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Maine Audubon Reports Rare Birds Sighted

March 19, 2010 - AUGUSTA -- Top birds this week are: KING EIDER, GOLDEN EAGLE, THICK-BILLED MURRE, SNOWY OWL, LONG-EARED OWL, and LARK SPARROW.


Other noteworthy species included: BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, RUDDY DUCK, SPRUCE GROUSE, GLAUCOUS GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE, GRAY JAY, BOREAL CHICKADEE, PINE GROSBEAK, RED CROSSBILL, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, and EVENING GROSBEAK.


The spring migration of raptors, waterfowl, and blackbirds was conspicuous this week in many parts of the state. Other arriving species included DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, KILLDEER, FISH CROW, and FOX SPARROW.


York County


A THICK-BILLED MURRE and a drake NORTHERN PINTAIL were photographed at Seapoint Beach in Kittery on March 16.


The first EASTERN MEADOWLARK arrived at Laudholm Farm in Wells on March 19.


A drake BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was seen in the Saco River near Rotary Park in Biddeford on March 17.


Greater Portland


Photos of a LARK SPARROW in a private yard in Falmouth were recently received. Apparently the bird has spent the entire winter there and has begun to sing.



On March 17, a FISH CROW was calling near McDonald's on Route 1 in Falmouth.

A SNOWY OWL was photographed at Rose Point on Chebeague Island on March 17.


An early or lingering PINE WARBLER was singing in Scarborough.


The hawkwatch at Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal got underway this week. In addition to a few RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, the count recorded a flock of BRANT, a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, and an EVENING GROSBEAK on the 17th.


Kennebec River Valley (Augusta-Waterville)


A LONG-EARED OWL was heard in Gardiner on March 12.


A GLAUCOUS GULL was on Anthony Avenue in Augusta on March 15.


An early OSPREY was seen on the Sebasticook River between Benton and Fort Halifax on March 13.


Midcoast


A SNOWY OWL was photographed on the rocks at the end of Merepoint Neck in Brunswick on March 14.


A NORTHERN SHRIKE was at 35 Pennellville Road in Brunswick on March 15.


A few DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS arrived on the Androscoggin River in Topsham.


Penobscot Bay


Eighty RUDDY DUCKS were spotted from the Stockton Harbor town launch on March 16.


Central Maine


A NORTHERN SHRIKE was at West Penjajawoc Preserve on March 16.


A male MERLIN returned to its territory on Prentiss Street in Bangor on March 13.


Downeast


An immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was in the blueberry barren off Grindleville Road in Blue Hill on March 16.


On March 15, a single AMERICAN PIPIT was in the grass behind Sand Beach and several NORTHERN GANNETS passed northward along the Ocean Drive shoreline in Acadia National Park.


Three BARROW'S GOLDENEYES were on the East Machias River on March 14.


The immature drake and adult hen KING EIDERS continue in the area of Clark Ledge in Eastport where a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and six ICELAND GULLS were spotted on March 13.


Western Mountains


An AMERICAN KESTREL was spotted in Hinckley on March 12.


A single PINE GROSBEAK was seen in North Anson on March 12.


Long Falls Dam Road runs north from North New Portland to the east end of Flagstaff Lake.
Sightings along the road last weekend included: a SPRUCE GROUSE, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 10 BOREAL CHICKADEES, two GRAY JAYS, two RED CROSSBILLS, several WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, and four EVENING GROSBEAKS.


A male SPRUCE GROUSE was photographed on the path to Black Brook Flowage in Pierce Pond Township on March 12.


Northern Maine


Some adventuresome birders last weekend spent time in the northeast corner of Somerset County near the St. John River in T9 R17. An immature GOLDEN EAGLE was seen in addition to GRAY JAYS, many BOREAL CHICKADEES, and flocks of EVENING GROSBEAKS.


BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen in Stacyville and Mars Hill.


Feeders near Madawaska Lake hosted 10 to 12 EVENING GROSBEAKS.


Multiple flocks of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER were seen on Route 11 between Ashland and Patten.

by Eric Hynes and Stella Walsh, March 19, 2010, Portland Press Herald

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