Maine (Statewide) RBA
November 7, 2008
Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 15:50:05 -0500
Reply-To: Eric Hynes <ehynes@MAINEAUDUBON.ORG>
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From: Eric Hynes <ehynes@MAINEAUDUBON.ORG>
Subject: [BIRDEAST] Maine RBA - November 7, 2008
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Name: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert
Reporting Period: November 1-7, 2008
Area: State of Maine
Compilers: Eric Hynes, Stella Walsh
Of Special Note
The CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD in Blue Hill was last seen on November 1. A
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was on Vinalhaven Island. GOLDEN EAGLES flew
over Harpswell.
Other highlights in this week's report include: BRANT, REDHEAD,
HARLEQUIN DUCK, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVER, PIPING PLOVER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, PURPLE SANDPIPER,
STILT SANDPIPER, SNOWY OWL, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE,
GRAY JAY, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL,
and EVENING GROSBEAK.
DICKCISSELS are starting to challenge RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS for the
number of reports turned in, many from feeding stations in southern
Maine. Large flocks of PINE SISKINS are still on the move. Diving duck
numbers are building along the coast.
York County
The Center for Wildlife in Cape Neddick has been rehabilitating a SNOWY
OWL for several weeks now.
Birds seen around Kittery Point on November 1 included a late GREAT
EGRET, five AMERICAN PIPITS, a MERLIN, an ICELAND GULL, and on the
beaches, 30 SANDERLINGS, a LEAST SANDPIPER, and three RUDDY TURNSTONES.
A possible RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was photographed on November 5 at Fort
Foster on Kittery Point.
A RUSTY BLACKBIRD visited a backyard feeder in Wells on November 4.
Wintering HARLEQUIN DUCKS have returned to Ogunquit with three males
seen from Marginal Way on November 1.
Birds seen at Biddeford Pool on November 1 included an immature BRANT, a
CAROLINA WREN, several AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, and RUDDY TURNSTONES.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT visited a yard on Hills Beach Road in Biddeford
on November 4.
Greater Portland
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT dropped into a South Portland backyard for a
one-day-wonder on the 4th.
HARLEQUIN DUCKS were found at Dyer Point in Cape Elizabeth on a number
of occasions this week.
A dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK continues to be seen at Scarborough
Marsh.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was hunting the fields of Fuller Farm on Broadturn
Road in Scarborough on November 5.
A DICKCISSEL and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD visited a yard on Old Neck Road in
Scarborough on November 6. Another DICKCISSEL has been coming to a
South Portland backyard. The feeders at The Wild Bird Center in
Yarmouth drew in their third DICKCISSEL of the fall recently.
A straggling BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER and an EASTERN TOWHEE, as well
as fly-over EVENING GROSBEAKS, were at Maine Audubon's Gilsland Farm in
Falmouth this week. The immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER that was so
obliging there last week seems to have moved on.
A dead SNOWY OWL was reportedly found on Peaks Island this week.
Lewiston-Auburn
A raft of 50+ BLACK SCOTERS was the standout among the diving ducks
gathered at Sabattus Pond in Sabattus on November 1. AMERICAN COOTS
have been reliable there lately as well in the smaller pond hugging the
road edge. A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was spotted near Sabattus Pond on November
5.
Midcoast
Two GOLDEN EAGLES were seen from a private hawk watch in Harpswell at
Basin Point, one on the 1st and the second on November 2. These are only
the third and fourth seen in the nearly 40-year history of the watch.
Fort Andros in Brunswick has been a reliable wintering site for a
PEREGRINE FALCON(S) the past five years and two were observed on
November 5. They often perch on the river side of the roof which can be
viewed from Summer Street in Topsham.
Wharton Point in Brunswick on the 7th hosted a NORTHERN SHRIKE atop a
large tree in the middle of the field which is beside the boat ramp.
Another NORTHERN SHRIKE showed up on the golf course at Sebasco Estates.
Present since October 13, a pair of CAROLINA WRENS continue in a yard to
Topsham.
A birder on Hermit Island in Phippsburg witnessed a nice flight November
2 punctuated by 20 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, 18 EVENING GROSBEAKS, and 5
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.
A surprisingly late PIPING PLOVER with three SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and
three WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, were seen on Popham Beach in Phippsburg
on November 5.
A male YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER made an appearance on Vinalhaven Island
on November 2. A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was also on Vinalhaven on
October 30.
Kennebec River Valley (Augusta-Waterville)
The Flood Farm along River Road near the Benton / Clinton town line
remains a hot spot. Highlights recently are continuing AMERICAN PIPITS
by the hundreds and HORNED LARKS, SNOW BUNTINGS, and two LAPLAND
LONGSPURS, a STILT SANDPIPER, a few WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, two
PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, a few WILSON'S SNIPE,
and a PEREGRINE FALCON.
Penobscot Bay
A DICKCISSEL visited feeders on November 4 in Blue Hill.
First of the season PURPLE SANDPIPERS were at the Reversing Falls in
Blue Hill on November 3.
Central Maine
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and a GRAY JAY were encountered along Stud Mill
Road in Milford on November 1.
Birds at Sebasticook Lake in Newport on November 2 included a NORTHERN
PINTAIL and three PECTORAL SANDPIPERS.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK and an AMERICAN PIPIT were seen over a harvested corn
field in Plymouth on November 2.
Downeast
An immature DICKCISSEL appeared at a bird feeder in Bar Harbor on
November 5.
Two RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS were seen together from the Park Loop Road
in Acadia National Park on November 3.
The arrival of PURPLE SANDPIPERS was noted this week with 10 to 15 on
rocks north of Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park.
Birds seen in Roque Bluffs included two GRAY JAYS, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, a
BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, and a tardy BAY-BREASTED WARBLER.
Northern Maine
Late for the location, a RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD was spotted in New Sweden
on November 4.
Two juvenile ICELAND GULLS were among the large gull flock on Collins
Pond in Caribou.
A REDHEAD was on Long Lake in Frenchville on November 6.
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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