Maine (Statewide) RBA
October 31, 2008
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:41:48 -0400
Reply-To: Eric Hynes <ehynes@MAINEAUDUBON.ORG>
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From: Eric Hynes <ehynes@MAINEAUDUBON.ORG>
Subject: [BIRDEAST] Maine RBA - October 31, 2008
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mA12LJ1R046515
Name: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert
Reporting Period: October 24 - 31, 2008
Area: State of Maine
Compilers: Eric Hynes, Stella Walsh
Of Special Note
Particularly noteworthy species highlighted this week include: BARNACLE
GOOSE, SNOWY OWL, LONG-EARED OWL, CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, and RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER.
Reports of RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS and flocks of PINE SISKINS continue
to pile up. Numerous sightings of NORTHERN GANNETS occurred this week.
A few scattered reports of arriving RUDDY DUCKS, AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS,
LAPLAND LONGSPURS, and SNOW BUNTINGS were received.
Other species mentioned in the report are: SNOW GOOSE, NORTHERN PINTAIL,
HARLEQUIN DUCK, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, AMERICAN BITTERN, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK,
PEREGRINE FALCON, AMERICAN COOT, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, STILT
SANDPIPER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, ICELAND GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE,
CAROLINA WREN, MARSH WREN, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW,
FIELD SPARROW, NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW, DICKCISSEL, ROSE-BREASTED
GROSBEAK, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL and COMMON REDPOLL.
Images of the Calliope Hummingbird, Red-headed Woodpecker and more can
be viewed on Maine Audubon's website at:
http://www.maineaudubon.org/nature/birdalert_gallery.php
York County
Birds in Biddeford on October 28 included a DICKCISSEL, an AMERICAN
BITTERN, and an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER at the Pool, and a CLAY-COLORED
SPARROW at East Point Sanctuary.
Greater Portland
First seen on October 28, an immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER remains
reliable through the morning of the 31st around the Environmental Center
at Maine Audubon's Gilsland Farm off Rt. 1 in Falmouth. It moves around
the orchard and woodlot but consistently returns to the large red oak
next to the picnic table just out the front door. The old windmill is
another favorite perch. Eleven COMMON REDPOLLS flew over Gilsland Farm
early on the 31st.
A dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen hunting over Scarborough Marsh
on October 26 and again on October 29.
Two DICKCISSELS were calling at Seavey's Landing in Scarborough Marsh on
October 27.
An ICELAND GULL and a PEREGRINE FALCON were spotted from Ferry Beach in
Scarborough on October 26.
Fifteen HARLEQUIN DUCKS and 78 NORTHERN GANNETS were tallied during in
an hour of seawatching from Dyer Point in Cape Elizabeth on October 28.
Elsewhere in Cape Elizabeth, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was at Kettle
Cove and two FIELD SPARROWS at Two Lights State Park on October 30.
A DICKCISSEL was seen at the Dragon Field in Portland and another at the
feeders of the Wild Bird Center in Yarmouth on October 25 along with a
PINE WARBLER.
A BARNACLE GOOSE and an immature SNOW GOOSE continue at Thornhurst Farm
along Rt. 115 in North Yarmouth as of October 26 among the many Canada
geese.
Lewiston-Auburn
Seven AMERICAN COOTS were seen on October 26 on Sabattus Pond in
Sabattus.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was back on the cross atop St. Mary's in Lewiston on
October 25.
Midcoast
A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK visited a feeder in Brunswick for several days.
On October 24 a SNOWY OWL was photographed perched on a roof in
Phippsburg.
A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was in the gull flock at Popham Beach in
Phippsburg on October 26.
An immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was hunting along the road to Todd's Point
at Reid State Park in Georgetown on October 25.
A CAROLINA WREN was singing in a Camden backyard on October 27.
Kennebec River Valley (Augusta - Waterville)
The Flood Farm along River Road at the Benton / Clinton town line
continues to produce good birds. Birds found there this week included:
STILT SANDPIPER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, AMERICAN
PIPITS, and a DICKCISSEL. Please be respectful while birding this
private property.
Central Maine
A late MARSH WREN was singing in cattails at the bait farm on the Taylor
Road in Orono on October 24.
Penobscot Bay
A remarkable discovery of a CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD visiting feeders at 77
Pleasant Street in downtown Blue Hill occurred on October 23 and is
still present as of October 30. The homeowner has welcomed birders onto
the property but every visitor needs to respect her property and the
adjoining properties please. Visiting birders should park at the Blue
Hill Baptist Church on Pleasant St (Route 15) and walk uphill to the
back yard from the parking lot. Seventy-seven is the second house above
the church. The garage has Overlook on a sign. The bird comes to feed
about every 10 minutes or so to feeders set by the arbor leading into
the big garden. Parishioners on Sunday are the priority for parking.
Western Mountains
Two SNOWY OWLS were seen in western Maine over the past weekend, one in
Solon and another in Norridgewock.
Downeast
A LONG-EARED OWL was seen at the northwest end of the Jessup trail in
Acadia National Park on October 25.
A dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK passed the hawkwatch on Acadia National
Park's Cadillac Mountain on October 24.
A NORTHERN PINTAIL was seen in the pond next to the library in
Somesville on October 27.
An incredible staging of ~100,000 COMMON EIDERS were tallied in
Frenchman's Bay during a nature cruise on October 25.
A few BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES were seen 10 miles off the head of
Northeast Harbor on October 27.
A BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was spotted in Milford on October 24.
At least three HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at Schoodic Point on October 25.
An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at Prince's Cove in Eastport on
October 27.
A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER and 30 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were at West
Quoddy Head State Park on October 27.
In Lubec, a walk on the shore on October 27 produced an AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVER, several NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS, an AMERICAN
PIPIT, 30 HORNED LARKS, and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR.
A first of the season ICELAND GULL was seen on October 27 on Shore Road
in Perry.
Northern Maine
Two SNOWY OWLS were seen in Presque Isle, one taking an American Crow in
the mall parking lot.
A dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen in Fort Fairfield.
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
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