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3 Jul obscure birding sites ["Bob Duchesne" ] 03 Jul Fwd: eBird Report - Scarborough Marsh--Nature Center , 7/3/09 [] 3 Jul general Q about Sanford sewer ["Andrew" ] 3 Jul Tern Help [cmorris ] 3 Jul Sanford sewer, Eared Grebe YES!! ["Andrew" ] 2 Jul Petrel vs Peregrines in Bar Harbor [] 2 Jul snow geese nesting report from churchill [] 2 Jul Gilsland Farm Birdwalk - plain text ["Eric Hynes" ] 2 Jul Phippsburg, Map 6 Near Aliquippa ["Robin Robinson" ] 1 Jul Scraggly Chickadees ["Bob Duchesne" ] 1 Jul Kettle Cove & Pine Point - 7/1 [Doug Hitchcox ] 01 Jul Fwd: eBird Report - Bangor City Forest , 7/1/09 [] 1 Jul Maine Audubon - Stratton Island Trip 6/30 [Doug Hitchcox ] 1 Jul Washington County, 6/28-30 [Derek Lovitch ] 1 Jul Bird Moosehead with Bob Duchesne and NRCM ["Allison Wells" ] 1 Jul Bangor Merlins ["Sean Smith" ] 30 Jun NH- Mississippi Kites [carl small ] 30 Jun Northern Maine Birds 9-29 June 2009 [Bill Sheehan ] 30 Jun Brain mildew. ["Bob Duchesne" ] 30 Jun Rangeley area on 6/27 [Nicholas Lund ] 30 Jun The Most Least ["Bob Duchesne" ] 30 Jun Whip at dawn [] 29 Jun Tricolored Heron and more ["Eric Hynes" ] 29 Jun GOSHAWKS & Others ["Mark R Hoffman" ] 29 Jun Green Heron [carl small ] 29 Jun RFI Boreal Chickadee ["F.Arthur McMorris" ] 29 Jun Stanton Wednesday Bird Walk [Stan DeOrsey ] 28 Jun Oriole baby ["Julie A. Krasne, DVM" ] 27 Jun Conditions in the "Arctic" [Bill Sheehan ] 27 Jun Seal Island to Vinalhaven [Stella Walsh from my iPhone ] 26 Jun RE: Maine Birding Trail Book ["Bob Duchesne" ] 26 Jun Maine Birding Trail Book [carl small ] 26 Jun Sooty Shearwater [carl small ] 26 Jun 3-toes, more or less ["Bob Duchesne" ] 26 Jun mystery offshore passerine [Derek Lovitch ] 26 Jun Kennebunk Plains (Orchard Oriole, etc), and Sanford Sewerage (Eared Grebe, etc), 6/26 [Derek Lovitch ] 26 Jun Birding trip. ["James Lea" ] 26 Jun Arboretum, Augusta 6/26 ["Smith, Michael" ] 26 Jun Maine Birds Maillist Posting Guidelines ["Paul Garrity" ] 25 Jun Mainebirds-Windham Red bellies [] 25 Jun Frenchman Bay area [] 25 Jun Peregrine back at Saco Island [] 25 Jun Pardon my pun - I flushed a few interesting birds at Sanford Sewage today [] 25 Jun Odyssey Whale Watch, Portland, 6/25 [Derek Lovitch ] 25 Jun Hi! [] 24 Jun Nikon and Kittery Trading Post host birding events this weekend! ["Mike Freiberg" ] 24 Jun Pileated - North Jay [] 24 Jun Fledged Goshawks-China Maine ["Mark R Hoffman" ] 24 Jun Dyer Point Seawatching, 6/23 [Derek Lovitch ] 24 Jun 4 tern species, Pine Point Beach, 6/24 [Derek Lovitch ] 24 Jun Rangeley area on Sunday ["Eric Hynes" ] 24 Jun Re: More about iced in North [Reid Scher ] 24 Jun Re: Rangeley area Black-backed Woodpecker [Reid Scher ] 24 Jun Rangeley area Black-backed Woodpecker [Stan DeOrsey ] 24 Jun Cape Elizabeth birds ["Eric Hynes" ] 24 Jun RFI: SEPTEMBER BIRDING ADVICE - ME [Gruff Dodd ] 23 Jun More about iced in North ["Jeff Wells" ] 23 Jun News from the north regarding breeding waterfowl and shorebirds ["Eric Hynes" ] 22 Jun Fwd: eBird Report - Penjajawoc Marsh - Home depot Parking lot , 6/22/09 [] 22 Jun 6/22 - Parasitic Jaegers - Pemaquid Point [Eric LoPresti ] 22 Jun Fw: Pine Grosbeak - South Casco, Maine [Russell Dorr ] 22 Jun Pine Grosbeak - South Casco, Maine [Russell Dorr ] 22 Jun QUERY: Barred Owl food items [Peter Vickery ] 22 Jun Rangeley Lakes birds ["Miklos Oyler" ] 22 Jun young Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at feeders [Peter Vickery ] 22 Jun catbird;;cowbird [alan kirschenstein ] 21 Jun Fwd: eBird Report - Messalonskee Lake--south end , 6/21/09 [Craig Kesselheim ] 21 Jun Seawall Beach - Phippsburg Jun 21 ["mike fahay" ] 21 Jun Fore River Osprey continued [Peter Morelli ] 21 Jun Osprey nest Portland airport approach [Peter Morelli ] 21 Jun catbird [alan kirschenstein ] 21 Jun GOSHAWKS ["Mark R Hoffman" ] 21 Jun Riverside Park, West Falmouth, Saturday, June 20 ["Cheryl Ring" ] 20 Jun Rangeley area ["Mark R Hoffman" ] 20 Jun Maine Birds ["Carlton" ] 20 Jun Roseate Tern [Leon mooney ] Subject: obscure birding sites From: "Bob Duchesne" <duchesne AT midmaine.com> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 20:08:49 -0400 Earlier this week, I posted a couple of times regarding Least Bitterns and some boreal birds in a couple of lesser known locations. I have received a number of responses offline asking for more info. I have posted some informative travelogues at www.mainebirdingtrail.com/Travelogue.html. I'll add a few more comments: Sandy Point (Sowers Meadow) Wildlife Management Area in Stockton Springs is accessible only by boat. There is no foot access at all. The entire surrounding area is damp, tangled, and private. You can see a significant distance into it from the outlet dam with a good spotting scope. Even at a quarter mile or more, I can usually sort out the swallows in the distance. I would like to reiterate that I was able to locate the bitterns by their calling, and the playing of tapes was not necessary. There are a lot of ducks and chicks in there, so I also advocate keeping a big space between you and them. Scraggly Lake is northeast of Baxter State Park. It is a Maine Public Reserve Land managed by the Department of Conservation. Indeed, I ran into a couple of DOC employees that morning who were driving in to check the campers, since there are a few sites near the boat launch. One of them told me that there are nesting terns on the lake, too, which does not surprise me. I've had terns on many of the lakes in the area. I haven't paddled Scraggly.yet. The lake itself is not the draw for birders. The access road (which I think is about 11 miles long.don't trust my memory) is in extraordinarily good shape for a remote road, mostly due to the lack of heavy traffic.or ANY traffic. What makes it so good for birding is that there is a lot of diversity and mixed forest along this relatively short stretch, and the road is open enough that views of birds are above average. I certainly can't promise that it will always be as friendly to birders as it has been to me, but the Boreal Chickadees were so widespread along this road that even when I thought the habitat was getting too deciduous for them, they didn't drop out. They were just joined by Black-capped Chickadees. To make it even better, about 2.5 miles in there is the Sawtelle Deadwater, a very productive marsh that is partially protected and supervised as another MDIFW Wildlife Management Area. I also look forward to paddling IT. Bob Duchesne Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Scarborough Marsh--Nature Center , 7/3/09 From: kylepiston AT aol.com Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:36:05 -0400 My son and I decided to take a day trip to the Scarborough marsh. The weather forecast was better in?Scarborough?then in?Bangor. The staff at the nature center were a big help in local birds at the marsh. They also suggested? a walking trail to see more of the marsh birds. My son enjoyed watching the least tern dive into the water. Paul from Bangor -----Original Message----- From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org To: kylepiston AT aol.com Sent: Fri, Jul 3, 2009 5:59 pm Subject: eBird Report - Scarborough Marsh--Nature Center , 7/3/09 Location: Scarborough Marsh--Nature Center Observation date: 7/3/09 Number of species: 15 Double-crested Cormorant 8 Great Egret 7 Willet 4 Herring Gull 3 Great Black-backed Gull 1 Least Tern 3 Common Tern 1 Black Guillemot 1 American Crow 2 Tree Swallow 10 Bank Swallow 25 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow 2 Red-winged Blackbird 15 American Goldfinch 1 House Sparrow 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: general Q about Sanford sewer From: "Andrew" <aaldrich1 AT maine.rr.com> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 11:48:32 -0400 Sanford sewer is open on weekends, Sat.+ Sun., from about 7 AM to 8:30 AM or so. I am not sure about this holiday weekend. phone is 207.324.0047 The GREBE is most likely to be seen in the far left corner pond. Directions: take Gavel Rd. east off of Rte. 4 at blinking light, 3.7 miles south of jct. of Rtes. 4 and 111, (in Alfred) or 0.7 miles north of jct. of Rtes. 4 and 109., (in S. Sanford) Happy birding Andy Aldrich Subject: Tern Help From: cmorris <cmorris AT morriscomm.net> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 11:11:07 -0400 I just saw a tern down at Goose Rocks Beach that had a black beak and yellow legs. There were three - two had black caps all the way around the back of the head; the other was more mottled - maybe a juvie. What was striking was the behaviour - all were feeding by standing in the sand in shallow water where waves were coming in and paddling their feet before putting their heads down to grab something. It looked like maybe Gull-beaked based on coloring, but sounds like Roseate behaviour. This is based on Sibleys. Or maybe this is common tern feeding behaviour that I just haven't seen before? I didn't have either binos or a camera with me, naturally. Any ideas? Thanks. Carol Morris ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Sanford sewer, Eared Grebe YES!! From: "Andrew" <aaldrich1 AT maine.rr.com> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 10:19:26 -0400 EARED GREBE, was with the 5 RUDDY DUCKS, And this gull which looks and sounds like a BONAPARTE'S GULL. I have 5 pictures on Flickr at : http://www.flickr.com/photos/22247688 AT N04/page1/ Am i right??????? also 60 CANADA GEESE, GREEN HERON, WOOD DUCK and babies Maybe 100 to 150 SWALLOWS happy birding Andy Aldrich Subject: Petrel vs Peregrines in Bar Harbor From: <wtownsend AT roadrunner.com> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 20:29:38 -0400 This afternoon 7/2 in Compass Harbor (a cove just south of Bar Harbor) two Peregrine Falcons were seen attacking a Wilson's Storm-Petrel about 200 ft off shore. There had been a light fog in Frenchman Bay all day and Storm-Petrels were being seen right up to the mooring field in Bar Harbor with some approaching within 300 ft. of the town pier. The pair of Peregrines were diving on the petrel which was desperately zig-zagging across the water. The Peregrines managed to keep the petrel from heading out into the more open water of the bay. Finally the petrel dove into the water and lay flat on the surface with wings outspread. At this point the Peregrines would not hit the bird as in lay on the surface and flew away. The petrel then fluttered away into the fog. There was a male Harlequin Duck at Egg Rock in Frenchman Bay today (7/2/09). Laughing Gulls are being seen in higher than usual numbers working tidal currents all through the bay for the past week. As mentioned, Wilson's Storm-Petrels are being seen throughout the entire bay when there is light fog and today were easily seen from the town pier in downtown Bar Harbor as the flew around moored boats in the harbor. -- Check our nature, family, and other photos at: www.fotki.com/townsend-maine UPDATED ON 6/21. ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: snow geese nesting report from churchill From: Wnder AT aol.com Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:34:31 EDT this interesting (and disconcerting) report was forwarded to me by someone active in Ducks Unlimited, written by DU researchers who : have now completed all our hatch date estimation and nest density estimates for the snow geese on the cape churchill peninsula - the expanded nesting area from la perouse bay and figured it was time for another update. the phenology is the latest in the 41 year history of the project. projected hatch is 17 days behind the long term average and 3 days later than the previous (1983) record. nesting density across our 25 fifty meter radius sampling plots in 5 portions of the colony show that nesting density is reduced by 60% to 80%. This likely reflects that a large portion of the nesting habitat is still under water. it is likely that many females simply opted out of nesting this year. many geese also appear to have left so it is not likely that there will be a second wave of initiation once water levels go down. In the 25 sample plots we monitor for nesting density, there is 100% nest failure. predation has been intense to say the least and in part reflects what one might call predator swamping - limited prey in a sea of very hungry predators. it is always difficult to know which predator ate what but there was certainly evidence from the condition of egg shell remains that herring gulls and ravens were involved. sightings of arctic foxes on the nesting colony points a finger at them as well. however, we also found splats of scat at nests that on further examination revealed the white hair of polar bear (they pass hair in their feces from grooming). we also have at least 1 grizzly bear and a black bear that took advantage of the situation (picture attached). Our flying has indicated there are still a few scattered nests of snow geese but even if the timing were not too late for goslings to fly south, there will certainly be no productivity from this colony this year. this turn of events has both good and bad correlates. On the good side, the habitat here will get some respite from a summer's foraging by 150,000 to 200,000 adult and gosling snow geese. the down side is that without goslings, the adults from this colony may well suffer less hunter harvest mortality - the opposite of what the management plan needs. **************Dell Summer Savings: Cool Deals on Popular Laptops – Shop Now! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222696924x1201468348/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Faltfarm.mediaplex.com%2Fad%2Fck%2F12309%2D81939%2D1629%2D1) Subject: Gilsland Farm Birdwalk - plain text From: "Eric Hynes" <ehynes AT maineaudubon.org> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 14:52:32 -0400 Hello Maine Birders: Nine soggy birders splashed around the sanctuary this morning.  We were rewarded with a nice look at a healthy red fox, a perched Bald Eagle and a number of breeders.  Tree Swallows and Barn Swallows have lots of fledglings out there.  Given their focus on aerial insects, I am pleased they were able to reproduce successfully.  The tide was in so we had our first good gathering of Bonaparte's Gulls and a few Common Terns.  I apologize for not getting out summaries the last couple of weeks.  I tacked on the eBird list below so can at least you can see the species and numbers if interested. Good birding this holiday weekend, Eric Location:     Gilsland Farm Audubon Center Observation date:     7/2/09 Notes:     High tide at 0812.  Intermittent rain at times, pretty miserable weather and the mosquitoes were very active Number of species:     40 Wild Turkey     1 Common Loon     2     one breeding plumage bird on the river then later two in flight over the river then flew back toward Casco Bay Double-crested Cormorant     3 Great Blue Heron     1 Glossy Ibis     1     flew over Osprey     2 Bald Eagle     1     perched across the river Red-tailed Hawk     1     The tail is coming in nicely.  The day campers watched it prey upon a woodchuck pup Bonaparte's Gull     15     all immature birds over the river Herring Gull     10 Common Tern     4     all adults flying together and in loose association with the Bonaparte's Gull Rock Pigeon     12 Mourning Dove     1 Downy Woodpecker     1 Willow Flycatcher     2 Eastern Phoebe     1 Great Crested Flycatcher     1 Eastern Kingbird     1     carrying nesting material Red-eyed Vireo     1 American Crow     3 Tree Swallow     15 Barn Swallow     8     saw my first fledgling of the year Black-capped Chickadee     2 White-breasted Nuthatch     1 House Wren     1 Gray Catbird     5 European Starling     4 Cedar Waxwing     12     all paired up, saw three different birds carrying nesting material, one has a nest that is almost complete in an aspen hanging directly over the trail Yellow Warbler     8 Common Yellowthroat     5 Song Sparrow     25 Swamp Sparrow     1     singing in its usual spot on the north side of the north meadow Northern Cardinal     3 Bobolink     8     high count of males visible this morning in the north meadow Red-winged Blackbird     10 Common Grackle     3 Brown-headed Cowbird     3 House Finch     4 American Goldfinch     10 House Sparrow     4 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Location:     Gilsland Farm Audubon Center Observation date:     6/25/09 Notes:     low tide was at 0739 Number of species:     43 Double-crested Cormorant     3 Snowy Egret     2 Black-crowned Night-Heron     1     flew over Glossy Ibis     3     flew over Osprey     2     one was harassing the perched eagle Bald Eagle     1     adult perched Red-tailed Hawk     1     the tame immature was perched on the HQ building Ring-billed Gull     6 Herring Gull     45 Rock Pigeon     8 Mourning Dove     2 Belted Kingfisher     1 Hairy Woodpecker     2 Eastern Wood-Pewee     1     singing Willow Flycatcher     2 Eastern Phoebe     1 Red-eyed Vireo     3 Blue Jay     1 American Crow     6 Tree Swallow     20     fledglings! Barn Swallow     10 Black-capped Chickadee     2 Tufted Titmouse     1 White-breasted Nuthatch     4 House Wren     2 Gray Catbird     12 European Starling     4 Cedar Waxwing     8 Yellow Warbler     6 Black-and-white Warbler     1 American Redstart     2 Common Yellowthroat     4 Song Sparrow     20 Swamp Sparrow     1 Northern Cardinal     1 Bobolink     5 Red-winged Blackbird     10 Common Grackle     3 Brown-headed Cowbird     4 Baltimore Oriole     2 House Finch     2 American Goldfinch     10 House Sparrow     4 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Location:     Gilsland Farm Audubon Center Observation date:     6/18/09 Notes:     high tide at 0721 Number of species:     46 American Black Duck     8     a hen with 4 ducklings Mallard     5 Wild Turkey     1 Double-crested Cormorant     3 Snowy Egret     1 Glossy Ibis     1     flew over Osprey     3 Bald Eagle     1 Red-tailed Hawk     1     watched it catch and eat a vole Herring Gull (American)     3 Rock Pigeon     1 Mourning Dove     2 Downy Woodpecker     4 Willow Flycatcher     4     concentrated around the shrubby swale in the north meadow Eastern Phoebe     2 Great Crested Flycatcher     1 Eastern Kingbird     1 Warbling Vireo     1 Red-eyed Vireo     4 Blue Jay     2 American Crow     6 Tree Swallow     30 Northern Rough-winged Swallow     1 Barn Swallow     15 Black-capped Chickadee     4 Tufted Titmouse     2 White-breasted Nuthatch     2 House Wren     2 Gray Catbird     10     one carrying food European Starling     15 Cedar Waxwing     6     two different pairs appeared to be gathering nesting material Yellow Warbler     6 Black-and-white Warbler     1 American Redstart     1 Common Yellowthroat     4 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow     1     singing at the Big Sit site along the north meadow trail; a first for me in breeding season; gave us a brief look Song Sparrow     25 Northern Cardinal     2 Bobolink     5 Red-winged Blackbird     14 Common Grackle     2 Brown-headed Cowbird     2 Baltimore Oriole     2 House Finch     1 American Goldfinch     15 House Sparrow     2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Eric Hynes Gilsland Farm Naturalist /  Adult Education Program Coordinator Maine Audubon 20 Gilsland Farm Road Falmouth, ME 04105 207-781-2330 ext. 237 ehynes AT maineaudubon.org www.maineaudubon.org   ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Phippsburg, Map 6 Near Aliquippa From: "Robin Robinson" <rrrobinson AT suscom-maine.net> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 08:20:51 -0400 Last night, Wednesday (sorry for late post), about 6PM - 3 Brant sitting on hummock of mud in the rain (what else is new). Seen from road Rt 216 where 'The Straights Of Aliquippa' hug up to the road Robin Robinson 28 Periwinkle Lane Phippsburg, Maine 04562 207 389 1609 rrrobinson AT suscom-maine.net robins-chaos.blogspot.com Subject: Scraggly Chickadees From: "Bob Duchesne" <duchesne AT midmaine.com> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 22:38:46 -0400 First, I have a confession to make. When I included the Maine Public Reserve Lands at Scraggly Lake in the new Maine Birding Trail guidebook, my glowing recommendation was based on a very productive visit in August three years ago - confusing fall warblers everywhere. The habitat was so diverse and mixed that I was sure it would be a great spot for songbirds in the spring and for a few boreal specialties. But it's been on my mind ever since that I had to go back during singing season and find out what it was REALLY like. Holy Cow! Tons of warblers, including a singing Cape May. Tons of thrushes, including a singing WOOD THRUSH - the surprise of the day, considering that I rarely see them north of Bangor, especially in such mixed coniferous habitat. A zillion Veeries. Several singing Scarlet Tanagers. And cluster after cluster of Boreal Chickadees. Clearly they've all just fledged their families, because they were active, vocal, and numerous. I've tripled the size of my collection of bad BOCH photos. And several times when I stopped for the chickadees, I got a family of Gray Jays thrown in for free. Easy pickings. I even had three crossbills fly over. (They sounded like Red, but I can't be sure.) Of course, since Scraggly Lake is just above Baxter State Park and along the way to the north entrance, I decided to return through the park. Because the showers persisted until 10am up there this morning, and since the sun actually made an appearance after noon, there was persistent singing much of the day. The northern half of the park was standard fare: warblers and thrushes. When I reached the boreal area that stretches between Nesowadnehunk Field Campground and Camp Phoenix, I was treated to another fine afternoon of birding. The two Bay-breasted Warblers that were singing just below Camp Phoenix last Thursday were at it again today - in virtually the same trees I left them in last week. The same Blackpolls were singing in the area, too. In my favorite half-mile section (where there is a pull-off area that used to provide access to the southern end of the adjacent lake) a female Spruce Grouse stepped onto the road and into the sun to pose for photos. I'm not sure which was the bigger surprise - the grouse or the fact that there was actually SUN. I guess the latter, because when I had my tour group in that spot last week, I pointed out the small depression of a dust bath on the side of the road and commented at the time that there was a grouse hidden in there somewhere. Where was she when I needed her? For that matter, where were the White-winged Crossbills last week? Three flew over at that moment and landed in a nearby tree. Then a Blackpoll came out to pose for pictures. Plus there were more Gray Jays, a pip-pip-pipping Olive-sided Flycatcher in full view, and singing Fox Sparrows. I love that spot. Continuing on the return, a Bay-breasted Warbler posed for photos between Tracy and Grassy Pond, and another sang from right next to Katahdin Stream Campground. When I lead trips, I seldom get to shoot photos, so that was the main purpose of my trip today. Though I only got a few of them in front of the lens, it was a 20 warbler day. Also a 4 thrush day, and 2 species each of grouse, jays, and chickadees. I'll take more days like that. Bob Duchesne Subject: Kettle Cove & Pine Point - 7/1 From: Doug Hitchcox <dhitchcox AT sacoriver.net> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 22:21:19 -0400 Kettle Cove this morning was very foggy but hosted some very out of season birds. The previously reported Glaucous Gull is still hanging around but I was surprised to see three Long-tailed Ducks and a lone Red-throated Loon hanging out in the cove. Another birder mentioned seeing a Red-breasted Merganser there yesterday morning. Making my way back to Scarborough Marsh for the falling tide (the weekly walk was productive but during high tide) there were six late Short-billed Dowitchers in the flats viewable from the lobster co-op. One Oystercatcher was present. Lots of terns too, mostly Common but a few Roseates stuck out in the group. Photos of some of the mentioned birds are on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhitchcox/ ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Bangor City Forest , 7/1/09 From: kylepiston AT aol.com Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:20:51 -0400 This afternoon the sun was at least out in Bangor. The mosquitos were another issue. The great horned owl was heard?but was not located close to the arboretum in the Bangor Forest. The common nighthawks that I saw were very vocal. I saw them many times in the air over the trail I was walking on. Paul from Bangor -----Original Message----- From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org To: kylepiston AT aol.com Sent: Wed, Jul 1, 2009 9:18 pm Subject: eBird Report - Bangor City Forest , 7/1/09 Location: Bangor City Forest Observation date: 7/1/09 Number of species: 22 Mourning Dove 4 Great Horned Owl 1 Common Nighthawk 2 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Eastern Phoebe 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Blue Jay 3 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Hermit Thrush 6 American Robin 3 Cedar Waxwing 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 1 Chipping Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 4 White-throated Sparrow 1 Red-winged Blackbird 2 American Goldfinch 3 House Sparrow 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: Maine Audubon - Stratton Island Trip 6/30 From: Doug Hitchcox <dhitchcox AT sacoriver.net> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 22:02:06 -0400 Yesterday (6/30) Linda Woodard and I led a Maine Audubon trip to Stratton Island. The fog limited visibility but luckily the rain held off for the trip. This is an amazing trip departing from Pine Point to see where Common, Roseate, Least and Arctic Terns are nesting, not to mention the variety of ducks at the pond and the heron/ibis/egret rookery on the North(?) side of the island. A special thanks goes out to the researchers on the island for the work they are doing and all of their help they gave us. While motoring out we were treated to up-close views of Wilson's Storm- Petrels, at least 8 individuals. Several Northern Gannets were seen on the return trip, mostly juveniles but one stunning adult. On the island terns are abundant, offering views of adults on nests while hundreds more fly over head. The island has a small pond on it, which housed several ducks including: Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal and Mallard; a calling Sora also made it's presence known here. Plovers, Sandpipers, and Turnstones helped round off the list for the trip. A complete list of birds seen is below: Gadwall Mallard Northern Shoveler Green-winged Teal Common Eider (Atlantic) Wilson's Storm-Petrel Northern Gannet Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Egret Snowy Egret Little Blue Heron Glossy Ibis Sora Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Spotted Sandpiper Ruddy Turnstone Semipalmated Sandpiper Bonaparte's Gull Herring Gull (American) Great Black-backed Gull Laughing Gull Least Tern Roseate Tern Common Tern Tree Swallow Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Washington County, 6/28-30 From: Derek Lovitch <freeportwildbird AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:54:12 -0700 (PDT) Hi all,   Jeannette and I enjoyed a wonderful, if rather damp, three-day visit Downeast to our favorite corner of the state.  We encountered many of the boreal species of note, such as YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, PALM WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, BOREAL CHICKADEE, etc, at various locations, but the various "spruce warblers" were dead quiet as they often are this time of year.   Some of the more noteworthy observations: - 2 Sooty Shearwaters between Cutler and Machias Seal Island, both coming and going from the island, 6/28.  Dense fog precluded many additional seabird observations. - 12 Arctic Terns, 1 Common Tern in flight only - THAT'S IT! - Machias Seal Island, 6/28.  Complete failure and abandonment of the tern colony on the island once again.  Cause remains unknown. - 3 Razorbills, Bold Coast Trail, Cutler, 6/28. - 1 hen with 4 kids, 1 male Spruce Grouse, Boot Cove Preserve, 6/29. - 1 hen with unseen kids, Great Wass Island, Jonesport, 6/30.   Photos of Machias Seal and of Spruce Grouse will be up on my blog by day's end.   -Derek ------------------ Jeannette and Derek Lovitch Freeport Wild Bird Supply 541 Route One, Suite 10 Freeport, ME 04032 Ph: (207)865-6000/Fax: (207)865-6069 www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com Subject: Bird Moosehead with Bob Duchesne and NRCM From: "Allison Wells" <awells AT nrcm.org> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:13:12 -0400 Greetings, Maine Birders, I wanted to give you a heads up about an upcoming birding event you are invited to attend with trip leader MaineBirds' own Bob Duchesne, as part of the Natural Resources Council of Maine's "50 events celebrating 50 years". Event details are: Saturday, July 18 Birding at Moosehead with Bob Duchesne. Moosehead Lake boasts a variety of habitats that create some of the best bird diversity in the state. These species, more common to the boreal forest of Canada, draw bird enthusiasts to Maine from far and wide. Specialties include Boreal Chickadees, Gray Jays, Spruce Grouse, and a variety of warblers, thrushes, and other songbirds. We will leave from North Woods Outfitters (click here for directions ) at 7:30 a.m. Trip Leader: Bob Duchesne is a top-notch birder and popular bird trip leader. His book, Maine Birding Trail, was just published. Bob has led trips throughout Maine and knows all of the Moosehead birding hotspots. He will be joined by his wife Sandi, also an experienced birder and trip leader. I hope you will mark your calendar for this event! Allison Allison Wells Senior Director, Public Affairs Natural Resources Council of Maine 3 Wade Street Augusta, ME 04330 (207) 430-0180 www.nrcm.org Protect the nature of Maine - become a member today! Subject: Bangor Merlins From: "Sean Smith" <therefromhere168 AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:33:25 -0400 After a long absence, there's been a lot of Merlin activity around the Jefferson/Prentiss Street area of Bangor for the past week. This morning there was a lot of screeching and a loud "thud" as an adult Merlin, carrying a juvenile Starling that was still alive, decided to bash it into the side of my house to stun or kill it. The Starling was quickly picked up off the ground and flown off with. I haven't seen any fledgling Merlins yet, but I believe there was a successful brood, and they are now out learning to hunt with the adults. This year they chose to nest on Kenduskeag Avenue, rather than in my immediate neighborhood as last year, so I haven't been able to keep close tabs on them. Sean Smith Subject: NH- Mississippi Kites From: carl small <triton469 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:51:32 -0700 (PDT) Was bored with rain today and decided to drive to NH and see if I could find the Mississippi Kites. Within 15 minutes of location I saw two kites flying around and then landing in trees. Great look at both of them.  Not long one flew into a maple tree and sat upon her next. Great bird to see and worth the drive from Rockport, Me to Newmarket, Nh. Thanks to Glenn Jenks for his help in finding them. Skip Small Rockport Subject: Northern Maine Birds 9-29 June 2009 From: Bill Sheehan <lsheehan AT maine.rr.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:13:38 -0400 Hello. Like most of the state, northern Maine has recently been stuck in a long stretch of gloomy weather. The amount of precipitation that has actually fallen, however, has been quite variable thanks to spotty showers. Areas in southern Aroostook recently experienced heavy rainfall over the 19th through 21st. Interestingly the Caribou weather station in central Aroostook county is currently reporting monthly total precipitation almost one half inch BELOW normal for June. River and stream levels are only slightly above long term medians for this time of year. Temperatures have been nearly normal for the latter half of the month. Nesting activity is now at its peak with new fledglings appearing daily. The birding festival at Aroostook State Park on the 13th was a success with great weather, good numbers of birds and lots of visitors. About 150 birders tallied over fifty species in the morning during 6 birdwalks. The highlight for me was a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird building a nest in a small birch tree near the campground road. So far, nesting waterfowl in central and northern Aroostook appear to have avoided the rising water levels that are apparently flooding some nests to the south. Lots of broods of Mallards, Black Ducks, Canada Geese, Common Goldeneyes and Hooded Mergansers have been seen. Recent waterfowl highlights include appearances of one hen and three drake Redheads on the 28th and at least 5 displaying Ruddy Duck males on the 19th at Lake Josephine in Easton. Three pairs of Blue-winged Teal were seen in Limestone on the 23rd. Thought there are quite a few male Gadwall, American Wigeon and Northern Shovelers being seen at Lake Jo, females with broods of young have yet to make an appearance. The Northern Goshawk that nested at the Maine Winter Sports Center in Presque Isle has raised its young to the point of fledging and its likely that bicyclists will again be able to ride the trails here, unmolested. American Kestrel males were seen in Caribou, Easton, Limestone, Presque Isle, Chapman and Woodland. An Osprey nest in T16R5 was recently ravaged by a particularly wild thunderstorm and the nest platform was tipped and the contents lost. A Bald Eagle was seen fishing on the Fish River near the Hewes Brook Crossing in T14R7 on the 21st. Increasingly encountered in northern Maine, (as many as) four Turkey Vultures have been seen in the Fort Fairfield and Easton areas last week. An American Bittern feeding in a roadside ditch in T14 R8 allowed a fabulous photo and behavior watching session on the 21st. The skulky wader was observed from as close as 20 feet as it fed on tadpoles, Dobsonfly larvae (hellgrammites), adult dragonflies and an apparent Ambystoma salamander. The bittern was most impressive as it snagged the fast moving dragonflies out of the air. Broods of almost-flight-capable Ruffed Grouse chicks were seen in several spots in central and southern Aroostook County last week. A late drumming male was heard in Castle Hill on the 14th A great discovery last week, two Common Moorhens were found in a wetland near Lake Josephine in Easton. This area once supported some Maine's only breeding Moorhens but this species hadn't been reported here since 2000. Sora and Virginia Rails were also well seen here on the 19th. Probably the eastern US's northern-most breeders, a pair of Upland Sandpipers on the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge in Limestone provided great looks last Friday (19th). More young owls continue to turn up around the area. On the 19th, an adult Great-horned Owl was attending a youngster on the edge of a wetland in Easton in the gloomy mid afternoon. Down in the Riviere-des-Chutes valley in Easton, a family of Barred Owls has left the nest box and are skulking around the woods there. A pair of Common Nighthawks seen over Lake Josephine on the 19th were another nice surprise. As previously mentioned nighthawks are uncommon breeders in northern Maine. Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers were heard in Stockholm on the 17th but have gone undetected since. This is not surprising considering both species are probably busily feeding young now. Another Black-backed was reported near Van Buren on the 16th. Plenty of Gray Jays were seen foraging with young last week (Stockholm, Sinclair, T14R8). Interestingly, all were attended by scolding Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Though probably not exceptionally rare in northern Maine, a Philadelphia Vireo is a difficult bird to ID by song. One particularly vocal individual distinguished itself from the Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos and was seen in Perham on the 18th. Yellow-bellied Flycatchers were widely encountered as they called in their favored dense cedar/spruce scrub habitat. Olive-sided Flycatchers were heard in Limestone, Stockholm T13R5 and T15R8. Since northern Maine is approaching the northern limit of their breeding area, Great-crested Flycatchers are always worthy of mention. A Great-crested in Stacyville found a nest box to its liking and is feeding young there. Very rare in northern Maine, the Northern Mockingbird first discovered last month, was seen again at the Lakeview Restaurant in St. Agatha on the 20th. A Brown Thrasher has seen regularly near the airport in Presque Isle. Wood warblers continue in full song in northern Maine. Among the more sought-after species encountered last week in central Aroostook County: Tennesee Warblers were heard in Portage Lake and Woodland, Cape May Warblers were singing in New Sweden, Stockholm and T13R7, Bay-breasted Warblers were heard in Limestone, Sinclair and T13R7 and Mourning Warblers were encountered at Aroostook NWR in Limestone and near the Salmon Brook Bog in Perham. Palm Warblers were found in a regenerating clear cut off the McLean Brook Road in Sinclair and a male Wilson's Warbler was singing in an alder swale in T14R8. Singing Canada Warblers continue to be widely reported. Blackpoll Warblers were reported long the Stockholm to Van Buren Rail trail on the 16th. The birding highlight this month was the discovery of Aroostook county's first-ever Clay-colored Sparrow in a shrubby field near the University of Maine at Presque Isle. The bird, first found on the 8th, lasted through at least the 17th and was seen and heard by many observers. With plenty of appropriate habitat around, the bird may well still be in the area. Another good sparrow find was 5+ singing male Fox Sparrows seen and heard on the 18th and 21st along the Rocky Brook and Hewes Brook Roads north west of Portage Lake. One dependable male has been singing near the Chase Brook bridge on the Rocky Brook Road in T13R7. Evening Grosbeaks were seen in Caribou, Easton, Portage Lake and Woodland. Some fine photos of the birds listed here can be seen on the Northern Maine Birds Blog: http://northernmainebirds.blogspot.com/ Good Birding Bill Sheehan Woodland, Aroostook Co. ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Brain mildew. From: "Bob Duchesne" <duchesne AT midmaine.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:25:50 -0400 Whoops. I said Franklin Marsh for the Nelson's. I meant Frankfort. Constant moisture seems to be affecting the cerebral cortex. From: Bob Duchesne [mailto:duchesne AT midmaine.com] Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 4:10 PM To: 'maine bird list' Subject: The Most Least Figuring the weather continues to be good only for ducks, I visited the Sandy Point (Stowers Meadow) WMA in Stockton Springs this morning. I figured it was time to get off the couch and finally put a Least Bittern on my Maine list. Sandy Point is one of the best places in Maine to get them, as evidenced by the fact that I heard one as soon as I paddled round the first corner. Since there was a visible Common Yellowthroat nest with chicks about to fledge in the same location, I elected to go farther up the marsh and scored a second Least Bittern - this time with excellent views. As usual, the marsh was full of Marsh Wrens. There were multiple families of Ring-necked Ducks and Pied-billed Grebes, which meant a LOT of ducklings on the pond. Lots of Virginia Rails, too, but I didn't hear any Soras this morning. The swarm of Bank Swallows arrived by 10am, a little later than usual. But the big surprise was a single Least Tern foraging all morning. Counting the Least Flycatcher in the woods, that's a Least Bittern, Least Tern, and Least Flycatcher for breakfast. And since it's right around the corner to Franklin Marsh, I stopped there long enough to pick up a few Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows for dessert. Bob Duchesne Subject: Rangeley area on 6/27 From: Nicholas Lund <nicholas.lund AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:47:48 -0400 This past Saturday, Doug Hitchcox and I headed up to Rangeley Lake very early in the morning in hopes of finding the reported Black-backed Woodpeckers on their nest. It seems that the youngsters had fledged in the time between their last reported sighting (the previous Sunday) and Saturday, and there was absolutely no activity at the nest in the two-or-so hours we were there. The most productive stop of the day was the short road on the north side of Route 16 just on the Rangeley side of the Cupsuptic Campgrounds and only a couple hundred feet into Oxford County, previously mentioned by Eric Hynes. We had no trouble getting fantastic looks at a Cape May Warbler, a pair of Boreal Chickadees, several Gray Jays and the angriest Swainson's Thrush on the planet (he didn't take kindly to someone pishing in his backyard). At a similar road, this one in Franklin County, Doug and I were interrupted from viewing a Lincoln's Sparrow by a police officer checking to see if we were "tending to our crops" in the woods. Good times. -Nick Subject: The Most Least From: "Bob Duchesne" <duchesne AT midmaine.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:10:21 -0400 Figuring the weather continues to be good only for ducks, I visited the Sandy Point (Stowers Meadow) WMA in Stockton Springs this morning. I figured it was time to get off the couch and finally put a Least Bittern on my Maine list. Sandy Point is one of the best places in Maine to get them, as evidenced by the fact that I heard one as soon as I paddled round the first corner. Since there was a visible Common Yellowthroat nest with chicks about to fledge in the same location, I elected to go farther up the marsh and scored a second Least Bittern - this time with excellent views. As usual, the marsh was full of Marsh Wrens. There were multiple families of Ring-necked Ducks and Pied-billed Grebes, which meant a LOT of ducklings on the pond. Lots of Virginia Rails, too, but I didn't hear any Soras this morning. The swarm of Bank Swallows arrived by 10am, a little later than usual. But the big surprise was a single Least Tern foraging all morning. Counting the Least Flycatcher in the woods, that's a Least Bittern, Least Tern, and Least Flycatcher for breakfast. And since it's right around the corner to Franklin Marsh, I stopped there long enough to pick up a few Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows for dessert. Bob Duchesne Subject: Whip at dawn From: HerPartB AT aol.com Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:27:17 EDT Heard a Whip-poor-will at 4 am this morning, presumably in my "back yard" (woods). I've heard them at dusk other places, but this is a first dawn experience. I haven't heard it at dusk/night, so it might not have been calling all night, as they do sometimes. Barbara Herrgesell Sanford ~~~ ************** Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. (http://food.aol.com/grilling?ncid=emlcntusfood00000005) Subject: Tricolored Heron and more From: "Eric Hynes" <ehynes AT maineaudubon.org> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:40:19 -0400 Hello Maine Birders: Marshall Iliff called me yesterday afternoon to report a Tricolored Heron in the Biddeford Pool area. It was on some tidal marsh with Snowy Egrets off to the right as Rt. 208 emerges from the woods and comes to a T at Mile Stretch Road. On Saturday evening, in addition to all the breeders, a Manx Shearwater was seen several times flying around Eastern Egg Rock. Eric Hynes Gilsland Farm Naturalist / Adult Education Program Coordinator Maine Audubon 20 Gilsland Farm Road Falmouth, ME 04105 207-781-2330 ext. 237 ehynes AT maineaudubon.org www.maineaudubon.org ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: GOSHAWKS & Others From: "Mark R Hoffman" <hoffa2 AT roadrunner.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:08:33 -0400 Just got back from the pit to show the Goshawks to a couple of fellow birders,one from Illinois and one from New Jersey.Got both juveniles right off and one of the adults made a brief appearance. Also saw: Indigo Bunting 3 Woodcock Brown Thrasher ( my 1st this year ) Bank Swallows Barn Swallows Tree Swallows Numerous Magnolia Warblers Numerous Parula Ovenbirds Winter Wren Least Flycatcher Kestrel Eastern Bluebirds Evening Grosbeaks Plus all of the regulars Overall not very birdy though Mark R Hoffman Newcastle Me (207)458-1897 Subject: Green Heron From: carl small <triton469 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:40:16 -0700 (PDT) Green Herons at my frog pond in Rockport Mother Hairy Woopecker feeding her baby at suer log Skip Small Subject: RFI Boreal Chickadee From: "F.Arthur McMorris" <mcmorris AT mac.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:03:35 -0400 Dear Maine birders, I will be visiting Mount Desert Island, a favorite destination, the first 2 weeks of July. Are there any locations within a reasonable driving distance of Mount Desert Island where Boreal Chickadees can still be found? Thanks in advance, Art Art McMorris 405 Bryn Mawr Ave. Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004 610-664-2174 610-220-6566 cell ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Stanton Wednesday Bird Walk From: Stan DeOrsey <jsmd AT att.net> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:21:47 -0400 The Stanton Bird Club of Lewiston / Auburn will hold its every-other-week walk this Wednesday, July 1. As with last time, this will be another special walk at a private farm not normally open to the public. The farm has a wonderful wooded ravine, forests, fields, and a pond. We will follow trails but some walking will on grass and possible shallow puddles given the recent rain. The walk is mostly level. We meet at 8am in the Promenade Mall parking area near Staples at 855 Lisbon St., Lewiston (across from East Ave.). The farm is located in Litchfield. If you prefer to meet us on route 126 in Litchfield near the farm, please send me a private note for detailed directions. We will meet even if it is drizzling, but if there is a steady rain at 7am and it is projected to continue to 10am, the walk is canceled. The walk normally ends by 11am but you may leave early if you prefer. Our next walk will be July 15 at Beaver Park, Lisbon. Please join us, all walks are free and open to anyone who likes nature, enjoys walking, and wants to see new places. We hope you will join us. -- Stan DeOrsey jsmd AT att.net ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Oriole baby From: "Julie A. Krasne, DVM" <jkraz AT myway.com> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:49:30 -0400 As I write this, I'm watching a male Baltimore Oriole feeding grape jelly to a fledgling. They're sitting on a platform feeder that is attached to my second story window. What a sight! Julie Krasne Yarmouth, ME ------------------------------------------------------------ Patio Furniture Click here to save hundreds on patio furniture. http://216.21.215.31/fc/FgElN1mET7Su7cDhrRDbDruPtPdqHL3qQNiZihrOsial3zEkDD4QUdZ3NS4/ Subject: Conditions in the "Arctic" From: Bill Sheehan <lsheehan AT maine.rr.com> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 09:19:44 -0400 Hello soggy Maine birders, A week or so ago there was some concern expressed here about the weather/success of breeding species to our north. Jean Iron in Ontario posted the following on the SHOREBIRDS listserve and I thought her broad assessment would interest some Maine birders. cheers Bill Sheehan Woodland, Aroostook ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date:    Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:52:55 -0400 From:    Jean Iron Subject: Arctic Breeding Conditions in 2009 Yesterday we saw an adult Lesser Yellowlegs near Toronto and on Wednesday there was an adult Least Sandpiper in Hamilton at the west end of Lake Ontario. These are the first "fall migrant" shorebirds in southern Ontario and they are right on schedule. Several people asked us to comment about recent reports of a "Disastrous breeding season in the Arctic". The Arctic is huge; it is 3500 km from southern James Bay (subarctic) to northern Ellesmere Island. Most shorebirds have large breeding ranges and even in late years many birds breed successfully and rarely does the entire Arctic experience the same climatic conditions. We checked with northern researchers and summarized their comments below. Shorebird nesting in 2009 is poor in some regions but normal to good elsewhere. Ontario: Ken Abraham reports that conditions in the Hudson Bay Lowlands were about 10 days late from Attawapiskat south on James Bay, including Akimiski Island, with Canada Geese and Snow Geese hatching in mid June, more like the 1990s average than the 2000s average and within the overall norms. Other species on Akimiski Island were correspondingly late. His guess is that for those species that require shorter time there will be some reduction but not huge. Perhaps the predation effect will be somewhat greater if alternate species are less available. Because coastal snow, ice and water inundation conditions were similar from Cape Henrietta Maria to the Manitoba border, Ken expects that for Canada Geese nesting within 40 - 60 km from the coast, a much reduced effort and productivity will be the norm. Snow Geese at Cape Henrietta Maria were greatly down and the suggestion of a 90% reduction seems to fit what they saw on their survey. However, beyond 40 - 60 km inland, he thinks conditions will be different. Mark Peck said that species nesting away from the Hudson Bay Coast in boreal bogs and fens such as yellowlegs should not be severely impacted because much of the freeze took place near the coast. Manitoba: The situation is worse in northern Manitoba at Churchill where temperatures were well below normal until recently and the snow cover melted late. However, Erica Nol reports that birds have started to nest, just very late, and it won't be a complete bust for shorebirds if there are enough bare spots. Whimbrels and Hudsonian Godwits are nesting, but overall nesting success should be below average for most shorebirds in northern Manitoba. Nunavut: Snow melt was up to three weeks late in mainland Nunavut north of Manitoba. Recent temperatures have been close to normal. Much of Baffin Island is now snow free and conditions there and on Bylot Island are about normal. High Arctic breeders should have a good breeding year. Northwest Territories: Vicky Johnston suspects it will be a poor breeding year in parts of the Western Arctic. Spring was roughly three weeks late in Yellowknife on Great Slave Lake based on leaf-out. The Mackenzie Valley and Delta warmed early but then cooled off again. The Delta flooded slowly and the water receded slowly, so some prime shorebird breeding areas were subject to heavy predation. Yukon: Cameron Eckert reports a late spring, but once the heat came, everything shifted into high gear. Alaska: Declan Troy reports from the North Slope that the snow on the tundra is long gone. It was much warmer earlier in the month and his guess is that the breeding season has been early there. We will be recording the arrivals and numbers of adult and juvenile shorebirds in southern Ontario and may post updates. Acknowledgements: We thank Ken Abraham, Bruce Di Labio, Cameron Eckert, Michel Gosselin, Vicky Johnston, Erica Nol, Mark Peck, Ken Ross, Don Sutherland, and Declan Troy. Ron Pittaway and Jean Iron Toronto, Ontario ------------------------------ End of SHOREBIRDS Digest - 25 Jun 2009 to 26 Jun 2009 (#2009-23) **************************************************************** ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Seal Island to Vinalhaven From: Stella Walsh from my iPhone <stellawalsh AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:39:00 -0400 Wilsons Storm-Petrels by the dozens. I did not count, but it had to be a hundred or better. One Greater Shearwater and a Sooty. Much FOG. We last saw the Red-billed Tropicbird on Seal about three days before the one turned up on Seavey and White. ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: RE: Maine Birding Trail Book From: "Bob Duchesne" <duchesne AT midmaine.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:24:41 -0400 Thanks, Skip. But a lot of credit goes to a lot of people. And most of the credit goes to my wife, who -without complaint - let me rack up enough birding mileage on my car during the "research" phase of the book to drive around the world 1-1/2 times. Plus, whenever it was time to explore doubtful roads (like bumping to the top of East Kennebago Mt.) I would always borrow her Subaru Forester, instead of using my more prissy Toyota Prius. Bob Duchesne From: owner-maine-birds AT mainebirdlist.net [mailto:owner-maine-birds AT mainebirdlist.net] On Behalf Of carl small Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 9:28 PM To: maine-birds AT mainebirdlist.net Subject: [MAINE-BIRDS] Maine Birding Trail Book I bought two of Bob Duchesne book on the Maine Birding Trail and must say it is a must for those who love birding in Maine. Already started checking off the sites mention in his book. Great job Bob and thanks for your hard work. Skip Small Rockport Subject: Maine Birding Trail Book From: carl small <triton469 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:27:39 -0700 (PDT) I bought two of Bob Duchesne book on the Maine Birding Trail and must say it is a must for those who love birding in Maine. Already started checking off the sites mention in his book. Great job Bob and thanks for your hard work.   Skip Small Rockport Subject: Sooty Shearwater From: carl small <triton469 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:06:54 -0700 (PDT) Today on our schedule trip to Matinicus Island via the Mains State Ferry we saw over 300 Wilson's Storm Petrels 1 Razorbill 28 Guillemots 8 Northern Gannets 2 Sooty Shearwaters ( the first for me in the Penobscot Bay area) 1 Minke Whale in it usural location about 2 miles North of Matinicus Island  If one is interestied in a reasonalbe birding trip for the price of 33 Dollars (round trip ticket) that will include a 4 hr boat ride and 1hr on Matinicus Island with the possibility of seeing birds, whales, seals and porpoises. Just call or look up on line the times of departure from Rockland. Skip Small Rockport     Subject: 3-toes, more or less From: "Bob Duchesne" <duchesne AT midmaine.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:35:25 -0400 I had the pleasure of guiding a tour through Baxter State Park over the last two days. It seems we caught the one decent spell of weather and the birds cooperated. First, we tried several attempts at relocating the Northern Three-toed Woodpecker first reported on June 10th by Richard Heil on the Golden Road near Baxter. We came up empty-handed, but there is sufficient evidence of its presence that I imagine he is still around. Second, we consoled ourselves with a male Black-backed Woodpecker in the boreal section above Nesowadnehunk Field Campground that gave us great views. The amusing highlight was when he shared the same tree with a Gray Jay, as they eyed each other warily. The kids are off the nest and we encountered Gray Jays and juveniles on multiple occasions. Bay-breasted Warblers were numerous, often singing, and ALWAYS on the other side of the tree from where we were viewing. On the other hand the Fox Sparrows were in full voice and perched high for all to admire. At one point, a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher landed so close above our heads that he scared off the black flies for a moment. Olive-sided Flycatchers were more numerous or more vocal than usual. The bird I nicknamed "Tracy" was on top of his customary snag, calling from above Tracy Pond for the fourth year in a row. Also got the Philadelphia Vireo at Roaring Brook without difficulty for the fourth year in a row - a lifer for most. And among the dozen moose sighted in two days, two were mamas with cute calves. That's the quickie. More to come. Bob Duchesne Subject: mystery offshore passerine From: Derek Lovitch <freeportwildbird AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:14:27 -0700 (PDT) Hi all,   Yesterday, on my post about the whale watch trip that Mike Freiberg, Jeannette, and I took out of Portland yesterday (you know, the one I was reprimanded for despite not having any commercial interest in the Odyssey) I listed a "Hermit Thrush" among the highlights.  Well, after reviewing the photos, and discussing the bird with Mike, I'm not so sure.    Mike's photos are here (plus some of Jeannette's other photos from the trip): http://maineoutdoorjournal.mainetoday.com/blogentry.html?id=14072 I lean towards Ovenbird, which was actually my original call as it came fluttering in, but I am not completely confident of that either.   Opinions are welcome and requested!   -Derek ------------------ Jeannette and Derek Lovitch Freeport Wild Bird Supply 541 Route One, Suite 10 Freeport, ME 04032 Ph: (207)865-6000/Fax: (207)865-6069 www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com Subject: Kennebunk Plains (Orchard Oriole, etc), and Sanford Sewerage (Eared Grebe, etc), 6/26 From: Derek Lovitch <freeportwildbird AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:56:47 -0700 (PDT) Hi all,   A few hours in the Kennebunk Plains this morning failed to relocate the Clay-colored Sparrows, but I did have a nice tally of 13 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS and a particularly active morning of UPLAND SANDPIPERS (7+, 5 in air at one time, displaying). The surprise was an immature male ORCHARD ORIOLE on the north side of Rte 99.   At the nearby Sanford Sewerage facility, the EARED GREBE continues, in its usual spot in front of the rip-rap of the "Dog-Leg Pond."  Also, there are now 5 RUDDY DUCKS (three males and two females).  No sign of the moorhens.   -Derek (With apologies if that constituted an advertisement for the Sanford Sewerage Authority). ------------------ Jeannette and Derek Lovitch Freeport Wild Bird Supply 541 Route One, Suite 10 Freeport, ME 04032 Ph: (207)865-6000/Fax: (207)865-6069 www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com Subject: Birding trip. From: "James Lea" <clocks AT midcoast.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:00:07 -0400 The wife is out of town so I am thinking of taking my 13"Scamp and driving north from Camden to do some birding but I have no itinerary. Any ideas for a good birding location/camping spot would be appreciated. Thanks, JL ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Arboretum, Augusta 6/26 From: "Smith, Michael" <Michael.Smith AT maine.gov> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:41:05 -0400 I spent an hour at the arboretum this morning hoping to find Orchard Oriole breeding evidence, I did find: Orchard Oriole 1 "yellowish" bird flew by - looked like immature male, no obvious food hanging out of its mouth Black-billed Cuckoo heard repeatedly off in the distance Indigo Bunting singing near the lilac collection Great Crested Flycatchers nesting in box #97 Lots of baby birds around including BC Chickadee, Robin, Bluebird, Bobolink, House Wren, RW Blackbirds, C Grackles, Baltimore Oriole ********** Michael Smith State GIS Manager Maine Office of GIS Subject: Maine Birds Maillist Posting Guidelines From: "Paul Garrity" <pgarrity AT mainebirdlist.net> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:24:39 -0400 Time to send a rminder of the purpose for the maillist and the guidelines or rules for posting to the maillist. The guidelines are also available on the website: http://www.mainebirdlist.net/guidelines 1. The Mainebirds maillist was established for the sole purpose of allowing birders in or interested in Maine to efficiently communicate about wild birds or birding in the state of Maine. 2. Anyone interested in wild birds or birding in Maine is invited to join the maillist and share their sightings or post questions about birding to the maillist. Anyone - from interested beginners to advanced to experts. This mix of levels of expertise enhances the value of the maillist and might help promote birding in Maine. 3. Posts to the maillist must be non-commercial in nature. (see *note below) The maillist is and has always been meant to be completely "commercial-free". 4. "Be-my-friend" posts from members originating from or concerning social networking sites such as Facebook are not permitted and will result in immediate removal from the maillist. 5. "Unusually" long and involved discussions of a particular issue or subject on the maillist should be avoided. Remember that ALL members receive ALL emails sent to the maillist and too many emails on one subject will not be of interest to everyone. 6. Any post to the maillist that does not concern birds or birding in Maine is considered "off subject" and not following the maillist guidelines. *NOTE: commercial posts - it's my opinion that any post that promotes the sale of anything that isn't totally free (birding trips, books, photographs, birding supplies, etc.) is to be considered a commercial post. If you have some great photos that you want to share with the other members, set up a free account on Picassa or Flickr or another photo site where the purpose is not the sale of your photos. If you have something to sell, don't post it to this maillist. Birding groups and non-profit organizations can have events such as for-a-fee birding trips listed in Mainebirding's Upcoming Events directory free of charge. There's a Submit Event form on the website. I have always configured the maillist to be unmoderated so that posts from members are sent immediately to the list. Moderating the maillist would time consuming and would mean all posts would have to approved before forwarding to the list. In my opinion that would severely deteriorate the value and effectiveness of the maillist. None of the above guidelines are the result of any post or posts nor are they targeted at any group, organization or individual. The guidelines are simply being stated to make sure all members consistently understand the purpose of this maillist and can maintain its integrity. Thanks for your understanding and co-operation in keeping the maillist dedicated to birding in Maine. Questions or comments from members about the maillist are always welcomed and should always be sent to me directly off-list. Paul Garrity MaineBirdList.net www.mainebirdlist.net ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Mainebirds-Windham Red bellies From: fbtours AT aol.com Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:58:40 -0400 Howdy; ?We have had a pair of RED BELLIED WOODPECKERS here all season and today I got?my first?look at a juvenile. ?Funny little bird (2/3rds the size) with barely any coloring on the head if any at all. ?Eric E Windham Subject: Frenchman Bay area From: <wtownsend AT roadrunner.com> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:58:46 -0400 Thur. 25 June Light fog today with south winds brought large numbers of Wilson's Petrels up into the bay up as far as the Porcupine Islands and in some cases within 100 ft. of shore. Several Great Cormorants are being see various places around bay, Whale watch trips have been cancelled due to high seas and fog. Non-birds...large Thresher Shark was seen off Ironbound I. this afternoon 6/25. -- Check our nature, family, and other photos at: www.fotki.com/townsend-maine UPDATED ON 6/21. ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Peregrine back at Saco Island From: NeedsMoreRitalin AT gmail.com Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:00:40 +0000 I just came in from showing Peter Morelli around the island and shortly after I uttered the words "I haven't seen the Peregrines since March, I am hoping they come back by August" I saw what could have been a Peregrine. We sat for a minute to talk about Saco-Biddeford birds and it flew overhead again. I ran towards the green space where you can see MERC and there it was perched on one of the antennas. Got the scope and we shared some good views of the Peregrine. Hoping it sticks around! Chuck Subject: Pardon my pun - I flushed a few interesting birds at Sanford Sewage today From: NeedsMoreRitalin AT gmail.com Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:01:08 +0000 My first trip there, only spent an hour and explored Pond #1. When I walked down the path I flushed a Green Heron. Got three really good looks at this bird, especially in flight making its call. Observed 5 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Green-Winged Teals, Several DC Cormorants over 45 Canada Geese...heard Red Eyed Vireos. There were TONS of RWBB and a few Eastern Kingbirds. At the end of my loop around the pond I got a text message from my girlfriend which startled a Wood Duck that I did not see until it fled into the reeds. I was very close to it, but it didn't know I was there until the text message came through. I left with a souvenir feather. On the way home a Broad-winged hawk flew over my car towards the Biddeford Crossing shopping center. I observed one soaring overhead outside of the Lowe's there last week. Cheers, Chuck Subject: Odyssey Whale Watch, Portland, 6/25 From: Derek Lovitch <freeportwildbird AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:55:27 -0700 (PDT) Hi all,   Thanks to a heads-up from Josh, the Odyssey's naturalist, that there are a "ton" of birds out there at the moment, Mike Freiberg, Jeannette, and I boarded the boat today for the 5 hour trip out of Portland.   We hit the fog bank less than 5 miles offshore, but as we cruised around the edges of various ledges looking for whales, we came across raft after raft of birds, and many birds were materializing out of the fog to check out our boat (no doubt hoping that we were fishing), providing awesome photographic opportunities for Mike and Jeannette.  It was really one of the best days on the water that I've had out of Portland.   Here's the tally: 162 Wilson's Storm-Petrels 110 Greater Shearwaters 32 Sooty Shearwaters 21 NORTHERN FULMAR (by far my record high for summer, and this was a very conservative count) 10 Northern Gannets 2 LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS 1 Common Loon 1 HERMIT THRUSH - circled the boat 18 miles offshore in the fog. What the heck was this bird doing over water in late June!?   1 Ocean Sunfish (FOY) 2 Minke Whales 2++ Harbor Porpoise   Great day!   While our next scheduled "Poor Man's Pelagic" is not until Tuesday, July 14th, I do have spaces available on my trip out to Outer Green Island on Saturday (see: www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/birdingtoursinMaine.asp for more info), but the Odyssey is now running daily whale watches (http://www.odysseywhalewatch.com/).  Let Josh or Captain Tom know you're birding, and they'll do their best to take care of you!   -Derek ------------------ Jeannette and Derek Lovitch Freeport Wild Bird Supply 541 Route One, Suite 10 Freeport, ME 04032 Ph: (207)865-6000/Fax: (207)865-6069 www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com Subject: Hi! From: davchaffin AT aol.com Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:04:26 -0400 Hi! Dear friend: We are business is selling all kinds of famous brand ,bag,chanel,Lv,HandBags,Wallets,Belts ,Scarf,Jewelry,Watches … … Let you enjoy to 100%satisfactions! Our website is : www.22lv8bag118.com =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to SIGN YOUR MESSAGE with first and last name, CITY (TOWN) and state abbreviation. You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds you report were seen. The actual DATE OF OBSERVATION should appear in the first paragraph. _____________________________________________________________ To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird AT freelists.org. _____________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request AT freelists.org with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. ______________________________________________________________ TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace AT bristolbirdclub.org ------------------------------ Assistant Moderator Andy Jones Cleveland, OH ------------------------------- Assistant Moderator Dave Worley Rosedale, VA __________________________________________________________ Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ARCHIVES TN-Bird Net Archives at http://www.freelists.org/archives/tn-bird/ MAP RESOURCES Tenn.Counties Map at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/states/tennessee3.gif Aerial photos to complement google maps http://local.live.com _____________________________________________________________ Subject: Nikon and Kittery Trading Post host birding events this weekend! From: "Mike Freiberg" <mfreiberg AT nikonrep.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:13:38 -0600 To all birders, A Journey Through the Eyes of a Birder This weekend Nikon Sport Optics will be co-sponsoring birding events with Kittery Trading Post at its store. Richard Crossley will be on hand for book signings and two keynote talks and Mike Freiberg (Nikon's Birding Market Specialist) will present free optics seminars. Also, Richard and Mike will be co-leading field trips on Saturday and Sunday morning. All events are free of charge, so please come join them. Feel free to visit the links below for more information. Richard and Mike look forward to seeing you! A JOURNEY THROUGH THE EYES OF A BIRDER: BIRDING TO THE EDGE WITH NIKON: Mike Freiberg Saturday, June 27, 3pm - 4pm Sunday, June 28, 3pm - 4pm BOOK SIGNING WITH RICHARD CROSSLEY Saturday, June 27, 2pm - 3pm Sunday, June 28, 2pm - 3pm BIRDING: PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE: Richard Crossley Saturday, June 27, 1pm - 2pm Sunday, June 28, 1pm - 2pm BIRDING EXCURSION: RACHEL CARSON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Braveboat Harbor Division, Cutts Island Trail Richard Crossley and Mike Freiberg, Carpool Limit 20 people per day. Advanced registration encouraged. Call 888-587-6246 or e-mail seminars AT ktp.com. Saturday, June 27, 6am - 11am Sunday, June 28, 6am - 11am Additional information about the event: http://www.ktpevents.com/interior.php/pid/6/eid/419 Additional information about Richard Crossley: http://www.crossleybirds.com/ Additional information about Nikon Sport Optics: http://www.nikonbirding.com Nikon Birding Blog: http://birdingtotheedg.blogspot.com/ Best, Mike Freiberg Nikon Birding Market Specialist 10025 E. Girard Ave. #18E 354 Denver, CO 80231 (515).231.0184 www.nikonbirding.com www.nikoncuttingedg.com www.birdingtotheedg.blogspot.com www.flickr.com/photos/22023299 AT N04/ Subject: Pileated - North Jay From: pikagnome AT midmaine.com Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:53:53 -0400 (EDT) I usually see and hear pileated woodpeckers whenever I'm hiking along the Appalachian Trail in western and northern Maine. So it was a pleasant surprise to see one on the side of a tree right beside Routes 17 and 4 in North Jay on Saturday morning. Watched it fly from across the road to the tree. Have never seen a pileated before while in traffic. This was about a couple of miles beyond Jay Hill, closer to where Route 17 peels off toward East Dixfield. Terry Karkos ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Fledged Goshawks-China Maine From: "Mark R Hoffman" <hoffa2 AT roadrunner.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:55:13 -0400 Well the 2 young Goshawks are out of the nest and flying rather clumsily while being very vocal. They are still hanging close to the nest and being very vocal probably begging their parents for some food. I did not see either parent while I was there.In addition I picked up: Nashville warbler Black throated green Yellowthroat Yellow Warbler Overbird Yellow Rumped Blue headed Vireo Redstart Pine Warbler Northern Parula and heard a Barred Owl Plus the regular residents Mark R Hoffman Newcastle Maine (207)458-1897 Subject: Dyer Point Seawatching, 6/23 From: Derek Lovitch <freeportwildbird AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:01:37 -0700 (PDT) Hi all,   Jeannette and I spent an hour seawatching at Dyer Point in Cape Elizabeth this morning from 7:10 to 8:10am.  Winds were NNE to N, so they were not out of the most productive direction.   Here's the tally, of northbound birds only: 137 Northern Gannets 45 Common Eider 32 Double-crested Cormorants 32 sterna tern sp. 27 Wilson's Storm-Petrels 15 Common Terns  4 Roseate Terns  2 Black Guillemots  1 Laughing Gull  1 Arctic Tern   The 1st cycle GLAUCOUS GULL continues in the neighborhood.  This morning, it was foraging in the lawns of the last houses on the left before the Kettle Cove parking area.   4 Roseate Terns and 16 Bonaparte's Gulls were at Higgin's Beach, and 61 Bonaparte's Gulls and 1 Roseate were at Ferry Beach. -Derek ------------------ Jeannette and Derek Lovitch Freeport Wild Bird Supply 541 Route One, Suite 10 Freeport, ME 04032 Ph: (207)865-6000/Fax: (207)865-6069 www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com Subject: 4 tern species, Pine Point Beach, 6/24 From: Derek Lovitch <freeportwildbird AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:56:58 -0700 (PDT) Hi all,   Between 9:30 and 9:45am this morning, the sandbar a Pine Point Beach in Scarborough was hosting 4 species of terns: 2+ Arctic, 6 Roseate, and 4 Leasts, along with 30+ Commons.  Unfortunately, the skies opened up once again before I could get photos.    The 1st Cycle Glaucous Gull was at Kettle Cove again today, and a photo of it from yesterday (plus some musings about the effects of this storm on birds and birding) are on my blog today: http://maineoutdoorjournal.mainetoday.com/blogentry.html?id=14019   -Derek ------------------ Jeannette and Derek Lovitch Freeport Wild Bird Supply 541 Route One, Suite 10 Freeport, ME 04032 Ph: (207)865-6000/Fax: (207)865-6069 www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com Subject: Rangeley area on Sunday From: "Eric Hynes" <ehynes AT maineaudubon.org> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:49:24 -0400 Hello Maine Birders: I'm a little late in getting this report out. Last Sunday Luke Seitz and I led a van trip along Rt. 16 west of Rangeley. We had decent weather, 4 moose and plenty of good birds. The best bird for us was Bob Brown's (thank you) Black-backed Woodpecker nest in Lincoln Plantation. If you are heading west on Rt. 16, start paying attention around Mill Brook Road which is on the left/south side. All the utility poles are numbered. The nest cavity is on the north side of the road between poles 330 and 331 (much closer to 330). We were able to enjoy, while on the opposite side of the street, a nestling male incessantly calling from the entrance and being fed by the adult female twice. While walking Mill Brook Road we saw a pair of Boreal Chickadees, a Winter Wren feeding three fledglings, a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and a Ruffed Grouse. We tallied 19 warbler species over the course of the day highlighted by a male Cape May, several Palm, a Blackpoll and numerous Magnolias. The Cape May and Blackpoll were in the same area of dense spruce and fir on the north side of Rt. 16. There is an easily overlooked pull-off just east of the Cupsuptic Campgrounds. It is a gravel "road" that is only about 100' in length. The end of this pull-off splinters into a number of moose trails. The Cape May has been on territory in the first small opening as you walk the most conspicuous trail about 100 yards or less. If you head a little farther into the forest toward a bog, the lowland Blackpoll is very vocal. This bog edge is also where we were surrounded by a Gray Jay family. I love the sooty juveniles. We picked up Alder Flycatcher on Boy Scout Road. Boy Scout Road was pretty quiet but it was midday and we ran out of time to do it justice. Good birding, Eric Hynes Location: Rt. 16 van trip Observation date: 6/21/09 Notes: This was a van trip covering ~25 miles along Rt. 16 in the Rangeley area. We birded from Rangeley to Lincoln Plantation. We walked sections of Mill Brook Road, Boy Scout Road and Loon Lake Road. The day was mostly overcast and occasionally drizzling. Number of species: 61 Mallard 5 Common Merganser 2 Ruffed Grouse 1 on Mill Brook Road near the boat launch Common Loon 1 on Upper Richardson Lake Turkey Vulture 6 Osprey 3 overhead along Boy Scout Road Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Kestrel 1 Ring-billed Gull 12 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Black-backed Woodpecker 2 adult female feeding nestling male in tree cavity between utility poles #330 and #331 on the north side of Rt. 16 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 2 Alder Flycatcher 2 Blue-headed Vireo 5 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Gray Jay 6 mix of adults and sooty juveniles together Blue Jay 3 American Crow 10 Common Raven 3 Tree Swallow 3 Barn Swallow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Boreal Chickadee 2 a pair along Mill Brook Road Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 Brown Creeper 1 Winter Wren 10 an adult was feeding three fledglings Golden-crowned Kinglet 10 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Swainson's Thrush 8 Hermit Thrush 4 American Robin 5 Cedar Waxwing 10 Nashville Warbler 8 Northern Parula 6 Yellow Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Magnolia Warbler 20 Cape May Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 4 Black-throated Green Warbler 10 Blackburnian Warbler 7 Pine Warbler 1 Palm Warbler (Yellow) 2 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Black-and-white Warbler 5 American Redstart 2 Ovenbird 5 Northern Waterthrush 2 Common Yellowthroat 2 Canada Warbler 3 Chipping Sparrow 4 Savannah Sparrow 3 at end of runway on Loon Lake Road Song Sparrow 4 Swamp Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow 5 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 8 Red-winged Blackbird 4 Pine Siskin 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Eric Hynes Gilsland Farm Naturalist /  Adult Education Program Coordinator Maine Audubon 20 Gilsland Farm Road Falmouth, ME 04105 207-781-2330 ext. 237 ehynes AT maineaudubon.org www.maineaudubon.org   ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Re: More about iced in North From: Reid Scher <rscher34 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:33:49 -0700 (PDT) The up side of all of this is that the polar bears will have a longer feeding period to fortify themselves before the ice melts and leaves them without hunting platforms.  Should increase cub survival rates. Judy Scher --- On Tue, 6/23/09, Jeff Wells wrote: From: Jeff Wells Subject: [MAINE-BIRDS] More about iced in North To: "Eric Hynes" , "Maine Birds" , jsucheck AT maine.rr.com Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 6:50 PM   I just posted some photos and video I took of iced-in Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories on June 10 when I was there at http://www.borealbirds.org/blog/   Jeff Wells       Hello Maine Birders:   I thought this information below would be very interesting to Maine birders.   This could have profound impacts on fall migration through Maine and probably sooner than later.   Eric Hynes Gilsland Farm Naturalist /  Adult Education Program Coordinator Maine Audubon 20 Gilsland Farm Road Falmouth, ME 04105 207-781-2330 ext. 237 ehynes AT maineaudubon.org www.maineaudubon.org     The following is an article regarding widespread reproductive failure (and reproductive delay) for birds in northern Manitoba, northern Ontario, and the entire eastern Arctic.  Not unprecedented, but it will impact numbers, adult-to-immature ratios, and arrival dates of returning migrants in our area.    Big chill in Churchill - Winnipeg Free Press   http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/big-chill-in-churchill-47992231.html     It is the winter that refuses to go away in northern Manitoba and most of the eastern Arctic. Prolonged cold snowy conditions in the Hudson Bay area are expected to obliterate the breeding season for migratory birds and most other species of wildlife this year. According to Environment Canada, the spring of 2009 is record-late in the eastern Arctic with virtually 100 per cent snow cover from James Bay north as of June 11. May temperatures in northern Manitoba were almost four degrees C below the long-term average of -0.7, and in early June, temperatures averaged three degrees below normal. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration images confirm snow and ice blanket all of northern Manitoba, part of northern Ontario and almost all of the eastern Arctic as of June 12. U.S. aerial flight surveys confirm the eastern Arctic has no sign of spring so far. "I have lived in Churchill since the 1950s, and this the latest spring I have ever seen here," said local resident Pat Penwarden. "The spring of 1962 was almost this bad." Six-foot snowdrifts blocked Churchill-area roads. A thick blanket of snow, in places three- and four-feet deep, coated 90 per cent of the local taiga in northern Manitoba. Ecotourists, who normally flock to northern Manitoba every June to see birds and other wildlife, cancelled their plans this June "in droves," according to local ecotourist specialists. Snowy conditions are largely to blame. "It is like a winter landscape," said Ruth Baker, a Michigan tourist who spent June 9 to 12 at Churchill. "I couldn't believe the snowdrifts, like mountains of snow". Researchers confirm that the lateness of the spring of 2009 dooms local birds to a virtually complete reproductive failure. According to Robert Jefferies, professor emeritus of botany at the University of Toronto, the last time there was a late spring in northern Manitoba, in 1983, there was a total reproductive "bust" in lesser snow geese. Most species of birds did not nest at all. Aerial inventories of fall migrant geese from the eastern Arctic that year confirmed 0.005 per cent of the fall population comprised juvenile birds, compared to the normal figure of over 50 per cent. According to Cornell University researchers, currently at Churchill, shorebird nesting is already three-weeks late, and has yet to start. The first Canada goose nests were initiated on June 7, more than one month later than normal, and probably not early enough to allow goslings to mature before the fall migration flight. Canada geese are the first birds to nest in northern Manitoba. Many northern birds require more than 100 days to nest, incubate young and rear offspring to a condition suitable for fall migration. According to Robert Rockwell of The City University of New York, who studies geese in northern Manitoba, if the geese have not begun incubating clutches of eggs before June 11, there is almost no chance that their offspring will be strong enough to endure the long southbound fall flight. In 1983, that was the case, and 1983 was not nearly as late as 2009. Research by Hugh Boyd, scientist emeritus at the Canadian Wildlife Service, states late Arctic springs reduce northern waterfowl production by up to 90 per cent, with very late springs having a devastating impact. According to Vern Thomas, a University of Guelph researcher, record-late springs produce "reproductive failures" in northern geese. "These late springs generate reproductive busts," confirmed Joe Jehl, who has studied birds in northern Manitoba since the late 1960s and recently retired from the Smithsonian Institution. Studies at Churchill show that in late springs, female birds delay nesting, and rather than starve for lack of food, they re-absorb already-formed eggs to benefit from their nutritional content. Nesting often does not occur under those conditions. In 2004, a late spring caused many northern Manitoba migratory birds to abandon nesting efforts and head back south in late June, more than two months early. Recent late springs in the Hudson Bay area have been more frequent than normal: 2004, 2002, 2000 and 1997. According to NOAA scientists, although the Arctic is warming, more frequent annual oscillations in temperature are likely to occur, often resulting in late springs. "Such major oscillations are part of a bumpy ride toward global warming," said Thomas Karl of the National Climate Center. "For awhile at least this will be the shape of things to come." Vegetation is also impacted upon by late Arctic springs, with green-up about three weeks late this year. Consequently, herbivorous animals have delayed breeding "People often confuse climate with weather, and this spring is a weather phenomenon," said an Environment Canada spokesperson. Robert Alison is a Victoria-based wildlife biologist and writer with a PhD in zoology.       --------------------------------- Todd Michael Day Jeffersonton, Virginia Culpeper County, USA blkvulture AT aol.com ---------------------------------   An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. Subject: Re: Rangeley area Black-backed Woodpecker From: Reid Scher <rscher34 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:24:49 -0700 (PDT) Does anyone have any guestimates as to how long these birds might hang around this spot?  I have company coming for the July 4th wkend who would like to see them - as would I! Judy Scher   Subject: Rangeley area Black-backed Woodpecker From: Stan DeOrsey <jsmd AT att.net> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:07:36 -0400 This morning in rain and light drizzle we headed north for the Black-backed Woodpecker. As we passed through Farmington the sun came out, for about 5 minutes. Actually, I exaggerate, it was only 2 minutes and then it drizzled again. But we were encouraged. Shortly after we had a cow moose in a nearby field, so the omens were looking good. As we reached Rangeley we hit a low cloud, fog, hard to see anything. Then presto, no rain, no drizzle, and no fog. We drove straight on route 16 to the appointed spot about 15 miles west of Oquossoc (0.2 miles EAST of Transfer Station Rd., which has a sign). Right away we found the nest hole (north side of road in a black spruce right on the edge of the road) ... but no one was home. We waited from 8:30 to 9:15 when John Briggs drove by from Portland and asked if we had seen it. Immediately the bird called and landed on an spruce trunk right beside the road (north side still). We watched him (it was a male) for a full 5 minutes as he chipped bark off the tree then he flew further into the woods. Bob Brown, thank you very much for the original posting and great directions. We also saw Blue-headed Vireo, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Parula, very bright White-throated Sparrow. And we heard Winter Wren (what a song) and Dark-eyed Junco. A Northern Goshawk flew over too. And I must add the sun came out and it got hot!!! We also stopped and walked in the first logging road on the north side of route 16 further east. We saw Blackburnian Warbler, Swainsons Thrush (who sang the entire time we were there) and two Winter Wrens. Later a Common Raven flew over. We heard Blackpoll Warblers at another spot but could not find it. A Common Yellowthroat did come see us! We left and came back through Rumford on route 17 and it didn't take long to hit rain again!! At Height-of-land (by the Appalachian trail) we had a Red-shouldered Hawk making lazy circles below! -- Stan DeOrsey jsmd AT att.net ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Cape Elizabeth birds From: "Eric Hynes" <ehynes AT maineaudubon.org> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:09:21 -0400 Hello Maine Birders: I did a little birding in Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough with a friend visiting from PA this morning. Best birds were a good look at a Parasitic Jaeger, two Wilson's Storm-Petrels and about a dozen Northern Gannets at Dyer Point and the immature Glaucous Gull at Kettle Cove. Eric Hynes ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: RFI: SEPTEMBER BIRDING ADVICE - ME From: Gruff Dodd <gruff AT doddg.freeserve.co.uk> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:45:35 +0200 (CEST) Hi Hoping I can get some expert advice from you folks in advance of a possible trip I may be making in September 09, please. It is likely to be a short trip, perhaps 4 days in total while the rest of my family hit New York City. Timing likely to be 2nd week of September. I'm pretty flexible in terms of destination - anywhere north and east of NYC is possible, but I have a few specific target species I'd like to try to see, and I'd greatly welcome advice on likelihood of seeing them and where I'd be best looking. Ideally, given that I will only have 4 days available and will be travelling from the south, I'd prefer to restrict myself to the SW part of the state, or I'll spend my whole time travelling. 1. The main target would be Bicknell's Thrush - is that a realistic possibility at that time of year? If so, is Mount Washington, NH still the best place to look for this bird, or is there anywhere in Maine or elsewhere that would be better, given my limited time available? 2. Am I going to be too late in the year for Olive-sided Flycatcher> If not, anywhere particularly good? 3. Similarly, are there any really reliable sites at that time for Boreal Chickadee? 4. Will I be too early for White-winged Scoter? Any good spots? 5. Finally, I'd also like to try the coastal areas for Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Again, is there anywhere reliable for this bird in southern Maine? Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. GRUFF DODD Cardiff, Wales, UK Subject: More about iced in North From: "Jeff Wells" <jeffwells AT borealbirds.org> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:50:40 -0700 I just posted some photos and video I took of iced-in Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories on June 10 when I was there at http://www.borealbirds.org/blog/ Jeff Wells Hello Maine Birders: I thought this information below would be very interesting to Maine birders. This could have profound impacts on fall migration through Maine and probably sooner than later. Eric Hynes Gilsland Farm Naturalist / Adult Education Program Coordinator Maine Audubon 20 Gilsland Farm Road Falmouth, ME 04105 207-781-2330 ext. 237 ehynes AT maineaudubon.org www.maineaudubon.org The following is an article regarding widespread reproductive failure (and reproductive delay) for birds in northern Manitoba, northern Ontario, and the entire eastern Arctic. Not unprecedented, but it will impact numbers, adult-to-immature ratios, and arrival dates of returning migrants in our area. Big chill in Churchill - Winnipeg Free Press http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/big-chill-in-churchill-47992231.html It is the winter that refuses to go away in northern Manitoba and most of the eastern Arctic. Prolonged cold snowy conditions in the Hudson Bay area are expected to obliterate the breeding season for migratory birds and most other species of wildlife this year. According to Environment Canada, the spring of 2009 is record-late in the eastern Arctic with virtually 100 per cent snow cover from James Bay north as of June 11. May temperatures in northern Manitoba were almost four degrees C below the long-term average of -0.7, and in early June, temperatures averaged three degrees below normal. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration images confirm snow and ice blanket all of northern Manitoba, part of northern Ontario and almost all of the eastern Arctic as of June 12. U.S. aerial flight surveys confirm the eastern Arctic has no sign of spring so far. "I have lived in Churchill since the 1950s, and this the latest spring I have ever seen here," said local resident Pat Penwarden. "The spring of 1962 was almost this bad." Six-foot snowdrifts blocked Churchill-area roads. A thick blanket of snow, in places three- and four-feet deep, coated 90 per cent of the local taiga in northern Manitoba. Ecotourists, who normally flock to northern Manitoba every June to see birds and other wildlife, cancelled their plans this June "in droves," according to local ecotourist specialists. Snowy conditions are largely to blame. "It is like a winter landscape," said Ruth Baker, a Michigan tourist who spent June 9 to 12 at Churchill. "I couldn't believe the snowdrifts, like mountains of snow". Researchers confirm that the lateness of the spring of 2009 dooms local birds to a virtually complete reproductive failure. According to Robert Jefferies, professor emeritus of botany at the University of Toronto, the last time there was a late spring in northern Manitoba, in 1983, there was a total reproductive "bust" in lesser snow geese. Most species of birds did not nest at all. Aerial inventories of fall migrant geese from the eastern Arctic that year confirmed 0.005 per cent of the fall population comprised juvenile birds, compared to the normal figure of over 50 per cent. According to Cornell University researchers, currently at Churchill, shorebird nesting is already three-weeks late, and has yet to start. The first Canada goose nests were initiated on June 7, more than one month later than normal, and probably not early enough to allow goslings to mature before the fall migration flight. Canada geese are the first birds to nest in northern Manitoba. Many northern birds require more than 100 days to nest, incubate young and rear offspring to a condition suitable for fall migration. According to Robert Rockwell of The City University of New York, who studies geese in northern Manitoba, if the geese have not begun incubating clutches of eggs before June 11, there is almost no chance that their offspring will be strong enough to endure the long southbound fall flight. In 1983, that was the case, and 1983 was not nearly as late as 2009. Research by Hugh Boyd, scientist emeritus at the Canadian Wildlife Service, states late Arctic springs reduce northern waterfowl production by up to 90 per cent, with very late springs having a devastating impact. According to Vern Thomas, a University of Guelph researcher, record-late springs produce "reproductive failures" in northern geese. "These late springs generate reproductive busts," confirmed Joe Jehl, who has studied birds in northern Manitoba since the late 1960s and recently retired from the Smithsonian Institution. Studies at Churchill show that in late springs, female birds delay nesting, and rather than starve for lack of food, they re-absorb already-formed eggs to benefit from their nutritional content. Nesting often does not occur under those conditions. In 2004, a late spring caused many northern Manitoba migratory birds to abandon nesting efforts and head back south in late June, more than two months early. Recent late springs in the Hudson Bay area have been more frequent than normal: 2004, 2002, 2000 and 1997. According to NOAA scientists, although the Arctic is warming, more frequent annual oscillations in temperature are likely to occur, often resulting in late springs. "Such major oscillations are part of a bumpy ride toward global warming," said Thomas Karl of the National Climate Center. "For awhile at least this will be the shape of things to come." Vegetation is also impacted upon by late Arctic springs, with green-up about three weeks late this year. Consequently, herbivorous animals have delayed breeding "People often confuse climate with weather, and this spring is a weather phenomenon," said an Environment Canada spokesperson. Robert Alison is a Victoria-based wildlife biologist and writer with a PhD in zoology. --------------------------------- Todd Michael Day Jeffersonton, Virginia Culpeper County, USA blkvulture AT aol.com --------------------------------- ________________________________ An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! Subject: News from the north regarding breeding waterfowl and shorebirds From: "Eric Hynes" <ehynes AT maineaudubon.org> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:23:44 -0400 Hello Maine Birders: I thought this information below would be very interesting to Maine birders. This could have profound impacts on fall migration through Maine and probably sooner than later. Eric Hynes Gilsland Farm Naturalist / Adult Education Program Coordinator Maine Audubon 20 Gilsland Farm Road Falmouth, ME 04105 207-781-2330 ext. 237 ehynes AT maineaudubon.org www.maineaudubon.org The following is an article regarding widespread reproductive failure (and reproductive delay) for birds in northern Manitoba, northern Ontario, and the entire eastern Arctic. Not unprecedented, but it will impact numbers, adult-to-immature ratios, and arrival dates of returning migrants in our area. Big chill in Churchill - Winnipeg Free Press http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/big-chill-in-churchill -47992231.html It is the winter that refuses to go away in northern Manitoba and most of the eastern Arctic. Prolonged cold snowy conditions in the Hudson Bay area are expected to obliterate the breeding season for migratory birds and most other species of wildlife this year. According to Environment Canada, the spring of 2009 is record-late in the eastern Arctic with virtually 100 per cent snow cover from James Bay north as of June 11. May temperatures in northern Manitoba were almost four degrees C below the long-term average of -0.7, and in early June, temperatures averaged three degrees below normal. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration images confirm snow and ice blanket all of northern Manitoba, part of northern Ontario and almost all of the eastern Arctic as of June 12. U.S. aerial flight surveys confirm the eastern Arctic has no sign of spring so far. "I have lived in Churchill since the 1950s, and this the latest spring I have ever seen here," said local resident Pat Penwarden. "The spring of 1962 was almost this bad." Six-foot snowdrifts blocked Churchill-area roads. A thick blanket of snow, in places three- and four-feet deep, coated 90 per cent of the local taiga in northern Manitoba. Ecotourists, who normally flock to northern Manitoba every June to see birds and other wildlife, cancelled their plans this June "in droves," according to local ecotourist specialists. Snowy conditions are largely to blame. "It is like a winter landscape," said Ruth Baker, a Michigan tourist who spent June 9 to 12 at Churchill. "I couldn't believe the snowdrifts, like mountains of snow". Researchers confirm that the lateness of the spring of 2009 dooms local birds to a virtually complete reproductive failure. According to Robert Jefferies, professor emeritus of botany at the University of Toronto, the last time there was a late spring in northern Manitoba, in 1983, there was a total reproductive "bust" in lesser snow geese. Most species of birds did not nest at all. Aerial inventories of fall migrant geese from the eastern Arctic that year confirmed 0.005 per cent of the fall population comprised juvenile birds, compared to the normal figure of over 50 per cent. According to Cornell University researchers, currently at Churchill, shorebird nesting is already three-weeks late, and has yet to start. The first Canada goose nests were initiated on June 7, more than one month later than normal, and probably not early enough to allow goslings to mature before the fall migration flight. Canada geese are the first birds to nest in northern Manitoba. Many northern birds require more than 100 days to nest, incubate young and rear offspring to a condition suitable for fall migration. According to Robert Rockwell of The City University of New York, who studies geese in northern Manitoba, if the geese have not begun incubating clutches of eggs before June 11, there is almost no chance that their offspring will be strong enough to endure the long southbound fall flight. In 1983, that was the case, and 1983 was not nearly as late as 2009. Research by Hugh Boyd, scientist emeritus at the Canadian Wildlife Service, states late Arctic springs reduce northern waterfowl production by up to 90 per cent, with very late springs having a devastating impact. According to Vern Thomas, a University of Guelph researcher, record-late springs produce "reproductive failures" in northern geese. "These late springs generate reproductive busts," confirmed Joe Jehl, who has studied birds in northern Manitoba since the late 1960s and recently retired from the Smithsonian Institution. Studies at Churchill show that in late springs, female birds delay nesting, and rather than starve for lack of food, they re-absorb already-formed eggs to benefit from their nutritional content. Nesting often does not occur under those conditions. In 2004, a late spring caused many northern Manitoba migratory birds to abandon nesting efforts and head back south in late June, more than two months early. Recent late springs in the Hudson Bay area have been more frequent than normal: 2004, 2002, 2000 and 1997. According to NOAA scientists, although the Arctic is warming, more frequent annual oscillations in temperature are likely to occur, often resulting in late springs. "Such major oscillations are part of a bumpy ride toward global warming," said Thomas Karl of the National Climate Center. "For awhile at least this will be the shape of things to come." Vegetation is also impacted upon by late Arctic springs, with green-up about three weeks late this year. Consequently, herbivorous animals have delayed breeding "People often confuse climate with weather, and this spring is a weather phenomenon," said an Environment Canada spokesperson. Robert Alison is a Victoria-based wildlife biologist and writer with a PhD in zoology. --------------------------------- Todd Michael Day Jeffersonton, Virginia Culpeper County, USA blkvulture AT aol.com --------------------------------- ________________________________ An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Penjajawoc Marsh - Home depot Parking lot , 6/22/09 From: kylepiston AT aol.com Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:58:21 -0400 The marsh looks more like a lake from all the rain. The mallards nest and the blue winged teal nest are under water now. The have all moved to a new location of the marsh. I had a rare visitor today a common Moorhen in the marsh. Paul from Bangor -----Original Message----- From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org To: kylepiston AT aol.com Sent: Mon, Jun 22, 2009 11:51 pm Subject: eBird Report - Penjajawoc Marsh - Home depot Parking lot , 6/22/09 Location: Penjajawoc Marsh - Home depot Parking lot Observation date: 6/22/09 Number of species: 14 Wood Duck 1 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Common Moorhen 1 Herring Gull 1 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 American Crow 1 Tree Swallow 3 European Starling 12 Yellow Warbler 2 Song Sparrow 3 Bobolink 7 Red-winged Blackbird 8 American Goldfinch 3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: 6/22 - Parasitic Jaegers - Pemaquid Point From: Eric LoPresti <lopresti.eric AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:11:54 -0400 Spent the better part of the afternoon at Pemaquid Point (3:30-6:15). Despite the wind, it was rather pleasant, and any qualms I could have had about the weather were more than made up for by the birds. Gannets, by the hundreds streamed by, mostly east, but a few doubled back. I saw 4 adults, the rest (expectedly) were juveniles. About 10 Wilson's storm petrels were seen, though some could have been recounted, since they showed no order to their movements. I bet I missed twice that many, since I spent most of the time on the rocks near sea level and the ones I did see were quickly lost behind waves, something there was no lack of today. A common loon, plenty of eiders, terns, guillemots and DC cormorants were also around. The highlights were the parasitic jaegers, one of which was literally the first bird I put my scope on upon arriving. After 2 distant views, one came in very <100 ft. close to harass a common tern. How I wish I had my camera ready! I did get a couple shots as he flew away ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/26099887 AT N03/ ), but I was certainly not going to take my eyes off the excitement and ready the camera then. Altogether I saw 5, all flying east and observed one more tern harassment, much more distant. All were adults. Eric LoPresti Providence, RI (doing research at Darling Marine Center in Walpole, Maine) Subject: Fw: Pine Grosbeak - South Casco, Maine From: Russell Dorr <russelldorr AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:31:15 -0700 (PDT) Thanks to Eric Hynes and a return of the bird, I agree that it is just an especially large Purple Finch in breeding colors and fluffed out in the wind and cold. Mea culpa! Bud --- On Mon, 6/22/09, Russell Dorr wrote: From: Russell Dorr Subject: [MAINE-BIRDS] Pine Grosbeak - South Casco, Maine To: maine-birds AT mainebirdlist.net Date: Monday, June 22, 2009, 1:49 PM I was shocked to find a male Pine Grosbeak in my feeder. Took several pictures. Not only have I not had one here ever (11 years), but certainly unexpected in the last part of June. I suspect the strong, out of season northerly winds blew it in. Bud Dorr South Casco, Maine Subject: Pine Grosbeak - South Casco, Maine From: Russell Dorr <russelldorr AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:49:32 -0700 (PDT) I was shocked to find a male Pine Grosbeak in my feeder. Took several pictures. Not only have I not had one here ever (11 years), but certainly unexpected in the last part of June. I suspect the strong, out of season northerly winds blew it in. Bud Dorr South Casco, Maine Subject: QUERY: Barred Owl food items From: Peter Vickery <petervickery AT roadrunner.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:27:14 -0400 I'm interested in known food items for Barred Owls - and any other owls in Maine. These might be pellets or remains found under nests or in pellets. Barred Owls have eaten fish in Maine and appear to have a taste for saw-whet owls. Reply off line. Thanks. Peter ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Rangeley Lakes birds From: "Miklos Oyler" <oylermik AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:02:52 -0400 Canoed for 4 days from Cupsuptic Lake to Mooselookmcguntic Lake to Upper Richardson Lake to Lower Richardson Lake from June 18-21. Highlights were 5 Bald Eagle, around 12 Common Loon and a singing Wilson's Warbler. Mik Oyler North Conway, NH Wood Duck 1 Mallard 2 Common Merganser 4 Common Loon 12 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Great Blue Heron 2 Turkey Vulture 2 Osprey 2 Bald Eagle 5 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Ring-billed Gull 8 Herring Gull 2 Mourning Dove 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Belted Kingfisher 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Least Flycatcher 6 Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue Jay 1 American Crow 2 Common Raven 1 Tree Swallow 6 Barn Swallow 4 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Winter Wren 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Swainson's Thrush 2 Hermit Thrush 1 American Robin 4 Cedar Waxwing 8 Nashville Warbler 1 Northern Parula 6 Magnolia Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 Black-throated Green Warbler 6 Blackburnian Warbler 4 Black-and-white Warbler 4 American Redstart 10 Ovenbird 2 Northern Waterthrush 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 Wilson's Warbler 1 Chipping Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Indigo Bunting 1 Red-winged Blackbird 4 Common Grackle 4 Purple Finch 2 American Goldfinch 2 Subject: young Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at feeders From: Peter Vickery <petervickery AT roadrunner.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:23:01 -0400 Are others seeing young male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (brown flight feathers, white spotting on head, breast color less intense) coming to feeders during this cold wet weather? It's quite easy to identify individuals by the unique plumage pattern. A few adult males and female types are showing up as well but I'm interested in these groups of young males because it's reasonably easy to get an estimate of different individuals. We sometimes have as many as 5 - 6 teenage boys here and they seem to arrive in a group, do not vocalize, and are not aggressive to each other. I'd be interested in other observations of gangs of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks coming to feeders. Reply off line and if I get a number of responses I can post them all at one time. Thanks. Best, Peter ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: catbird;;cowbird From: alan kirschenstein <alan AT toopik.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:39:53 -0400 as many have noted i goofed;cowbird it was not cat bird ALAN ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Messalonskee Lake--south end , 6/21/09 From: Craig Kesselheim <ckesselheim AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:20:16 -0400 Hi all -- a windy late morning at the southern end of Messalonskee Lake in Belgrade. I did find the Black Terns I was hoping for there, however. Best seen by scope. Swamp Sparrows singing loud and clear from the boat landing, as well. Cheers, Craig K. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Date: Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 3:49 PM Subject: eBird Report - Messalonskee Lake--south end , 6/21/09 To: ckesselheim AT gmail.com Location: Messalonskee Lake--south end Observation date: 6/21/09 Notes: High wind. Number of species: 15 Canada Goose 4 Black Tern 4 Mourning Dove 2 Eastern Kingbird 1 American Crow 1 Tree Swallow X Barn Swallow X Cedar Waxwing 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 Song Sparrow 1 singing Swamp Sparrow 2 Singing Red-winged Blackbird X Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Singing Baltimore Oriole 1 Purple Finch 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: Seawall Beach - Phippsburg Jun 21 From: "mike fahay" <mfahay AT suscom-maine.net> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:53:20 -0400 Hiked over Morse Mt, hoping to find some terns in this easterly weather. No terns, but highlight was a Peregrine Falcon harassing 2 flocks of shorebirds, one flock consisitng of BBPlovers and a late Red Knot. The other consisted of Sanderlings and 2 Least Sandpipers. 2 Gannetts offshore in the gloom. Subject: Fore River Osprey continued From: Peter Morelli <pmorelli2 AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:10:17 -0400 Sorry, here is the whole post. I should probably keep my eyes on the road, but the active osprey nest above the Fore River just east of Interstate 295 is just too big to ignore. The nest is on a concrete pier which used to have airport lights on it but some of the lights have been removed. Two or three posts out from the last light the osprey has taken advantage of the platform and built a big nest. This looks like 15 to 20 feet above the water depending on the tide. You can't really stop on the Interstate to see it, but you can walk out from St. John Street on Route 1A over the Veterans Memorial Bridge or even drive and stop on the shoulder after the bridge and get a pretty good view. I couldn't tell for sure whether I saw two adults or an adult and one young. By the way, the Google photography is out of date in this area. MapQuest is a little better. Peter Subject: Osprey nest Portland airport approach From: Peter Morelli <pmorelli2 AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:01:49 -0400 I should probably keep my eyes on the road, but the active osprey nest above the Fore River just east of Interstate 295 is just too big to ignore. The nest is on a concrete pier which used to have airport lights on it but some of the lights have been removed the few posts farttest from 295. Two or three posts out from the last light the osprey has taken advantage of the platform and built a big nest. Subject: catbird From: alan kirschenstein <alan AT toopik.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:49:38 -0400 here in north conway NH. bye our x swinning pool now a pond ;a bird appeared mouth open hopping around speckled too big for a sparrow,had us searching our books till a yellow warbler came and fed it,,a cat bird raised bye a warbler..never saw that before alan & barbara ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/ Subject: GOSHAWKS From: "Mark R Hoffman" <hoffa2 AT roadrunner.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 11:55:23 -0400 The female Goshawk is still hanging around the nest with 2 young in South China at my gravel pit. The young birds are growing fast. The male is still nowhere to be found but I am sure he is hunting harder than ever to feed the young. Mark R Hoffman Newcastle Me 207-458-1897 Subject: Riverside Park, West Falmouth, Saturday, June 20 From: "Cheryl Ring" <cring21 AT myfairpoint.net> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:45:43 -0400 Jerry Therrien and I heard Blue-winged Warbler yesterday, Saturday, at Riverside Park in West Falmouth. Didn't catch a glimpse of the warbler, but did see and hear Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Both just over the bridge from the parking lot. ~9:00 am. Cheryl Ring 207-623-2824 cring21 AT myfairpoint.net Subject: Rangeley area From: "Mark R Hoffman" <hoffa2 AT roadrunner.com> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:24:49 -0400 Went to the sight of the nesting Black-Backed Woodpeckers on rt 16 and were thrilled by the male feeding a young male in the cavity and 10 minutes later the mom came to feed him. The young bird "rattled" the whole time I was there !! I got poured on on the boy scouts road hence the birding was tough with no notables. On the way home to Newcastle I decided to stop at the boat launch to Messalonskee lake on rt 27 and found the black terns instantly !! 2 of them flying around feeding, also present were several ring necked ducks and a pied billed grebe. Subject: Maine Birds From: "Carlton" <luvbrds AT localnet.com> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:24:21 -0400 June 20, late morning - We walked on the Recreational Trail south between the Starbird Siding Road and the Shaw Road (about 4 miles round trip) in Dover-Foxcroft (Piscataquis County) HOODED MERGANSER mother with 7 little Mergs! AMERICAN BITTERN GREAT BLUE HERON TURKEY VULTURE MOURNING DOVE BELTED KINGFISHER YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER NORTHERN FLICKER EASTERN KINGBIRD BLUE JAY AMERICAN CROW COMMON RAVEN TREE SWALLOW BARN SWALLOW VEERY AMERICAN ROBIN E STARLING CEDAR WAXWING CHIPPING SPARROW SONG SPARROW BOBOLINK RW BLACKBIRD Heard Only: E Phoebe; Blue-headed Vireo; Hermit Thrush; BC Chickadee; Black-and-white Warbler; Northern Parula; Ovenbird; Common Yellowthroat; White-throated Sparrow; Purple Finch We also saw 2 deer. C & A Larrabee (luvbrds), Dexter Subject: Roseate Tern From: Leon mooney <doooooooffff AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:02:07 -0700 (PDT) Amoung the Leasts and Common terns there was at least one and maybe two Roseate terns at Pine Pt on the sand bars at dead low tide about 3:30 pm 6/20. I had to cross the channel but it was only a foot or so deep at that point in the tide. Leon ***************************************www.mainebirdlist.net The maine-birds email list is made available for subscription to anyone interested in birding issues in the State of Maine. For list info, visit http://www.mainebirdlist.net/