Maine Outdoor Journal

Of Special Note: Standouts in the report this week are: a BARNACLE GOOSE, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, a CACKLING GOOSE, a GOLDEN EAGLE, a MISSISSIPPI KITE, a YELLOW RAIL, two SNOWY OWLS, a SEDGE WREN and two SEASIDE SPARROWS.

The influx of RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS has become too numerous to list individual sightings. Reports have been received from as far inland as Albion and east all the way to Lubec. Most of the birds have turned up in southern and mid-coast Maine.

A considerable migration of PINE SISKINS (in large flocks) has been noted by many observers.

Scattered reports of RED-THROATED LOONS, PEREGRINE FALCONS, “IPSWICH” SAVANNAH SPARROWS, LAPLAND LONGSPURS and SNOW BUNTINGS occurred this week.

Images of a Snowy Owl and Maine’s first European Golden-Plover can now be viewed at: http://www.maineaudubon.org/nature/birdalert_gallery.php

Some of the other species mentioned include: NORTHERN FULMAR, LEACH’S STORM-PETREL, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, SANDHILL CRANE, WHIMBREL, STILT SANDPIPER, COMMON TERN, FORSTER’S TERN, ATLANTIC PUFFIN, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, CAPE MAY WARBLER, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL.

York County

NORTHERN PINTAIL and AMERICAN WIGEON were among the waterfowl at the Sanford Sewage Treatment Plant on October 18.

Greater Portland

A YELLOW RAIL was relocated in Scarborough Marsh on October 18, along with two STILT SANDPIPERS, 26 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 11 LAPLAND LONGSPURS, a SEASIDE SPARROW, and both NELSON’S and SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS.

A SNOWY OWL was roosting on the rock jetty at Pine Point Beach in Scarborough on October 21.

On October 19, multiple observers enjoyed a nice comparison of an immature GOLDEN EAGLE soaring near an immature Bald Eagle over Scarborough Marsh.

A WHIMBREL was seen near the Lobster Co-op at Pine Point in Scarborough on October 20.

A FORSTER’S and a COMMON TERN continued to be seen in the Pine Point area through October 23.

A SANDHILL CRANE flew over I-295 at the Fore River in Portland on October 19 and one was seen in the marsh at Rose Point, on Great Chebeague Island on October 21.

Two tardy BALTIMORE ORIOLES were at Village Crossing in Cape Elizabeth on October 22.

A morning of birding along a powerline cut off Hurricane Road in Falmouth on October 18 produced 121 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, 80+ PINE SISKINS, 60+ PURPLE FINCHES, a FOX SPARROW, 8 to10 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, and a few LINCOLN'S SPARROWS.

The BARNACLE GOOSE, the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, and at least one CACKLING GOOSE continued at Thornhurst Farm on Route 115 in North Yarmouth at least through October 19.

Birds at Sandy Point on Cousin’s Island in Yarmouth this week included a PHILADELPHIA VIREO, CAPE MAY WARBLER, a YELLOW WARBLER, a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD.

Midcoast

A SEDGE WREN was reported in the marsh at Wharton Point in Brunswick on October 18.

On October 17, a well-documented MISSISSIPPI KITE passed a hawkwatch off Basin Point in South Harpswell.

Four RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were at Green Point Wildlife Management Area in Dresden on October 18.

A SEASIDE SPARROW flushed from the marsh surface at the head of Atkins Bay, across from the entrance to Popham Beach State Park, in Phippsburg, on October 21. Other highlights at Popham Beach on October 21 were a dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, three LAPLAND LONGSPURS, and 29 HORNED LARKS.

A late RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD visited a feeder in Boothbay Harbor on October 17.

Kennebec River Valley (Augusta-Waterville)

Two SANDHILL CRANES were photographed on the marsh at East Pond in Smithfield on October 23.

Central Maine

A late BAY-BREASTED WARBLER was photographed in Bangor on October 21.

Western Mountains

The first reported NORTHERN SHRIKE was staking out a feeder in Rangeley on October 19.

Downeast

A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER continues at a feeder in Perry.

A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was found in Machias on October 20.

Northern Maine

A late report was received of four SANDHILL CRANES photographed in Bridgewater in early October, the first record in Aroostook County since the mid-1990s.

A young SNOWY OWL was seen on a utility pole in Woodland on October 19.

Four CANADA GEESE tagged in Greenland are being seen on the Caribou Lake Road in Caribou.

A total of seven GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, two in Limestone and five on Puddledock Pond in Fort Fairfield, were seen on October 18.

A LESSER YELLOWLEGS was at the reservoir in Mars Hill on October 20.

On October 18, three young SNOW GEESE were in Fort Fairfield.

Images of some of these northern Maine highlights and more information can be found at: http://northernmainebirds.blogspot.com/

Gulf of Maine

An adult ICELAND GULL was seen on October 17, five miles south of Schoodic Point.

The October 19 Bar Harbor Whale Watch spotted a NORTHERN FULMAR, one LEACH'S STORM-PETREL, two ATLANTIC PUFFINS, and many NORTHERN GANNETS.

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