Bird Alert

August 27, 2010

Name: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert

Reporting Period: August 21 – 27, 2010

Area: State of Maine

Compilers: Eric Hynes, Stella Walsh

Of Special Note

An apparent WHITE-CHINNED PETREL was photographed on August 24. See the RBA Slideshow at: http://www.maineaudubon.org/nature/birdalert.shtml to view images.

Other standouts recently include: CORY'S SHEARWATER, LEACH'S STORM-PETREL, TRICOLORED HERON, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, MARBLED GODWIT, WESTERN SANDPIPER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, STILT SANDPIPER, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, SOUTH POLAR SKUA, PARASITIC JAEGER, FORSTER'S TERN, SEDGE WREN, LARK SPARROW, and DICKCISSEL.

Shorebird migration continues to dominate the reports this week. COMMON NIGHTHAWK migration is being noted throughout the state and sightings of PEREGRINE FALCONS remain widespread along the coast. Tree Swallows are staging in big numbers along the southern coast.

Gulf of Maine

During a whale watch cruise out of Bar Harbor on August 24, a Procellaria petrel was found on the water among Great Shearwaters. Initial comments on the photographs all point to WHITE-CHINNED PETREL which would be the first for Maine and only the fourth for North America . It has not been seen on subsequent outings.

On August 27, the Bar Harbor whale watch in the morning came across two SOUTH POLAR SKUAS, a PARASITIC JAEGER, RED and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS.

Once again, DICKCISSELS are being found on Monhegan this week. Seawatching recently from Monhegan has produced the four shearwater species, including CORY'S, and a multiple PARASITIC JAEGERS.

York County

The last report of the EARED GREBE was on August 12.

Three TENNESSEE WARBLERS and a LARK SPARROW were on Appledore Island in the Isles of Shoals on August 21.

Three BRANT were at the mouth of the Little River in Wells.

Greater Portland

The two MARBLED GODWITS at Pine Point in Scarborough were joined by a HUDSONIAN GODWIT on August 26. On the 27th, a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was present as well and five AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS are lingering.

A juvenile STILT SANDPIPER and a continuing TRICOLORED HERON were in the salt pannes off Eastern Trail as it crosses Scarborough Marsh on August 26.

Seen from Dyer Point in Cape Elizabeth on August 25 were six GREAT SHEARWATERS, two WILSON 'S STORM-PETRELS, two CORY'S SHEARWATERS, and a MANX SHEARWATER.

A juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was among many Semipalmated Sandpipers on the mudflats of the Presumpscot River, as viewed from the north meadow at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth on August 26.

Lewiston-Auburn

A LITTLE BLUE HERON and two GREAT EGRETS were seen at Sabattus Pond in Sabattus on August 22.

Midcoast

A FORSTERS'S TERN and a WESTERN SANDPIPER were the highlights among many shorebirds at Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg on August 24.

Central Maine

A SEDGE WREN was seen in a marsh in Orrington on August 25.

Downeast

PHILADELPHIA VIREOS were detected among migrant flocks along the coast in several locations this week.

The South Lubec mudflats continue to draw an impressive number and diversity of shorebirds. One to two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS were noted in the last couple days.

An immature LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL continued on Clark Ledge in Eastport through August 22.

The Burn Road , off Route 1 north of Topsfield, produced BOREAL CHICKADEES, a pair of BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS, and a male SPRUCE GROUSE at mile 8 and another at mile 6.5.

Western Mountains

A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER has been associated with a number of Killdeer in the Fryeburg Harbor area this week. Check the sod and agricultural fields along McNeil, Old River, and Harbor Roads.

Northern Maine

Tough to find at inland locations, up to nine species of shorebirds have been frequenting the muddy edge of Collins Pond in Caribou. For full details, check out Bill Sheehan's excellent summary at www.northernmainebirds.blogspot.com .