Yesterday, I had to run down to South Portland, so I decided to spend the morning birding there. The spots I usually hit aren’t usually too productive at this time of year – not many breeding birds – but today, each stop yielded an interesting sighting or two. It just goes to show you that there is no bad time to be birding!

First, at Bug Light Park, a Merlin zipped by. I wonder if this species is now beginning to nest along the south coast – summer sightings do seem to be on the increase. More out of place, however, was an Eastern Meadowlark standing rather conspicuously in the short mowed, green grass. My guess is this bird has dispersed from a recently mowed or hayed field.

At Fort Williams Park, just across the border into Cape Elizabeth, a Common Raven was being pursued by a small murder of crows, and a Brown Thrasher foraged along the park’s southern edge. Both of these species also seem to be increasing in the south coast; Ravens moving in from the west and north, and thrashers spreading from the south.

At Hinckley Park, a Red-bellied Woodpecker – speaking of species that are expanding from the south – flew overhead, likely part of the pair that has bred here and in the nearby vicinity in the last 2-3 years. Finally, a quick stop at Knight Park did not produce the Peregrine Falcon family, but it did yield a Glossy Ibis commuting overhead.

This morning, I spent a couple of hours in the backyard working on my latest product review for Birding magazine. I’m doing a comparision of the high-end 8x32 binoculars from Leica, Nikon, Swarovski, and Zeiss. Standing on the back porch, with all of the optics lined up, I split time between my pseudo-standardized tests and enjoying the action at the feeding station.

Two pairs of Purple Finches, a pair each of White- and Red-breasted Nuthatches, a pair of Downy Woodpeckers, a family of Hairy Woodpeckers, a family group of 5 Tufted Titmice, a few American Goldfinches, 4 Blue Jays, 6 Mourning Doves, about 20 Common Grackles – including a number of juveniles, a lone Chipping Sparrows, and one Red-winged Blackbird all provided the entertainment and subjects to study for the review. Our pair of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds continue as well, the Eastern Phoebes are feeding young on the shed, and the birdsong in the woods has once again picked up.

In mid- to late July, there is often a second peak of birdsong, which will continue through early August for most species. A Hermit Thrush, two Ovenbirds, two Black-throated Green Warblers, a Pine Warbler, and others were part of the chorus this morning in my backyard, and Jeannette has noticed a significant increase in overall birdsong on her running route. This second peak likely has to do with some birds reaffirming territories for second nesting attempts, but also I think some of it is nothing more than burning off the last of the breeding season’s hormones!