On a frigid Thursday morning, a short walk with the dog at Old Town House Park produced a fly-over Bohemian Waxwing. This season, that’s not a rare thing – but seeing a lone waxwing (of either flavor) is indeed a rather rare thing; these highly gregarious birds are seldom encountered alone.

One again we were grazed by the northern edge of a storm system (the one that caused the devastating ice storms in the Midwest), producing up to 4 inches of fresh powder.

With a whole slew of errands to run in Portland, I spent just a short time this morning scouting for the Greater Portland Christmas Bird Count, which was scheduled for Sunday. The weather forecast didn’t look good, but I decided to remain optimistic, and get some scouting done just in case.

While my usual route is pretty well set, I like to check on a few of the weedy lots and other nooks and crannies beforehand, just in case they’re worth a diversion on count day. Checking lots on the East End and gardens in Downtown between errands and Christmas shopping, did not produce much of note, other than a White-throated Sparrow in the courtyard of One Portland Square in the center of the city. Then, it was into Old Port for some Christmas shopping. (And, despite my optimism, when I got to the store, I learned – as expected – that the CBC has been postponed until Saturday, Dec 22!)

So, as I mentioned, Sunday was going to be the Portland CBC. Originally, this count was scheduled for Saturday, but it was moved to avoid a conflict with the Plum Creek development hearings this Saturday in Portland. Hopefully, concerned birders will participate in both. I was planning to. The Plum Creek hearings are 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 6pm at the Holiday Inn By the Bay on Spring Street. (more info, and the location for Sunday’s Greenville hearing – which too has now been postponed, can be found here).

And, while speaking of upcoming events, mark your calendars for next Wednesday, at 7:00pm, as Jeannette and I are honored to be hosting the Book Release Party for Jeff Wells here at the Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth.

Everyone is invited to help celebrate the publication of Birder’s Conservation
Handbook: 100 North American Birds at Risk. Jeff, who is the Senior Scientist for the Boreal Songbird Initiative, and a Visiting Fellow at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, will be with us to sign copies (we’ll have a pile on hand!) of his groundbreaking new book, and chat about birds, birding, and bird conservation.

Free snacks and desserts, beverages, and shade-grown, organic, bird-friendly
coffee (regular and decaf) will be served, including tasty treats compliments of Clayton’s, Old World Deli, Mediterranean Grill, and Pineland Farms.

For more information about the event, and the book, please visit
www.yarmouthbirds.com/bird_news.asp

We hope that you can join us!

And, look for Jeff on “207” on NBC – he should be on on Tuesday, the 18th.