Well, it finally felt like January in Maine this morning, I was rather happy about it! It was nice to step out and feel that crisp, cold air. A little of the white stuff on the ground would have been preferable, but beggars can’t be choosers, I guess. I did enjoy the change of pace of being chilled for a change.

With errands to run again in the big city, I birded around the Portland Peninsula a bit. The area along the Commercial Street Extension and West Commercial Street weren’t too productive though – just a smattering of the expected sparrows: White-throated, American Tree, and Song, as well as the other expected urban residents.

Suprisingly few gulls were present in Portland Harbor, much to my dismay. But, with the tide going out many birds were out feeding on the mudflats, and not roosting on buildings and piers. Plus, the mild weather has likely kept more gulls inland and inshore. Furthermore, and quite possibly most significantly, the decline of the fishing industry in Portland means there’s a lot less scraps, bait, etc to be snagged by hungry scavengers. But, if you catch it right – like when a shrimp boat just arrives, being escorted in by a cloud of gulls – gull-watching can still be quite productive.

The bird of the day, however, was a Turkey Vulture soaring over the store as I pulled into the parking lot. Usually, we don't see Turkey Vultures after mid-November, so having so many reports in January is really exceptional.

So, if the forecast for the next week or so holds true, it looks like we may have a change to some wintry weather for a bit. However, the weekend may be a bit sloppy, as a mix of rain, snow, and ice is being called for. Darn, wish I was going to be here for it! But alas, Jeannette and I will be in Hot’lanta for a trade show. But, after a couple of days stuck inside, we’re taking three days to do some good Georgia birding.

First, we head to Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, hoping to see Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, a life bird for both of us. Then, it’s on to the coast. Savannah NWR one day for waterfowl, and Tybee Island the next for waterbirds and shorebirds. Hopefully, one of these places, or somewhere in between, will provide Jeannette with her life Wood Stork and Eurasian Collared-Dove. We’re also planning on spending some time in beautiful, historic Savannah and plenty of time eating great southern food – bring on the grits, fried chicken, collards, and plenty of BBQ!

I just hope we can make it up our driveway by the time we return!