Maine Outdoor Journal

Compiled by Eric Hynes & Stella Walsh of the Maine Audubon society

Of Special Note

Top birds this week are: ROSS'S GOOSE, TUFTED DUCK, KING EIDER, BLACK VULTURE, GOLDEN EAGLE, GYRFALCON, EASTERN SCREECH-OWL, NORTHERN HAWK OWL, GREAT GRAY OWL, VARIED THRUSH, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and HOARY REDPOLL.

Other species mentioned include: SNOW GOOSE, AMERICAN WIGEON, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, GREATER SCAUP, RUDDY DUCK, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON, ICELAND GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL, LONG-EARED OWL, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, BELTED KINGFISHER, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE, GRAY JAY, HERMIT THRUSH, and BOHEMIAN WAXWING.

Birds arriving en masse in the southern portion of the state this week were many species of ducks including WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, SONG SPARROW, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, and COMMON GRACKLE. Species trickling in include GREAT BLUE HERON, KILLDEER, FISH CROW, and FOX SPARROW.

Flocks of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, COMMON REDPOLLS, and PINE SISKINS remain widespread but the numbers seem to be declining.

Images of the Ross's Goose, Great Gray Owl and many more can be viewed at our website.

York County

A true rarity in this state, a ROSS'S GOOSE, along with four SNOW GEESE, has been grazing in a field at a horse farm along West Street in Biddeford, ~0.4 miles northwest of the intersection with Rt. 9. The Ross's was found on March 15 and continues through at least the 18th.

One VARIED THRUSH continues through March 19 at a private home in Saco at 169 Watson Mill Road.

A recording of an EASTERN SCREECH-OWL vocalizing in Acton was received from an observer who reports that it has been active for weeks.

A report was received of two PACIFIC LOONS between the jetties at Wells Harbor on March 17.

Among the birds at Nubble Light in Cape Neddick on the 19th were a drake BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and three pairs of WOOD DUCKS.

Possibly a wintering bird, a HERMIT THRUSH was in Saco's Laurel Hill Cemetery on March 16.

FISH CROWS were calling on March 17 at one of Maine's most reliable spots, the white pines behind McDonalds and Burger King on Route 1 in Saco.

Greater Portland

The TUFTED DUCK on the Presumpscot River in downtown Westbrook was seen once this week on March 14 along with a pair of WOOD DUCKS, 10 RING-NECKED DUCKS, and 46 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS.

A drake KING EIDER is frequenting the mouth of the Scarborough River among a large raft of Common Eider. It can be viewed from the parking lot at the Pine Point Fisherman's Coop in Scarborough.

Other birds at Pine Point in Scarborough included a dozen SNOW GEESE on March 14 and a GREATER SCAUP on March 18.

A drake RUDDY DUCK in non-breeding plumage was at the mouth of the Presumpscot River in Falmouth on March 18.

The mouth of the Presumpscot River, as seen from Gilsland Farm in Falmouth, was loaded with ducks on March 19. Among the rafts were six AMERICAN WIGEONS, at least 18 WOOD DUCKS, and 82 RING-NECKED DUCKS. An immature ICELAND GULL was present as well.

An immature GLAUCOUS GULL was at the mouth of Mill Creek behind the Hannaford's in South Portland on March 17.

The PEREGRINE FALCON pair was on the Casco Bay Bridge in Portland on March 17.

A single immature SNOW GOOSE is being seen in the marsh at Stroudwater Crossing on outer Congress Street in Portland.

A NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was calling in Yarmouth near the Cousin's River on March 17.

Six PINE GROSBEAKS were in a crabapple tree beside Pedro O'Hara's Restaurant on Route 1 in Freeport on March 13.

The Bradbury Mountain State Park Hawk Watch opened March 15 and tallied 62 TURKEY VULTURES, 16 BALD EAGLES, one NORTHERN HARRIER, 3 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 8 COOPER'S HAWKS, 3 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 23 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 36 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 2 MERLIN, and 3 unidentified raptors through March 18.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was chasing two SNOW BUNTINGS in a field on Route 9 in Pownal on March 15.

Lewiston-Auburn

The pond at Pettengill Park in Auburn hosted a RING-NECKED DUCK this week along with a MANDARIN DUCK - an Asian species very popular in waterfowl collections in the U.S. No doubt this is an escapee.

Midcoast

Seen as recently as March 16, the Bristol NORTHERN HAWK OWL continues to been found along Rt. 130, 0.4 miles south of the Bristol Consolidated School. A resident in the area reports that the owl is roaming more now during the day but still returns to the area in the evening.

A BLACK VULTURE arrived at Mainely Poultry on Route 1 in Warren on March 14 and was seen again on March 15.

Three GREAT BLUE HERONS returned to the rookery on Lower Goose Island in the New Meadows River in Brunswick on March 19.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was spotted at the Georges Valley High School ball field in Thomaston on March 16.

Penobscot Bay

An immature male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK returned to feeders in a private yard in South Hope on March 18.

A DICKCISSEL was picked out of a flock of House Sparrows in Rockland earlier this week.

Arriving BELTED KINGFISHERS are being reported from several locales this week on Vinalhaven Island.

Owls on Vinalhaven included NORTHERN SAW-WHETS at the Poor Farm and on Isle Au Haut Mountain, GREAT HORNED in the Basin area, and LONG-EARED OWLS on Lane's Island.

Other Vinalhaven birds included 35 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and a NORTHERN SHRIKE on Lane's Island and two FOX SPARROWS in Robert's Harbor.

A FOX SPARROW arrived at a North Haven feeder on March 18.

Downeast

A GREAT GRAY OWL was first seen on March 15 along Rt. 189 in Lubec and continues through the morning of the 19th. It has been photographed atop telephone poles and flagpoles adjacent to Rt. 189 at the Trescott / Lubec town line. There is an old information kiosk on the right with an overgrowing field behind it. The owl was actively watching/working this field and perching on both sides of the road. Please be respectful of the private property across the street from the kiosk.

The South Lubec Road in Lubec has been hosting an impressive concentration of BALD EAGLES this winter with as many as 70 seen back in February. Among them earlier this week was a well-described adult GOLDEN EAGLE.

A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER and several BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were found at Quoddy Head State Park on March 16.

A HOARY REDPOLL joined a flock of COMMON REDPOLLS in a private backyard in Eastport on March 19.

Two adult GLAUCOUS and an adult ICELAND GULL were highlights at the cannery in Prospect on March 16.

An immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was in Corea on March 16.

Western Mountains

A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was in the trees behind the Methodist church in Wilton on March 16

Kennebec River Valley (Augusta-Waterville)

An immature GLAUCOUS GULL was at the Hatch Hill Landfill in Augusta on March 13.

Central Maine

A well-described GYRFALCON was reported passing overhead in direct flight at Forest Avenue in Orono on March 15.

The MERLIN pair was seen March 18, perched in opposite treetops, calling loudly to each other near the corner of Division Street and Kenduskeag Avenue in Bangor.

A single FISH CROW was seen flying over Prentiss Street in Bangor on March 15.

Pushing the range limit, a CAROLINA WREN was singing in Veazie on March 14 and GREEN-WINGED TEAL returned on March 19.

A NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew over Poplar Street in Old Town on March 14.

Six GRAY JAYS were seen on or from the Stud Mill Road in Costigan on March 14.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was sitting above the Old Town exit of I-95 again on March 15.

Northern Maine

A PEREGRINE FALCON flew over Caribou on March 17.

A wintering NORTHERN FLICKER was seen again in Caribou.

EVENING and PINE GROSBEAKS along with lots of COMMON REDPOLLS continue to be seen throughout Aroostook County. SNOW BUNTINGS are still present in numbers but are declining.

The vanguard of COMMON GRACKLES reached Monticello on March 18.