Name: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert
Reporting Period: October 31 - November 6, 2009
Area: State of Maine
Compiler: Eric Hynes

Of Special Note

Top birds this week are: PINK-FOOTED GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, GREAT GRAY =
OWL, and BLUE GROSBEAK.

Other noteworthy species mentioned below are: REDHEAD, BARROW'S =
GOLDENEYE, RUDDY DUCK, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, PEREGRINE FALCON, SANDHILL =
CRANE, WESTERN SANDPIPER, BOHEMIAN WAXWING, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, LARK =
SPARROW, and BALTIMORE ORIOLE.

HARLEQUIN DUCKS are increasing along the coast and diving ducks in =
general are on the move.  Widespread reports of SNOW BUNTINGS continue.  =
FOX, "Ipswich" SAVANNAH SPARROWS, and an increasing number of AMERICAN =
TREE SPARROWS are migrating.

A great new image of all three Pink-footed Geese and the Blue Grosbeak =
have been added to the RBA slideshow at: =
http://www.maineaudubon.org/nature/birdalert_gallery.php

York County

A WESTERN SANDPIPER and four WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were among a number =
of DUNLIN on Fortunes Rocks Beach in Biddeford on November 6.

A SANDHILL CRANE stood in a cornfield along Route 5 in Saco on November =
1, approximately 1 mile east of Smutty Lane.

Greater Portland

Despite the dwindling Canada geese numbers and more wintry weather, =
three PINK-FOOTED GEESE continue to feed in fields straddling the towns =
of Falmouth, Cumberland, North Yarmouth, and Yarmouth through November =
6. Their pattern seems to be changing so checking a number of locations =
may be necessary. Scan the fields of Thornhurst Farm on Rt. 115 in North =
Yarmouth.  The fields of Thornhurst Farm are on your right as you are =
heading out of Yarmouth. Pulling over along Rt. 115 is treacherous so =
proceed with caution.  Entering the farm fields is trespassing.  Safe =
parking areas are found at Toots Ice Cream just off Rt. 115 and at =
Prince Well Road.  The Greely Road site can be reached by taking a left =
off Route 115 just past Prince Well Road onto Doughty Road.  Turn left =
again when Doughty Road reaches Greely Road.  Proceed approximately a =
half mile to 198 Greely Road on the right.  Mostly recently they seem to =
be developing a new pattern.  Check the field on Winn Road near the =
Falmouth/Cumberland town line, directly across from the entrance to the =
Falmouth Country Club. This field is best viewed from the start of =
Muirfield Road.  Also check the fields and pond of Idleknot Farm on =
Woodville Road which is off of Winn Road in Falmouth.=20

A CACKLING GOOSE continues to be found sporadically as well among the =
flocks at Thornhurst Farm. =20

Two AMERICAN COOTS were on Grondin Pond in Scarborough on November 5.  =
The best viewing of Grondin Pond is from the cul-de-sac at the end of =
Woodview Drive.  From Black Point Road, take Fogg Road to reach Woodview =
Drive.=20

A LARK SPARROW continues in the shrubs and at the feeders on Fessenden =
Road in Cape Elizabeth and around the corner at Kettle Cove.  An =
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was found in the shrubs at Kettle Cove on =
November 1.

 A few GREAT EGRETS remain with reports from Scarborough Marsh and the =
mouth of the Presumpscot River this week.

Lewiston-Auburn

A BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was the standout among the waterfowl concentrations =
at Sabattus Pond in Sabattus on November 3.  RUDDY DUCKS and both SCAUP =
species continue.

Kennebec River Valley (Augusta-Waterville)

An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, and the lingering hen =
AMERICAN WIGEON were found at the Pine Tree State Arboretum in Augusta =
on the 1st.

Midcoast

Two PEREGRINE FALCONS put on a show at Popham Beach State Park in =
Phippsburg on November 6.  Two lingering SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were on =
the beach also.

On November 3, a male BLUE GROSBEAK was photographed at the end of =
Bayshore Road in North Bath (past Hawkes Farm).

A late BALTIMORE ORIOLE visited feeders on November 2 at a home in =
Phippsburg.

Penobscot Bay

A PEREGRINE FALCON was chasing pigeons in Rockport Harbor on November 3.

An impressive assemblage of waterbirds was found in Fort Point Cove in =
Stockton Springs on November 3.  As viewed from Cape Jellison Road, the =
standouts were 74 RED-NECKED GREBES, 12 GREATER SCAUP, and 162 RUDDY =
DUCKS.

Western Mountains

A GREAT GRAY OWL was spotted at an undisclosed location off Route 16 in =
Rangeley on November 5.

Northern Maine

Last week, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were heard passing over the University of =
Maine's Presque Isle campus.

Five LONG-TAILED DUCKS and two REDHEADS were seen at Lake Josephine in =
Easton on November 3.

Eric Hynes
Gilsland Farm Naturalist /=A0
Adult Education Program Coordinator
Maine Audubon
20 Gilsland Farm Road
Falmouth, ME 04105
207-781-2330 ext. 237
ehynes@maineaudubon.org
www.maineaudubon.org

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