snow on the ground and temperatures in the 50’s, it felt as if it were the first day of spring. We lodged in Harwich and spent several hours each day bird watching from Chatham to Provincetown. Sharon came down with the flu while we were there and as I write this entry, I myself feel as if I am coming down with the dreaded ailment.

The highlight of our trip was the sighting of a Peregrine Falcon in Provincetown (see photo below). As we rounded the traffic circle at the terminus of Province Lands Road, I spied the Falcon perched on a wire. I parked the car and slowly tried to position myself for a photograph. The sunlight was on the opposite side of the bird from where I was, so I slowly worked my way around to get a better shot. But a jerk in a big dump truck who saw what I was doing decided to make as much noise as he possibly could with the behemoth vehicle and scared the Falcon away. It was Christmas Eve, so I kept my thoughts about this to myself and did not run after the truck shaking my fist.

Saturday afternoon, just before sunset, we were at the lookout parking lot across the street from the Chatham Lighthouse. Sharon was watching for seals and I was watching ducks fly in and out of Chatham Harbor. We saw what looked like rocks on a sandbar, but remembering from other times that we visited the area, there were no rocks at that particular location. We decided to go to a better vantage point. A narrow street took us to a point directly across from the “rocks”, which were in reality seals! There were close to 300 Harbor and Gray Seals hauled out on the sandbars, resting and sleeping, a few of them playing in the surf. Those that were sleeping were lined up in rows and all were facing the water in case a quick escape were imminent. This was, by far, a record number of seals for us.

We visited several lighthouses and a wildlife refuge in Wellfleet. An adult Bald Eagle was soaring over the marsh in the refuge and a Red-Tailed Hawk was hunting over the pine forest at the same location. A couple of hardy Great Blue Heron were seen here and there, and a drake Barrow’s Goldeneye was seen in the Salt Pond. Large numbers of Buffleheads and Red-Breasted Mergansers were seen at just about every location that had water.

The following is a tally of species we recorded while on Cape Cod.

• Greater Scaup
• Lesser Scaup
• Common Eider
• Long-Tailed Duck
• Surf Scoter
• Common Goldeneye
• Barrow’s Goldeneye
• Great Cormorant
• Great Blue Heron
• Mallard
• Mute Swan
• Canada Goose
• American Black Duck
• Bufflehead
• Common Merganser
• Red-Breasted Merganser
• Hooded Merganser
• Bald Eagle
• Red Tailed Hawk
• Peregrine Falcon
• Ring-Necked Pheasant
• Wild Turkey
• Black-Legged Kittiwake
• Mourning Dove
• Red-Bellied Woodpecker
• Hairy Woodpecker
• Downy Woodpecker
• Northern Flicker
• Blue Jay
• American Crow
• Black-Capped Chickadee
• Tufted Titmouse
• Red-Breasted Nuthatch
• White-Breasted Nuthatch
• Carolina Wren
• Golden-Crowned Kinglet
• American Robin
• Northern Mockingbird
• Cedar Waxwing
• European Starling
• Yellow-Rumped Warbler
• Northern Cardinal
• American Tree Sparrow
• Song Sparrow
• Dark-Eyed Junco
• House Finch
• American Gold Finch
• House Sparrow

Not a bad tally with 47 species! I have included some of the photographs that were taken on Cape Cod. A larger view may be seen by clicking a thumbnail. As always, comments and criticisms are greatly appreciated!

Happy birding!

Technorati Tags: Maine, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, bird watching, bird, wildlife, photographs, birding

Sphere: Related Content

Merry Christmas

The Christmas season fills our hearts with joy;
Bright, happy days bring special kinds of pleasure.
We’re wrapped in the excitement of it all,
The sights, the sounds, the smells, the tastes we treasure.
Yet when we have some quiet time to think
About our finest blessings all year through,
We focus on our family and our friends,
And appreciate the gift of knowing you!

Birding In Maine wishes all of you a safe and Merry Christmas!!

Sphere: Related Content

Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert: Dec. 13

Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert
Reporting Period: December 7 – December 13, 2007
Area: State of Maine
Compilers: Eric Hynes and Stella Walsh

 Of Special Note

 Numerous sightings of NORTHERN SHRIKES, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, COMMON REDPOLLS and PINE GROSBEAKS continue statewide.  Check fruiting trees like crabapples for waxwings and grosbeaks.  Redpolls are visiting feeders and birch and alder stands, and shrikes are turning up all over.

 Scattered reports of EVENING GROSBEAKS and BARRED OWLS also continue from wide-spread locations.

 The first SNOWY OWLS of the winter have arrived, and there has been a spike in ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and SHORT-EARED OWL reports.

 A KING EIDER is being seen regularly at East Point Sanctuary in Biddeford Pool.

 Other standouts mentioned this week include: REDHEAD, DOVEKIE, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, LAPLAND LONGSPUR and RED CROSSBILL.

 York County

 A female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD visited a feeder in Cape Neddick on December 11.

 A CAROLINA WREN was at a feeder in York on December 11.

 At least 60 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were noted at the Cliff House in Ogunquit on December 9.

 A drake KING EIDER continues to be seen off East Point Sanctuary in Biddeford Pool.  Other notable species in the East Point area this week include a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, a MERLIN, RUDDY TURNSTONES, PURPLE SANDPIPERS, RAZORBILLS, a late AMERICAN PIPIT and SNOW BUNTINGS.

 A RED CROSSBILL visited a yard in Biddeford.

 A NORTHERN HARRIER was hunting over frozen ponds at the Sanford Sewage Treatment Plant on December 9.

 An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER has been seen daily at a feeder in Saco.

 Thirty BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES were seen off-shore in Saco Bay on December 10.  RAZORBILLS and NORTHERN GANNETS, primarily adults, are also being routinely seen off shore. A DOVEKIE was off Stratton Island on December 13.

 Greater Portland

 A SHORT-EARED OWL, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and HORNED LARKS in Scarborough Marsh have been reported frequently this week from locations such as Eastern Road, Seavey’s Landing and behind the Pelreco building.

 Also in Scarborough, a pair of NORTHERN PINTAILS and a drake WOOD DUCK were in the Dunstan River just before it goes under Route 9, a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and a late WILLET were at Pine Point, a NORTHERN PINTAIL and a RUDDY DUCK and many EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were at Grondin Pond.

 In Cape Elizabeth, a SHORT-EARED OWL was reported flying over Dyer Point in Cape Elizabeth on December 11, while a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen hunting over Richmond Island.

 A SNOWY OWL was seen at the Portland Jetport on December 12.  Efforts to relocate it on December 13 were unsuccessful. 

 A BALTIMORE ORIOLE is coming to a feeder on Danforth Street in Portland.

 A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen on December 8 on Pleasant Avenue, Peaks Island, while another continues to visit feeders at Highland Lake in Windham.

 A CAROLINA WREN has been visiting a feeder in South Portland recently.

 Midcoast

 A single LAPLAND LONGSPUR was with a flock of seven SNOW BUNTINGS feeding roadside at Smith’s boat yard on the Mere Point Road in Brunswick on December 9, while a RED-SHOULDERED and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were seen perched in the tree-line along the waterfront.

 Another RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was spotted at Hermit Island in Phippsburg on December 13.  Other unusual birds in Phippsburg include an ICELAND GULL at Purse Line Baits in the Sebasco area and a BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD at Small Point.

 A PEREGRINE FALCON continues near the Topsham-Brunswick Bridge over the Androscoggin River, often perching on the Fort Andros Mill, and an immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK was hunting feeder birds and harassing Mallards at the pump station on upper Maine Street south of Bowdoin College in Brunswick.

 A NORTHERN GOSHAWK surveyed feeder birds in a Georgetown back yard.

 A possible sighting of a SNOWY OWL flying across Webster Road in Freeport was reported on December 11.

 Kennebec Valley (Augusta-Waterville)

 Two LAPLAND LONGSPURS were with 10 HORNED LARKS and a flock of two dozen SNOW BUNTINGS were seen at the Augusta Airport on December 9.

 A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen on December 6 at the Hatch Hill Landfill in Augusta.

 A pair of REDHEADS continue to be seen on China Lake from the public boat access along Route 32 in Vassalboro. Among the other waterfowl seen on December 7 was a RUDDY DUCK.

 Tardy RUSTY BLACKBIRDS are coming to feeders on the Unity College Campus.

 Western Mountains

 A flock of EVENING GROSBEAKS feeding on sumac and at feeders in Anson has built to over 50 birds.

 A TUFTED TITMOUSE is visiting a feeder in Sandy River Plantation seven miles south of Rangeley, again highlighting the northern expansion of this species.

 Flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS, COMMON REDPOLLS and PINE GROSBEAKS are reported in Rangeley.

 Penobscot Bay

 Roughly 700 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS along with two dozen PINE GROSBEAKS were on Miller Street in Belfast on December 7.

 Four BARROW’S GOLDENEYES were seen in Belfast Harbor on December 12.

 Downeast

 A male hybrid duck, possibly a COMMON GOLDENEYE X HOODED MERGANSER was seen with five male COMMON GOLDENEYES at the Harbor Marina in Southwest Harbor. This hybrid was reported from the exact same harbor one year ago.

 A very tardy BROWN THRASHER was seen under feeders on Cooper’s Street in Machias on December 8.

 On December 8, a flock of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS visited apple trees in a yard in Perry.

Eric Hynes
Staff Naturalist / Gilsland Farm Center Manager
Maine Audubon
20 Gilsland Farm Road
Falmouth, ME 04105
207-781-2330 ext. 237
ehynes@maineaudubon.org
www.maineaudubon.org

Sphere: Related Content