On Friday, February 23rd, I had the pleasure of meeting with folks from the City of Augusta to talk about improving birder access to the Hatch Hill Landfill. This site, a large municipal active landfill, has become increasingly popular for birders because of the large number of gulls attracted by the trash, and the large number of eagles attracted by the gulls. We’ll have more to report on new access (especially parking) and vantage points (designated observation areas) in the future but one very unexpected highlight from our visit was a fly-by SLATY-BACKED GULL. This is only the second record of this Western Pacific gull in Maine:
Lightning strikes twice
The only other occurrence of this species was from 10-13 Jan 2012 and was also at the Hatch Hill Landfill. That bird didn’t stick around long but was apparently relocated at the Jodrey State Fish Pier (Essex, MA) on 21 Jan 2012! By aging these birds and looking at specific field marks it is possible to keep track of some of these birds. Amazingly, it appears this 2018 bird came from Massachusetts: On 16 Feb, Jeremiah Trimble (who also found that 2012 MA bird) found a third-cycle Slaty-backed Gull at Fresh Pond (Middlesex, MA), which was relocated a few days later (19 Feb) at the Jodrey State Fish Pier! This appears to be the same gull that four days later flew past us in Augusta. The bird showed off for a group of birders again on Saturday, the 24th, but the landfill was closed on Sunday and Monday (today) so we’ll have to wait to see if it sticks around.
Accessing the Landfill
We’ll post more information as things change at the landfill but here were the notes I sent to the Maine-birds Listserv about access:
First, the landfill is only open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:00AM to 4:00PM. Do not enter the landfill outside of these hours.
You must sign in at the booth before the scales as you enter. It would be good to double-check with them on where to park, generally there is space “out of the way” just past the recycling area on the right but they had us move up towards the brush piles to the left later in the day.
DO NOT ENTER THE GATED AREA. Birders are welcome to bird up to the fence but should not enter the gated area, even if there is not equipment being used at the time. Because of how the trash is currently stacked, best viewing was from the fence on the western (northwestern) side of the active area.
Also, no smoking is allowed… You might blow the whole place up and scare the bird away.
My best advice is use common sense. Be nice to the staff. I’m thrilled they are looking into making this a more birder-friendly location so let’s not ruin it before we get that chance.
Other gulls around
While discussing gulls, I wanted to encourage people to be on the lookout for leg banded gulls. Mill Creek Cove in South Portland (behind Hannaford) has been great for studying gulls lately, especially near high tide. So far this month I’ve seen an adult Great Black-backed Gull (photo below) that was banded on Appledore Island, ME on 17 July 2012, a first-cycle Herring Gull banded in Portland on 7 July 2017, and most surprising an adult Herring Gull that was banded in St John’s, Newfoundland (that was banded as an adult) on 25 April 2010 (making it at least 10 years old)!
We might have lost most of you at “gull,” but if you want to learn how to identify this sometimes confusing group of birds, you can join me at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth on March 13th for our “Improve Your Gull-ability” slideshow.
