Our Saturday morning birdwalk was a huge success yesterday, including my first two Tree Swallows of the spring at Bayview Preserve, the Turkey Vulture gang here in Yarmouth, and a first-cycle Glaucous Gull and two drake American Wigeons at the Twin Brook Recreation Area in Cumberland – and much more. Here’s the complete summary from our store’s website.

Then, on Sunday, Luke and I birded from Biddeford Pool to Scarborough Marsh. We began the day at East Point, which featured 4 lingering Harlequin Ducks, 17 Brant, 3 Great Cormorants, and about 50 Purple Sandpipers. We also had a total of three Northern Harriers – including one close pass by a magnificent adult male, and a buzz-by Merlin.

4 Green-winged Teal and a single drake Ring-necked Duck were in the small pond by the beach parking lot, but there was very little behind Hattie’s on the quickly rising tide. Few birds were in the neighborhood either, but good numbers of all three scoters – including quite a few Blacks - were off of Ocean Avenue. 14 more Ring-necked Ducks, along with two Common Mergansers and 18 Bufflehead were in the middle pond at Fortune’s Rocks beach as well.

We then began to work our way northwards, making stops at the Biddeford boat launch (quiet), the Saco Yacht Club (one Eastern Phoebe), Water Street (nothin’), and Boom Road, which was also surprisingly quiet – although we did have 2 American Kestrels, a few Killdeer, and plenty of Mallards, American Black Ducks, and Canada Geese.

All in all, we were having a pretty good morning of birding. However, things really picked up when we hit Scarborough Marsh. Green-winged Teal have increased exponentially – we had well over 125 today, and a drake hybrid “American” Green-winged x “Eurasian” Green-winged (or “Common”) Teal was teased out from the group behind Pelreco -a very good bird indeed. Pelreco was really hopping today. In addition to the aforementioned teal-age, we had a pair of Blue-winged Teal (my first of year), a drake Northern Shoveler (my first of year), a pair of Hooded Mergansers, 4 drake and 2 hen American Wigeon, 3 pairs of Gadwall (a goodly total on its own for the state, plus another pair elsewhere), along with the usual Mallards and American Black Ducks. 4 Snowy Egrets huddled in a corner, trying to avoid that same cold, damp wind (moderate northeast off the water, with temps in the mid-30’s) that we were not enjoying either, and 4 Glossy Ibis – both first of years for me as well – foraged in the tall grasses. Meanwhile, another harrier, a Red-tailed Hawk, and a wicked spiffy adult male Peregrine Falcon – which made a close pass overhead at one point – kept a watch on all of the goings-on.

A real sharp, clean-headed Lesser Black-backed Gull was roosting with the regulars behind the Nestling Duck building. The gleaming white head of the breeding-plumaged adult “Less-back” is not often seen here in Maine, so this was a nice bird to study and enjoy. From the nature center, we spotted 3 Great Egrets – yet another first of spring for me, as well as the flock of Snow Geese that have been present for a bit, although the geese – 34 to be exact; adults and immatures – were easier to see from the pull-off along Route 1/9.

When a quick tally of the checklist yielded 22 (and one-half, thanks to the hybrid teal) species of waterfowl, we had to seriously contemplate making a run at 25 for the day (a very challenging total for the area). It was possible, but I just simply didn’t have the time. When neither Forest City Cemetery in South Portland, nor Mercy Pond in Portland yielded a Wood Duck, and a spin around Back Cover failed to produce a Canvasback that was found yesterday, we decided not to get greedy, and head back with a very impressive waterfowl total, and a heckuva good day of birding overall!

It’s going to be a ridiculously busy week for me. On Monday, Dane has the day off, and I’ll be spending the whole day covering the Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch. Unfortunately, the prediction of a moderate east wind doesn’t provide a lot of optimism for a busy day, but if it is a little lighter than expected, I could hope for the possibility of some kestrels, Merlins, and harriers on such a wind. Also, I am hoping for a decent waterfowl flight in the morning. However, to be honest, I’m not overly optimistic, so if anyone is really bored tomorrow, come up to the hill to keep me company! (And, if you happen to have some hot chocolate with you, you’ll hear no complaints from me!)

And, the reason that Dane is off on Monday, is that on Tuesday – the day Jeannette and I usually cover for him – we will be heading to Vinalhaven for the day to take a boat trip with a local captain who’s adding some eco-tourism to his business. On Wednesday – weather permitting – I’ll be back up on the Brad for the morning to meet up with Bill Green, who will be filming a segment for his show. Then, it’s off to New Hampshire, where I’ll be giving a program for New Hampshire Audubon’s Seacoast Chapter on St. Paul Island, Alaska, where I spent a total of three seasons as a guide. The slide show covers the plants, geology, people, and of course, the birds, of the island. It’s at 7:00 at the Science Center at Odiorne State Park, by the way. On Saturday is Maine Garden Day, and in the evening, is my Woodcock Walk at Pineland Farms (see www.yarmouthbirds.com/travels.asp for more info). Phew, I’m already tired, and the week hasn’t even begun!