Another day, and another day without a Cave Swallow. They’ve got to be here! A ridiculous 135 were in Cape May yesterday (where I saw my first Cave Swallows when I worked there a handful of years ago), 5 were in Lynn, Massachusetts, and 1-2 were in Gloucester (should have been visiting my in-laws this week!). This morning, at least one was as close as Salisbury, MA.

But, despite my best efforts again this morning, I did not see one in Maine. I began in Biddeford Pool, at East Point Sanctuary. (Lysle began in Scarborough, and we kept in touch in case either of us hit paydirt). Ya know, it was rather cold out there at the point this morning, and there weren’t all that many birds around at all, let alone swallows. A Fox Sparrow and a few Yellow-rumped Warblers were about it, but grebes, loons, and ducks are definitely increasing offshore.

A long loop through the neighborhood produced two Rusty Blackbirds, a late Red-winged Blackbird, and a tardy Chipping Sparrow. Just a few Black-bellied Plovers and a couple of Sanderlings left on Biddeford Pool Beach, but a vocalizing Carolina Wren at the parking lot there was a nice treat. In the marsh behind Hattie’s Deli, a flock of 11 Snow Buntings were joined by a single Horned Lark and Lapland Longspur. But, no Cave Swallow

A visit to Fortunes Rock Beach, and the series of three freshwater ponds there was more successful. My consolation prize for the day’s effort was a Redhead (my first in Maine) that had been reported there a few days ago. In fact, I haven’t seen a Redhead in 5 or 6 years, so I thoroughly enjoyed a great look at the drake, hanging out with a pair of Ring-necked Ducks – my favorite duck species. A successful “twitch” as the Brits would say!

At Hill’s Beach a Common Merganser in the surf within a raft of about 50+ Red-breasted Mergansers was an unusual sight. Taking the long way home, brief checks around the mouth of the Saco River in Camp Ellis, Goosefare Brook, and a quick spin at Pine Point – just in case – were similarly devoid of Cave Swallows unfortunately. There’s always tomorrow!