Maine Shorebirds
August 24, 2008
From the south coast of Maine to the Mid-Coast, shorebirds were on the move these last two weekends. Fall migration is well underway and shorebird numbers are not disappointing. (This is a double post for last Saturday along the south coast and this Saturday along the Mid-Coast.)
Last weekend, we visited Goose Rocks Beach, Granite Point and Pine Point to observe the “peeps”. The highlight of the trip was the sighting of a Western Willet, which happen to land a few feet from where I was standing at the Lobster Co-op.
We watched a pair of juvenile Green Herons take turns atanding on a wire out on Granite Point. Also at this location, Northern Harriers were searching the marsh for food, as were Osprey and an immature Bald Eagle.
Goose Rocks Beach held its fair share of shorebirds, but as it was dead low tide while we were there, counts were difficult as the birds were fairly far out on the mudflats.
I have misplaced the list of birds we observed last Saturday morning. Hopefully I’ll find it and amend this post at a later time. In the mean time, enjoy the following pictures from last Saturdays bird watching trip to the south coast of Maine.
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(Click on map and use your up and down arrow keys to view the 3 locations on this map)
Yesterday, Sharon and I followed the peninsula south of Bath for our bird watching trip. It was such a beautiful morning, with bright sunshine and light winds. We birded Tottman Cove. Atkins Bay and Small Point for the first 2 hours after sunrise.
Our highlights were the sighting of a single Great Egret and Solitary Sandpiper at Tottman Cove (Maine Atlas, page 6 D-4) and 3 first year Bald Eagles on Lee Island near the Squirrel Point Light (Maine Atlas, page 6 D-5).
The following is our tally:
Location: Small Point
Observers: John and Sharon Briggs
Observation date: 8/23/08
Notes: Clear Skies; Temp: 58 F.; SSW winds @ 3-5 mph
Number of species: 26
Canada Goose 30
American Black Duck 4
Common Loon 1 (Near pier at Ft. Baldwin)
Double-crested Cormorant 15
Great Egret 1 (Tottman Cove)
Snowy Egret 12
Great Blue Heron 1
Osprey 2 (1 Head Beach; 1 Tottman Cove)
Bald Eagle 3 (3 - 1st year on Lee Island near Squirrel Point Light)
Northern Harrier 3 (1 Sprague River; 2 Atkins Bay)
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Merlin 1
Black-bellied Plover 1
Semipalmated Plover 10
Solitary Sandpiper 1 (Tottman Cove)
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Willet 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 7
Whimbrel 3 (Atkins Bay)
Least Sandpiper 2 (Tottman Cove)
White-rumped Sandpiper 6
Short-billed Dowitcher 5
Long-billed Dowitcher 1
Mourning Dove 8
Belted Kingfisher 3
American Crow 18
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
The following are photos of some of the birds we observed during yesterdays bird watching trip. The Snowy Egret was very cooperative as I stood within 20 yards of it, the sun directly behind me. The bird more than likely had no idea that I was there.
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Happy birding!
Sphere: Related ContentDowneast trip and a hummingbird video
July 17, 2008
A stubborn fog bank lingered just offshore the entire time we were in Cutler, keeping coastal area cool. At the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge near Calais, well inland from the coast, temperatures were sultry. Not a drop of rain fell, but dense fog did greet us the last morning we spent at the B&B.
Birding was not spectacular. Mid-Summer is not the best time of year to bird, but we did see plenty of Warblers feeding fledglings, Bald Eagles soaring and Osprey shielding young from the hot sun with their wings.
We did not go out of our way to seek birds. Mostly it was just a sight seeing tour. The Puffin cruise was out of the question for us because of the fog bank. A few hearty souls did venture out to Machias Seal Island, looking for the clown-faced bird. We plan to make reservations next summer to the famed island, which holds the largest Puffin colony on the Maine coast.
I did manage to get a few bird photos. Most of these pictures are of the beautiful scenery of the DownEast Maine coast. Enjoy!
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This past weekend, I shot video of a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird resting on our feeder pole. This male was tired from chasing away other males and looks as if it wants to fall asleep.
Dimension: 520×450 | Video bit rate: 1000Kbps | File Size: 4.61mb
Playback: Click Play Button | Broadband Connection Recommended
Streaming Video of Ruby-Throated Hummingbird | ©2008 birdingmaine.com
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Happy birding!
Sphere: Related ContentA visit to Biddeford Pool
June 1, 2008
Sharon and I visited Biddeford Pool this morning. We met with Bob Malbon at Granite Point around 6:30 a.m. and had great views of a Great Egret feeding on fish. The marsh was alive with Willets and Snowy Egrets, Tree Swallows swooped low over the pannes and Northern Mockingbirds sang their many songs.
We left Granite Point and visited Goose Rocks Beach, where shorebird numbers are increasing. Male Least Terns were serenading females, offering a fish to win over a mate. Piping Plovers were also numerous, with one chick seen and videotaped from a safe distance. Semipalmated Plovers, Black-Bellied Plovers, White-Rumped Sandpipers, Dunlin, Double-Crested Cormorants, Willets and Canada Geese were also seen in great numbers.
A large group of male and female Common Eider were seen with many chicks at Goose Rocks Beach and Fortunes Rock Beach. At the “Gut” at Vines Landing in Biddeford Pool, two Green Herons flew in and perched on some rocks. Several Common and Least Terns were also fishing at this location.
Two new yard birds for us today: a pair of Roseate Terns flying over the yard and a Great Egret feeding with Greater Yellowlegs, Snowy Egrets and Great Blue Herons at low tide.
Enjoy the following bird photos from our trip to Biddeford Pool this morning. Simply click a thumbnail for a larger view. Comments and criticisms are greatly appreciated.
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Happy birding!
Sphere: Related ContentThe Hummingbirds are here
May 10, 2008
Just a quick post this evening. Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds are back and visiting everyone of our ten hummingbird feeders. Some territories are being set up and it looks like we my have a breeding pair or two this year. If only the Baltimore Orioles were as plentiful. Still no Orioles as of this time.
Tomorrow morning, Sharon and I will be at the Evergeen Cemetary and Capisic Park in Portand to look for Wablers. We are hoping this “hotspot” for migrating Warblers will be very productive and the photographs plentiful.
The following photos of the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird was taken on our feeder this morning. Enjoy!
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Happy birding!
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