About once a month I thoroughly bird Cape Elizabeth. I park at Kettle Cove, walk through Crescent Beach State Park, over to Two Lights State Park, and back. Then, I check a number of other sites nearby if time permits. Recently, I have been wondering why the heck I’ve been so stubborn about covering this loop. It’s a lot of walking, and my feet (thanks to plantar fasciitis) kill me afterwards. And, forget about rarities, I haven’t even been seeing much of anything at all. A decent bird or two once in a while, but I have been consistently disappointed. The habitat and geography make this place look like it should be bustling with activity.

So, every time I walk the route, I say, “This is the last time.” But something always pulls me back – a good bird, a good flight, or simply the allure of the habitat, and the longing to finally find a “Mega” here.

Well, no “Mega” today, but for once I was not complaining. It was a great day! There were lots of birds, and even a few rarities. I began by walking the beach at Crescent Beach State Park. 5 Semipalmated Plovers were lingering. The weedy field at the park’s southern end always intrigues me, and in late fall, the amount of seed and fruit here makes it look prime. Today, it held two pleasant surprises – a Grasshopper Sparrow (one of only a few of these sprites that I have seen in Maine away from the Kennebunk Plains) and an Orange-crowned Warbler (which I have found on multiple occasions here).

Meanwhile, there were lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Song Sparrows, and American Robins around, and a small mixed flock of blackbirds that contained a handful each of Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds. Large flocks of Double-crested Cormorants were passing in long, flowing, waving v’s overhead.

Walking along the brush along Fessenden Road (between Kettle Cove and Two Lights Road) produced a Carolina Wren, at least 8 Chipping Sparrows (getting late), and a large flock of about 100 Brown-headed Cowbirds.

The trees and shrubs of Two Lights State Park were not as busy, but I did have yet another Carolina Wren (this bird has been here since last fall), a couple more Chipping Sparrows, and my second White-crowned Sparrow of the morning. Activity may not have been high on land, but offshore was much different. 2,000-3,000 Common Eider have amassed here, and within the large group, a few White-winged and Black Scoters were to be found. It was quite a sight to watch the raft undulate with each incoming wave.

A few more scrubby migrants were to be seen in the trails behind Kettle Cove, while the trails at Village Crossings were also quite busy thanks to a number of sparrows – mostly White-throated – and a large flock of American Robins, with a sprinkling of Common Grackles mixed in.

The final stop of the morning was also productive. Maxwell’s Farm hosted a goodly number of sparrows, especially Savannah, a tardy Killdeer, and a Clay-colored Sparrow. A great bird, and one of my favorite members of one of my favorite groups of birds, to finish the morning’s outing!