Bird Alert

June 26, 2009

Name: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert

Reporting Period: June 20-26, 2009

Area: State of Maine

Compiler: Eric Hynes

Of Special Note

The EARED GREBE retains top honors this week. Other standouts include LEACH'S STORM-PETREL, COMMON MOORHEN, PARASITIC JAEGER, and BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER.

The rest of the species mentioned in this week's report: RUDDY DUCK, NORTHERN FULMAR, GREATER SHEARWATER, SOOTY SHEARWATER, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, PEREGRINE FALCON, RED KNOT, GLAUCOUS GULL, ROSEATE TERN, ARCTIC TERN, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, GRAY JAY, BOREAL CHICKADEE, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, CAPE MAY WARBLER, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, ORCHARD ORIOLE, and EVENING GROSBEAK.

Gulf of Maine

Likely a result of the persistent weather pattern, 162 WILSON 'S STORM-PETRELS, 110 GREATER SHEARWATERS, 32 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, 21 NORTHERN FULMARS, and two LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS were spotted during a whale watch out of Portland on June 25.

York County

Particularly noteworthy from land, three well-described LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS were spotted by an observer at Marshall Point in Cape Porpoise on June 23.

A BLUE-WINGED TEAL joined the lingering EARED GREBE and five RUDDY DUCKS at the Sanford Sewerage District on June 24. The Eared Grebe and Ruddy Ducks were noted again on June 26. Birders are welcome at this site but the hours are limited and you must check in at the main building and follow specific instructions.

A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and an ORCHARD ORIOLE stood out among the to-be-expected breeders in the Kennebunk Plains area this week.

A PEREGRINE FALCON was perched on Saco Island in Saco on June 25.

Greater Portland

A PARASITIC JAEGER flew by Dyer Point in Cape Elizabeth on June 24. WILSON 'S STORM-PETRELS have been seen from Dyer Point on multiple occasions this week. An ARCTIC TERN and multiple ROSEATE TERNS flew by on June 23.

A lingering immature GLAUCOUS GULL continues to be fairly reliable in the Kettle Cove – Dyer Point area of Cape Elizabeth.

In addition to the BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS, a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen and heard at Riverpoint Park in West Falmouth . The park is over the wooden bridge to the right of Hannafords along Rt. 100, near exit 53 on the turnpike.

ROSEATE TERNS visited the Pine Point area in Scarborough often this week.

Kennebec Valley ( Augusta – Waterville )

An ORCHARD ORIOLE and a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO were noted at the Pine Tree State Arboretum in Augusta on June 26.

Midcoast

Five PARASITIC JAEGERS, among hundreds of NORTHERN GANNETS, flew by Pemaquid Point on June 22.

A PEREGRINE FALCON and a RED KNOT were located at Seawall Beach in Phippsburg on June 21.

Downeast

A number of WILSON 'S STORM-PETRELS could be seen from land in Frenchman Bay on June 25.

Central Maine

A COMMON MOORHEN was seen in the Penjajawoc Marsh in Bangor on June 22.

Western Mountains

A pair of BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS has successfully fledged at least one male juvenile in Lincoln Plantation, southwest of Richardson Pond. Look for them remaining in the nest area between utility poles 330 and 331 along Rt. 16. The nest cavity was on the north side of Rt. 16, visible from the road, near pole 330.

On June 21, a pair of BOREAL CHICKADEES was found along Mill Brook Road in Adamstown Township at the north end of Upper Richardson Lake . Coincidentally, two strips of orange flagging hang side by side vertically from a fairly high tree branch on the west side of the road in the area where the chickadees were discovered.

Also on June 21, a CAPE MAY WARBLER and a family of GRAY JAYS were found along a moose trail ~100 yards in on the north side of Rt. 16. The turnoff for the trail is on the northeast side of Cupsuptic Lake just east of the campground.

Northern Maine

A birding trip last weekend around the Portage Lake area produced GRAY JAYS, BOREAL CHICKADEES, BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS, MOURNING WARBLERS, LINCOLN 'S SPARROWS, FOX SPARROWS, and EVENING GROSBEAKS.