Jeannette and I spent the day on Tuesday birding the coast from Kittery through Kennebunkport. Although we didn’t find anything too out of the ordinary, we did tally a respectable 53 species, had a few goodies, and enjoyed some spring migrants. Scattered small groups and individual Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles were encountered here and there, and we noticed a distinct departure of Long-tailed Ducks, all three scoters, and Great Cormorants in particular - although the few we did see were looking good in their breeding finery.

After our traditional pre-Kittery birding breakfast at the Bagel Caboose, we hit Fort Foster, where I flushed an American Woodcock from a trail – my first of spring. An immature Northern Shrike at Seapoint Beach was my 28th of the winter, and 28 Cedar Waxwings were spotted from the York Harbor Cliffwalk.

11 Harlequin Ducks and 9 Red-necked Grebes in spiffy breeding plumage were off of the Nubble, and we tallied 7 Dark-eyed Juncos in the neighborhood – likely migrants as well – and three Horned Larks in one of the few empty lots remaining in the area. We added 20 Harlequin Ducks from the Cliff House and another 26 from Marginal Way, giving us an excellent total of 57 for the day.

Another traditional stop for us on this route is Flo’s Hot Dogs. Today, a film crew from the Travel Channel was working on a segment for their Great Weekend Getaways (or something like that) series, so we’ll see if we end up showing the birding flag (we always wear our binoculars into local businesses to help show the economic impact – and even greater economic potential – of birding.) on national TV. I just hope I didn’t have any sauce in my beard!

Anyway, back to the birding, Beach Plum Farm was productive as usual. About 50 American Goldfinches, many singing, were feeding on birch catkins, while some Dark-eyed Juncos and Song Sparrows foraged in the brush. One stunning male Eastern Bluebird was checking out nest boxes, but unfortunately improper placement makes it unlikely that it would nest successfully here – the boxes are usually taken up by the more aggressive House Sparrows and Tree Swallows here, I’ve noticed.

18 Horned Larks were foraging on Ogunquit Beach, 2 Hooded Mergansers were off of Harbor Rd in Wells, and Libby Point in Kennebunk Beach produced about 150 Purple Sandpipers, and about 20 Sanderlings, wheeling around the rocks looking for a dry place to roost on a very high tide. A single Common Redpoll flew over as well, the first that I have seen in a couple of weeks.

A neat adult Northern Shrike was staking out Oaks Neck in Kennebunk, my remarkable 29th different shrike this winter! While a mixed flock of about 30 Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles passed over Rte 1 in Arundal was our largest flock of the day, a single Wild Turkey at the Biddeford exit of the Maine Turnpike was our 53rd, and final, species of the day.

A very productive day indeed! And, away from immediate shoreline, it was quiet pleasant out (temperatures rising into the upper 30’s, although it was only 11 when we left home in the morning), and the birding definitely was suggestive of spring. But, today, it is once again snowing. I guess spring will have to wait just a little longer!