UPDATE: 28 Aug 2022�� Unfortunately there were no sightings of the Eurasian Marsh-Harrier today, despite many observers looking in the area. Late August is the time when marsh-harriers are beginning their fall migration, so this bird may be on its way south, so birders in areas like the Scarborough Marsh or Parker River NWR (Massachusetts) […]
Backyard bird of the month for August: Tree Swallow
A welcome and familiar sight near summer fields and wetlands across North America, Tree Swallows are clever aerialists with deep blue iridescent backs and stark white undersides. These birds are often found zipping through the sky in a series of acrobatic twists and turns while catching and feeding on insects. The Tree Swallow�which is most […]
Backyard Bird of the Month for June: Northern Flicker
Perhaps one of the most striking North American woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker is a year-round resident of Maine woodlands, and as temperatures rise you can expect to come across this bird more frequently. Flickers spend most of their time foraging for ants and beetles, fitting their specially-adapted curved bill into hard-to-reach spots. This distinctly patterned […]
Warbler Walks Daily Reports
Migration is ramping up and we’re ready to show you all the amazing birds that are using Evergreen Cemetery in Portland as a stopover point on their northward journey, or to stay and breed. Each weekday, Monday through Friday, from May 9-20, I’ll be at Evergreen Cemetery (map) to lead a walk from 7-9 am […]
Backyard bird of the month for May: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Perhaps the most anticipated migrating bird to return in your yard is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Weighing only three grams (the same as a penny), these birds have flown thousands of miles, making a trans-Gulf of Mexico nonstop flight to return to your gardens. Their small size but large attitude makes them a joy to watch, […]
RARE BIRD ALERT: STELLER’S SEA-EAGLE
LATEST UPDATE: 1 Apr 2022� — It’s not an April Fool’s joke, the Steller’s Sea-Eagle has been seen in Nova Scotia! This blog will no longer be updated (unless the sea-eagle returns to Maine!) but you can follow the new Nova Scotia: Steller’s Sea-Eagle Facebook Group for updates on sightings there. LATEST UPDATE: 18 Mar […]
Backyard Bird of the Month for April: Common Grackle
As spring swells and shakes off the cold grip of winter, early migrants such as the Common Grackle become more�well, common. This bird can be found striding around backyards or gardens carefully searching for grubs and insects in the grass. Grackles belong to a family of birds called Icterids (or New World blackbirds) which include […]
Mid-March Sightings of Things with Scaled Wings
With temperatures going above 60�F on this Friday afternoon, it wasn’t much of a surprise to see insect activity from outside my office window. A quick walk outside produced a couple fun lepidopteran finds (Lepidoptera being the “scale-winged” order of insects that include butterflies and moths)�which were a pleasant validation for a little backyard habitat […]
Backyard Bird of the Month for February: Great Horned Owls
Even in the thick of winter, you might hear Great Horned Owls hooting back and forth to each other through the cold nights. Pairs often call together; the male is the one with the larger, deeper voice. Great Horned Owls tend to nest unusually early for birds in the north and are thought to be […]