Is it really February already? Where did January go? By the end of this month, spring migration will be getting underway! Depending on ice and snow conditions, we can expect to see at least a few Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds by month’s end. Snow Buntings will soon be on the move, and seaducks will begin to stage for their northbound trips. Bald Eagles will work their way northwards, and if we get a good push of southerly winds, a few Turkey Vultures are not out of the question. Time flies when you’re having fun (out birding)!

I’m looking forward to some of those new arrivals, as pickings were pretty slim this morning as I wandered around coastal South Portland. Northern Mockingbird was definitely the bird of the morning, as I encountered at least one at just about every stop. In fact, at both Bug Light Park and Spring Point Light, a single Mocker was the only landbird that I detected.

All three Scoters (and three Mockingbirds) were off of Willard Beach, and the shore from Fort Williams Park was quite productive. Nothing out of the ordinary, but good numbers of White-winged Scoters, Common Loons, and 3 or 4 Red-necked Grebes.

My tally of the ducks in Mill Creek was: 299 Mallards, 19 American Black Ducks, and 7 hybrids thereof – a nice concentration indeed. However, once again the cove was white-winged Gull-free.

But hey, at least I was downright warm for a change. With temps only in the low 20’s to start the day, and quickly rising to 30, I was actually overdressed for a change!