For a change of scenery, I decided to try my luck birding around Androscoggin County. I really should have been birding Sagadahoc County, doing a bit more scouting for Tuesday’s Merrymeeting Audubon Birdathon. I’m not exactly sure how I got roped into this (actually, I may have offered!), but it is for a good cause. This year, were are raising money for both the chapter’s scholarship fund, and for the acquisition of additional land for the Hamilton Sanctuary. We’re going to be birding from about 4:00 am to 8:00pm (in theory!), only birding locations that fall within the chapter’s catchment area. (For more info, and to pledge your support if you so desire, see the Merrymeeting Audubon Website). Also, if you know where we can find owls (Barred, Great Horned, or Saw-whet), and Whip-poor-wills in Arrowsic, Georgetown, Phippsburg, or West Bath, please let me know!)

But, instead, I began this morning at Riverside Cemetery in Lewiston. Quiet, very quiet. The only warblers (Pine, Black-throated Green, Chestnut-sided, American Redstart, and Ovenbird) all likely breed there. Not a single definitive migrant.

I vaguely remember someone mentioning an arboretum at Bates College. I tried to find that. Clearly my memory was mistaken. I spoke with a handful of employees that were bust setting up for graduation, and they had no idea what I was talking about. I did finally have a migrant – a single Blackpoll Warbler – at the edge of Andrews Pond, however. I then decided to try my luck birding in the other half of “Great Falls,” so I headed over to Auburn.

I checked Lake Shore Rd, on Lake Auburn’s north side, that I always thought looked like a good place to check for migrants. Not today! (Do you see a pattern here?) On our way to dinner at Mac’s Grill the other night, I made a mental note to check the Auburn airport for grassland birds – especially Upland Sandpiper. A few stops along the perimeter did produce an Eastern Meadowlark carrying nesting material, and a singing Savannah Sparrow, but the closest I came to “Uppies” were a pair of Killdeer.

My final stop of the morning was at Range Pond State Park, a site that I have often passed the signs for, but I have yet to visit. So, no “life birds” today, but at least I did have a “life park.” Actually, I was pleasantly surprised by it – there were more trails, and nicer habitat than I was expecting. The woods were fairly active, but nothing out of the ordinary. However, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take a look at Bald Eagles chicks – that the ranger at the guardhouse mentioned. Afterall, it is the American symbol, and it is Memorial Day weekend!

The brown lumps on the left, that's them.

The older of the two chicks was a little more active, as it spent a few minutes preening before going back to sleep.

The still-downy head of the younger bird is barely visible, just behind the pine needles, on the left of the nest.