Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 16:07:49 -0500

From: Judith Walker

Subject: Maine Bird Alert, February 22, 2005

To: Maine Birds ,

Maine Bird Notes ,

Linda Woodard ,

Julie Suchecki , currnews@maine.rr.com,

“Outdoors/Travel at MaineToday.com”

X-MDRemoteIP: 192.168.6.77

Original-recipient: rfc822;currnews@maine.rr.com

Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert

Date: February 22, 2005

Area: State of Maine

Number: (207) 781-2332

Compilers: Steve Pollock and Kay Gammons

Transcriber: Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)

————————————-

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS have been reported in several areas in southern Maine.

The LARK SPARROW continues to be seen near the feeders at the Public Works

Building in the Scarborough Industrial Park. The TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE is

still being seen by the yellow house in Staceyville.

York County

In York there was a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, a CAROLINA WREN, and a BROWN

CREEPER. A RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD was seen in the Brave Boat Harbor area.

Twenty-two species of birds were seen by the Cliff House in Ogunquit.

Highlights were HARLEQUIN DUCKS, a PACIFIC LOON and a THICK-BILLED MURRE.

A KING EIDER continues to be seen in Wells Harbor. A GREAT HORNED OWL was

seen elsewhere in Wells.

The following birds were seen at Goose Rocks in Kennebunk: 2 RED-NECKED

LOONS, 3 COMMON LOONS, 3 HORNED GREBES, 2 SURF SCOTERS, 3 WHITE-WINGED

SCOTERS, 3 COMMON GOLDENEYE, and 2 GREAT CORMORANTS among others.

Greater Portland

At Pine Point in Scarborough a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER and a GLAUCOUS GULL

were seen. Eight to 12 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and a few COMMON GRACKLES were

at a birdfeeder off Holly Street at Pine Point. WILD TURKEYS were seen by

the Hearn Road in Scarborough and three EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were in a yard on

Cedar Brook Road. The LARK SPARROW continues to be seen near the feeders at

the Public Works Building in the Scarborough Industrial Park.

A RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD is still being seen in the Great Pond area of Cape

Elizabeth.

A YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER is still in a yard in Portland. At the waterfront

in Portland there were both GLAUCOUS and ICELAND GULLS. A 1st cycle ICELAND

GULL was in Portland Harbor, visible from Bug Light Park and the PEREGRINE

FALCON was back on the steeple at the corner of Franklin and Cumberland Aves

in Portland. The SNOWY OWL continues to be seen at the Portland

International Jetport. The bird is regularly seen from the Westbrook Street

side of the airport.

An adult ICELAND GULL was in its usual spot at Willard Beach in South

Portland along with 12 GREATER SCAUP. A 1st cycle GLAUCOUS GULL was on the

dredging barge now off of Spring Point Light.

A RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD was seen at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth.

The number of BARROW’S GOLDENEYE and COMMON EIDERS at Winslow Park in South

Freeport continues to increase. There is a raft of 1500+ COMMON EIDER, and

the raft of BARROW’S GOLDENEYE is now up to 23 birds.

A COOPER’S HAWK was seen in Windham.

There were 9 COMMON GOLDENEYES and 2 HOODED MERGANSERS in Naples.

In Bridgton there were 4 PINE SISKINS and in South Bridgton there were two

RED CROSSBILLS.

Midcoast

A BALD EAGLE, 7 PURPLE FINCHES, and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER were seen in

Georgetown.

A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, BALD EAGLE, 30 CEDAR WAXWINGS, and a CAROLINA WREN

were seen in Phippsburg.

In West Bath there were 30 AMERCIAN ROBINS and a BALD EAGLE.

Three male and 2 female BARROW’S GOLDEYES were in Belfast.

Central Maine

A COPPER’S HAWK was seen in Turner.

Twelve PINE SISKINS were seen in Augusta.

In Winslow, by the mouth of Sebasticook River (Lithgow St.) there were about

thirty COMMON and two BARROW’S GOLDENEYES (drake and hen), and about six

COMMON MERGANSERS.

In Wilton there was an EASTERN BLUEBIRD and a PURPLE FINCH.

On the Pond Road in Manchester there were six HOODED MERGANSERS by the

outlet of Cobbosseecontee Lake and in Winthrop on U.S. Route 202 there were

five HOODED MERGANSERS by the inlet into Annabessacook Lake.

In Orono, a COMMON REDPOLL, 15 PINE SISKINS, and 6 PURPLE FINCHES visited a

feeder. On February 20, in Orono, two male HOODED MERGANSERS were swimming &

diving in the Penobscot River, while a COOPER’S HAWK eyed 15+ PINE SISKINS

at a feeder. PINE SISKINS and COMMON REDPOLLS have been absolutely mobbing

feeders in Orono.

Eastern Maine

Ten COMMON REDPOLLS and 50 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were in Charlotte.

A NORTHERN CARDINAL and 6 PURPLE FINCHES were seen in Dennysville.

Two DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were seen in Eastport and 10 THICK-BILLED

MURRES were seen in Campobello. Thirty PURPLE SANDPIPERS were seen by Quoddy

Head.

Six ICELAND GULLS and one GLAUCOUS GULL were at Prospect Harbor and one

DOVEKIE was at Schoodic Point.

It was a relative quiet week in the Bar Harbor area. Most notable are

several KING EIDERS. Males have been seen in with flocks of Common Eiders

off the Bay Ferry Terminal, the Bar Harbor Breakwater (can be seen from the

Shore Path), and at the end of Otter Point. This latter group also has a

female KING EIDER. Up to 100 GREATER SCAUP are being seen off Doane’s Pt. in

Sorrento. The number of RED-NECKED GREBES has increased during the past week

along Ocean Drive in Acadia National Park. Two PILEATED WOODPECKERS were

seen chasing each other across Rt. 3 and onto the College of the Atlantic

campus.

Of interest were three DOVEKIES off Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park

after the storm on 2/22. This species is now rarely seen in this area. The

downtown Peregrine Falcon in Bar Harbor was not seen this week but based on

the behavior of the local Rock Pigeons it is still around. Finding gulls at

Stinson’s Factory in Prospect Harbor depends on the days the factory is

processing fish. Three BALD EAGLES were harassing 5000 gulls around the

factory on 2/22. Included in the gulls were 40 “white-winged” GLAUCOUS and

ICELAND. A THAYER’S GULL was also seen and photographed. Just south of

Frasier’s Point at Schoodic there were 50+ BLACK SCOTERS on 2/22. TREE

SPARROWS, PURPLE, and HOUSE FINCHES dominated feeder reports this week.

Northern Maine

In Piscataquis County, off the Golden and Telos Roads, a GRAY JAY and 3

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were found.

On February 19, the TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE was still at the yellow house in

Staceyville at mid-day, feeding on berries, drinking water from the house

gutter, and sitting quietly, hard to see in hardwood shrubs and trees

southeast of the garage.

In Fort Kent there were 8 PINE GROSBEAK, 62 COMMON REDPOLLS, 3 RED-BREASTED

HUTHATCHES, and a DOWNY WOODPECKER.

Thirty AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES were seen in Frenchville.

Judy Walker

Staff Naturalist

Maine Audubon

20 Gilsland Farm Road

Falmouth, ME 04105

207-781-2330 x 237

jwalker@maineaudubon.org

www.maineaudubon.org

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