This morning I made a quick trip down to Cape Elizabeth. My first stop was to look for a duck that was found on Saturday’s Greater Portland Christmas Bird Count. When I arrived at the wrap-up, Luke and Steve were debating its identification. It was a wigeon, without a doubt, but was it an American Wigeon or an Eurasian Wigeon. Adults males are easy, but this was either a female, immature male, or eclipse-plumaged male, so the identification is not straightforward.

I have seen quite a few of both species side-by-side in mixed flocks during my time in Alaska’s Pribilof Islands. I usually left female wigeon unidentified until I saw the diagnostic underwing linings. Unfortunately, Luke and Steve were unable to see that, so the identification – they decided on American – was tentative, and based on more subject features like overall plumage tone and contrast between the neck and upper chest. With all of that in mind, I headed to Piper Shores in Scarborough to see if the wigeon was still around. Unfortunately, it was not, so unless it returns, we may never know for sure!

At Kettle Cove, I enjoyed close-up looks at two Horned Larks at the edge of the parking lot. A walk through the brushy area behind the parking lot produced a lingering Gray Catbird. I walked over to Two Lights State Park to enjoy the concentration of waterfowl there at this time of year, and to check the woods for finches.

The ducks did not dissapoint! While I only saw 4 drake Harlequin Ducks, I enjoyed the 1,000 or so Common Eider simply glowing in the early morning sunlight. I tried to tease a King Eider out of the mass, but to no avail. Most impressive however, was the concentration of Black Scoters still hanging out. Although this species is a very common migrant, it is usually only uncommon, and very local, in Maine in winter. Two Lights State Park is a good place to see them – but I was not expecting to see at least 250 of them! They were vocalizing quite a bit - and along with the Eiders, some White-winged Scoters, and the crashing waves – resulting in quite the cacophony!

Unfortunately, my visit to the park ended on a rather unhappy note, as I learned from a neighborhood resident that later today they were beginning to cut trees for a new septic field. The boundaries of the project were pointed out to me, and unfortunately the area that was about to be cleared included some nice mature spruce and oaks that are usually quite active in migration. I will be sorry to see them go.

My morning did end on a high note, however. As I crossed the Casco Bay Bridge, a Peregrine Falcon was cruising by just alongside the edge of the bridge. It slowed down and apparently landed under the bridge. With the construction at the church on the corner of Franklin and Cumberland, the Peregrine Falcon that has overwintered in Portland the last few years has not been reliably found (it was usually seen roosting on the church’s steeple) – such as on the CBC. However, a Peregrine that has been seen sporadically around the city is likely to be the same individual. But, where is its roost? Maybe I now know!