Maine Outdoor Journal

Notable sightings this week include SNOW GOOSE, NORTHERN SHOVELER, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, SANDHILL CRANE, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, and LAPLAND LONGSPUR. Hawk migration was well underway this week with the first flight of BROAD-WINGED HAWKS and numerous reports of multiple AMERICAN KESTREL, OSPREY, and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS. The first noticeable wave of WINTER WRENS, both KINGLETS, PINE, PALM and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, CHIPPING and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and PURPLE FINCHES arrived in (southern) Maine this week. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are still being reported sporadically throughout the state. First of the year birds included LITTLE BLUE HERON, GREEN HERON, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, BARN SWALLOW, and VIRGINIA RAIL. York County A pair of RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS was seen in West Kennebunk preparing a nesting cavity. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR dropped into the Sanford sewage treatment facility on April 11. Scarborough Marsh A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was seen on April 12 behind the Pelreco building at the end of Pine Point road. A first of the year LITTLE BLUE HERON and six AMERICAN KESTREL, a MERLIN, and a PEREGRINE FALCON were at Pelreco late afternoon on April 13. As many as nine NORTHERN SHOVELERS and almost 100 GLOSSY IBISES are being seen at Pelreco as well. Greater Portland New arrivals at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth included a BARN SWALLOW on April 17 and a vocalizing VIRGINIA RAIL for almost a week now. A BLUE-HEADED VIREO arrived in a Scarborough yard on April 15. A RUDDY DUCK was on Prout’s Pond on Pleasant Hill Road in Scarborough on April 13. An ICELAND and a GLAUCOUS GULL were seen from Trundy Point in Cape Elizabeth on April 14. An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at Twin Brooks in Cumberland on April 12. A SANDHILL CRANE was seen migrating from Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal on April 15. Among the birds seen at Wharton Point in Brunswick this week was a NORTHERN SHOVELER on April 13. Midcoast A EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen in flooded fields along the Cathance River in Topsham on April 13. The impressive waterfowl concentration in the mouth of the Abagadasset River in Bowdoinham has diminished greatly but at one time included up to 74 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 36 SNOW GEESE, six NORTHERN SHOVELERS and a few BLUE-WINGED TEAL. At Green Point Wildlife Management Area in Dresden, a SHORT-EARED OWL was seen the evening of April 14 and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD and LITTLE BLUE HERON on April 15. Kennebec Valley (Augusta-Waterville) A single NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, among many Tree Swallows, was over Horseshoe Pond in Litchfield/West Gardiner on April 14. A light morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK continued to be spotted sporadically from Indiana Road in West Gardiner as late as April 15. A SNOW GOOSE, two GADWALL, and four NORTHERN PINTAILS were in Moore’s Eddy on the Kennebec River in Norridgewock. Two SANDHILL CRANES dropped into a field in Skowhegan on April 14. Central - Bangor A pair of BLACK SCOTERS was reported on Alder Stream in Corinna on April 12. A RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was seen on the Penobscot River Trail in Orono on April 13. Penobscot Bay A GLOSSY IBIS was seen at the south end of the Bagaduce River in Brooksville on April 15. A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen in Brooksville on April 15. Downeast A HERMIT THRUSH and a PALM WARBLER were seen on April 16 at Sier de Monts in Acadia National Park. A pair of NORTHERN SHOVELERS was in flooded fields on the Machias River on April 13. Northern Maine- Aroostook For an excellent summary of recent sightings in northern Maine please go to Bill Sheehan’s site at: http://www.northernmainebirds.blogspot.com/