Name: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert
Reporting Period: October 31 - November 6, 2009
Area: State of Maine
Compiler: Eric Hynes

Of Special Note

Top birds this week are: PINK-FOOTED GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, GREAT GRAY OWL,=
 and BLUE GROSBEAK.

Other noteworthy species mentioned below are: REDHEAD, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, =
RUDDY DUCK, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, PEREGRINE FALCON, SANDHILL CRANE, WESTERN SAN=
DPIPER, BOHEMIAN WAXWING, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, LARK SPARROW, and BALTIMO=
RE ORIOLE.

HARLEQUIN DUCKS are increasing along the coast and diving ducks in general =
are on the move.  Widespread reports of SNOW BUNTINGS continue.  FOX, "Ipsw=
ich" SAVANNAH SPARROWS, and an increasing number of AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS =
are migrating.

A great new image of all three Pink-footed Geese and the Blue Grosbeak have=
 been added to the RBA slideshow at: http://www.maineaudubon.org/nature/bir=
dalert_gallery.php

York County

A WESTERN SANDPIPER and four WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were among a number of=
 DUNLIN on Fortunes Rocks Beach in Biddeford on November 6.

A SANDHILL CRANE stood in a cornfield along Route 5 in Saco on November 1, =
approximately 1 mile east of Smutty Lane.

Greater Portland

Despite the dwindling Canada geese numbers and more wintry weather, three P=
INK-FOOTED GEESE continue to feed in fields straddling the towns of Falmout=
h, Cumberland, North Yarmouth, and Yarmouth through November 6. Their patte=
rn seems to be changing so checking a number of locations may be necessary.=
 Scan the fields of Thornhurst Farm on Rt. 115 in North Yarmouth.  The fiel=
ds of Thornhurst Farm are on your right as you are heading out of Yarmouth.=
 Pulling over along Rt. 115 is treacherous so proceed with caution.  Enteri=
ng the farm fields is trespassing.  Safe parking areas are found at Toots I=
ce Cream just off Rt. 115 and at Prince Well Road.  The Greely Road site ca=
n be reached by taking a left off Route 115 just past Prince Well Road onto=
 Doughty Road.  Turn left again when Doughty Road reaches Greely Road.  Pro=
ceed approximately a half mile to 198 Greely Road on the right.  Mostly rec=
ently they seem to be developing a new pattern.  Check the field on Winn Ro=
ad near the Falmouth/Cumberland town line, directly across from the entranc=
e to the Falmouth Country Club. This field is best viewed from the start of=
 Muirfield Road.  Also check the fields and pond of Idleknot Farm on Woodvi=
lle Road which is off of Winn Road in Falmouth. =


A CACKLING GOOSE continues to be found sporadically as well among the flock=
s at Thornhurst Farm.  =


Two AMERICAN COOTS were on Grondin Pond in Scarborough on November 5.  The =
best viewing of Grondin Pond is from the cul-de-sac at the end of Woodview =
Drive.  From Black Point Road, take Fogg Road to reach Woodview Drive. =


A LARK SPARROW continues in the shrubs and at the feeders on Fessenden Road=
 in Cape Elizabeth and around the corner at Kettle Cove.  An ORANGE-CROWNED=
 WARBLER was found in the shrubs at Kettle Cove on November 1.

 A few GREAT EGRETS remain with reports from Scarborough Marsh and the mout=
h of the Presumpscot River this week.

Lewiston-Auburn

A BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was the standout among the waterfowl concentrations at=
 Sabattus Pond in Sabattus on November 3.  RUDDY DUCKS and both SCAUP speci=
es continue.

Kennebec River Valley (Augusta-Waterville)

An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, and the lingering hen AMERIC=
AN WIGEON were found at the Pine Tree State Arboretum in Augusta on the 1st.

Midcoast

Two PEREGRINE FALCONS put on a show at Popham Beach State Park in Phippsbur=
g on November 6.  Two lingering SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were on the beach also.

On November 3, a male BLUE GROSBEAK was photographed at the end of Bayshore=
 Road in North Bath (past Hawkes Farm).

A late BALTIMORE ORIOLE visited feeders on November 2 at a home in Phippsbu=
rg.

Penobscot Bay

A PEREGRINE FALCON was chasing pigeons in Rockport Harbor on November 3.

An impressive assemblage of waterbirds was found in Fort Point Cove in Stoc=
kton Springs on November 3.  As viewed from Cape Jellison Road, the standou=
ts were 74 RED-NECKED GREBES, 12 GREATER SCAUP, and 162 RUDDY DUCKS.

Western Mountains

A GREAT GRAY OWL was spotted at an undisclosed location off Route 16 in Ran=
geley on November 5.

Northern Maine

Last week, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were heard passing over the University of Main=
e's Presque Isle campus.

Five LONG-TAILED DUCKS and two REDHEADS were seen at Lake Josephine in East=
on on November 3.

Eric Hynes
Gilsland Farm Naturalist /=A0
Adult Education Program Coordinator
Maine Audubon
20 Gilsland Farm Road
Falmouth, ME 04105
207-781-2330 ext. 237
ehynes@maineaudubon.org
www.maineaudubon.org


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