Area: State of Maine
Compilers: Doug Hitchcox
Noteworthy Species Mentioned:
- Pink-footed Goose+
- Cackling Goose
- Iceland Gull
- Long-eared Owl
- Short-eared Owl
- Red-headed Woodpecker
- Ash-throated Flycatcher+
- White-eyed Vireo
- Bell’s Vireo+
- Townsend’s Solitaire
- Orange-crowned Warbler
- Lark Sparrow
- Blue Grosbeak
(+ Details requested by Maine Bird Records Committee: https://sites.google.com/site/mainebirdrecordscommittee/)
York County
On the 23rd, a SHORT-EARED OWL was seen throughout the day around Biddeford Pool. The Saco Yacht Club at the end of Front Street in Saco hosted an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER on the 23rd.
Greater Portland
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was reported from Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth on the 21st. Another ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER from the 21st was seen along the Eastern Promenade in Portland. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was reported coming to private feeders in Casco on the 24th.
Kennebec River Valley (Augusta-Waterville)
On the 21st, a LONG-EARED OWL was reported from a yard in East Winthrop, along Cobbosecontee Lake.
The Viles Arboretum, off Hospital Street in Augusta, hosted a BLUE GROSBEAK early this week.
Midcoast
On the 19th, a WHITE-EYED VIREO was found at Head Beach in Phippsburg. This bird was still being seen along the east end of the beach on a thickly vegetated slope on the 23rd. A BELL’S VIREO was found along Abner Point on Bailey’s Island in Harpswell on the 22nd. This represents the fourth or fifth record of this species in the state.
In South Harpswell, a LARK SPARROW was photographed in a neighborhood “past the Lobster House but before Potts Point Road” on the 22nd.
Noteworthy species from Monhegan Island this week included a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER on the 19th and a photographed ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER on the 21st.
Penobscot Bay
An ICELAND GULL was found at the end of Lobster Lane in Owls Head on the 22nd.
Downeast
A WHITE-EYED VIREO was reported from the Ingersoll Point Preserve in Addison on the 23rd. It was seen at the intersection of the Alder Woods Trail and the Beach Trail on the northeastern point of the preserve. This bird was still being seen here on the 25th.
Western Mountains
There was a late report, from the 16th, of a TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE on a forested mountainside near Claybrook Lodge in Highland Plantation.
Northern Maine
Maine’s fifth PINK-FOOTED GOOSE was photographed at Collins Pond in Caribou on the 19th. This bird was not relocated in the following days.
On the 21st, a CACKLING GOOSE was found with 1,100 CANADA GEESE at the mill pond in Limestone.
