Reporting Period: May 29 – June 4, 2013
Area: State of Maine
Compilers: Doug Hitchcox
Noteworthy Species Mentioned:
- Black-bellied Whistling-Duck+
- Mute Swan
- Tricolored Heron
- White-faced Ibis+
- American Oystercatcher
- Swallow-tailed Kite+
- Iceland Gull
- Caspian Tern
- White-winged Dove
- Clay-colored Sparrow
- Summer Tanager
- Blue Grosbeak
- Yellow-headed Blackbird
(+ Details requested by Maine Bird Records Committee)
York County
On the 29th, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found at the Kennebunk Plains on the north side of Route 99. This bird continued to be reported here throughout the week. An impressive morning flight was observed from Biddeford Pool on the 30th, highlight by: 15 MOURNING WARBLERS, double digit CANADA WARBLERS and WILSON’S WARBLERS, 1000+ AMERICAN RESTARTS and MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, and 20+ YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS among 100+ Empidonax flycatchers.
Greater Portland
An AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER was observed at Pine Point in Scarborough on the 31st. A pair was seen here on the 3rd. A TRICOLORED HERON continued in the Scarborough Marsh on the 3rd behind the Pelreco building; a WHITE-FACED IBIS was also reported here throughout the week. An apparent SNOWY EGRET X TRICOLORED HERON hybrid was well documented in the salt pannes along Route 1 through the marsh on the 3rd. Two MUTE SWANS were reported from Black Point Road in Scarborough on the 30th. Over the weekend, two AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS and a PIPING PLOVER were photographed on the sand bar between Chebeague and Little Chebeague Islands.
Midcoast
On the 31st, three ‘dark-billed’ swans (TUNDRA/TRUMPETER SWAN) were seen flying over Seawall Beach in Phippsburg. Highlights from Monhegan Island this week included: ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, WHITE-WINGED DOVE, GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, and BLUE GROSBEAK. A SUMMER TANAGER was photographed on Metinic Island on the 31st.
Penobscot Bay
Three MUTE SWANS were reported at Laite Beach in Camden Harbor on the 30th.
Central Maine
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was observed flying over Milo on the 1st.
On the 3rd, a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was photographed on a feeder along Swetts Pond Road in Orrington.
Downeast
After one was found deceased on the 28th, five of the BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS continued at the ponds at the Mount Desert Island High School and were last seen on the 30th. A late ICELAND GULL was seen around Thompson Island near Mount Desert Island from the 30th through the 2nd. On the 2nd, a CASPIAN TERN was photographed at Seal Cove on Mount Desert Island. A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen here on the 31st.
