OK, so the weather hasn’t been too great the last few days – another day of rain and HIGH temps only in the upper 40’s again today. However, it’s the third week of May, and there are migrants on the move. This weather may slow them down, but it doesn’t mean the birding can’t be great. In fact, the birding the last few days has been very good indeed.

Personally, I wouldn’t have minded if the birding was a little slower – it would allow me to get a little rest! Wow, I have once again exhausted myself – and there’s still lots of May left! Early morning birding, very busy days at the store, followed by evening activities (a Winslow Park Commission meeting Tuesday, a Merrymeeting Audubon Birdathon planning session on Wednesday, and the classroom session of my “Introduction to Birding” class that I am teaching for Merrymeeting Adult Education last night) have left me a bit sleep deprived. I’m not sharing this to whine, but I am explaining the bags under my eyes! But the summer is for sleeping, this is spring (well, at least according to the calendar!), and spring is for birding!

On Wednesday morning, I began at Hedgehog Mountain Park (12 species of warblers), then over to Florida Lake Park (added Canada Warbler and Northern Waterthrush to my day’s warbler list, along with my first Lincoln’s Sparrow of the season, and a surprising flock of 16 Spotted Sandpipers – a very large number for this species – that flew off from the dike. Finally, a Pine Warbler singing in our yard provided warbler species #15 for the day.

Thursday morning, I opted for some seawatching at Dyer Point in Cape Elizabeth, where I ran into Lysle and Robbie, whom I haven’t seen for a bit. It started out quite active – lots of Northern Gannets in particular – with a decent NNE wind. However, when the wind shifted to the north, activity decreased. Here’s the totals of birds deemed migrating:
Start: 6:35am. Moderate NE winds. Excellent Visibility. Seas 3-5ft.
End: 7:45am. Moderate N winds. Excellent Visibility. Seas 3-5ft.
Northern Gannet: 81
Common Loon: 45
Unidentified shorebirds: 35 in one distant flock
Laughing Gull: 29
Surf Scoter: 26
Red-throated Loon: 13
Common Loon: 12
White-winged Scoter: 7
Black Scoter: 6
Double-crested Cormorant: 6
Black Guillemot: 3
Harlequin Duck: 1 immature male or female
Landbirds coming in from the water:
1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
1 Lincoln’s Sparrow

The three of us then checked Kettle Cove and some of Crescent Beach State Park. A decent assemblage of shorebirds on the beach included 31 Black-bellied Plovers, 24 Least Sandpipers, 20 Semipalmated Plovers, 11 Spotted Sandpipers, 8 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, and 2 Ruddy Turnstones. The passerine highlight was a female Bay-breasted Warbler foraging on the rock wall behind the beach and a total of at least 15 Common Yellowthroats.

In the steadier rain this morning, I finally made it over to Evergreen Cemetery. The skies cleared last night, with stars shining brightly at 10:00pm. Light winds. I heard a few call notes over Brunswick High School as I packed the car after my class. However, with rain approaching from the south overnight (well upon us by dawn), the question was going to be would any new birds arrive? Or, would everything depart? Or, would everything stay exactly where it was?

Well, I think a number of birds did depart, and few arrived, as the numbers and diversity of birds at Evergreen were less than yesterday. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, as I tallied 15 species of warblers. Only a few individuals of most species, but what was lacking in quantity was made up for in the quality of the views. The cold, wet weather kept insects grounded, which kept their predators near the ground as well. I watched a Wilson’s Warbler nearly walk over someone’s boot (but it was a whole 10 feet or so from me) and a Magnolia Warbler that was foraging in a low bush closer than my binoculars can focus!

Here’s my tally from 2 hours at Evergreen this morning (not too bad for a rainy day!):
18 Common Yellowthroats
12 Northern Parulas
10 Magnolia Warblers
9 Gray Catbirds
8 Black-throated Green Warblers
6 Swainson’s Thrushes
6 Black-and-white Warblers
6 American Redstarts
6 Baltimore Orioles
5 Chestnut-sided Warblers
4 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
4 Ovenbirds
4 White-throated Sparrows
3 Spotted Sandpipers
3 Black-throated Blue Warblers
3 Northern Waterthrushes
3 Swamp Sparrows
3 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
2 Yellow Warblers
2 Blackburnian Warblers
2 Pine Warblers
2 Wilson’s Warblers
1 Green Heron
1 Great-crested Flycatcher
1 Veery
1 Wood Thrush
1 Canada Warbler

There was very little going on at Dragon Field, but the activity at our store’s feeders more than made up for that. Plus, I can watch them from the dry and warm inside! 6 Baltimore Orioles have been battling over our fruit and jelly feeder (which has since been supplemented with more oranges and cups of jelly on our tray feeder, much to the dismay of our Chipping Sparrows), as have at least 2 Gray Catbirds. Two spiffy White-crowned Sparrows are under the feeders, and the pair (at least) of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been downing lots of sugar water this morning.

Feederwatching has been fantastic throughout the area, as these miserable conditions have driven a number of species to feeders in unusual quantity. Reports are streaming in of up to 20 Baltimore Orioles, up to 14 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, a half-dozen Scarlet Tanagers, and more visiting backyard feeders. Even if you don’t feel like donning the Gore-tex to step outside, definitely spend some time birding from the window this weekend!