The melt is on.
Temperatures were above average all week with a high for the month (to date) of 77 in Caribou on the 23rd. Some insects were active. Most of the snow cover in fields and open areas has retreated substantially. All rivers and stream had flooded and were open by mid-day on Tuesday. Some smaller ponds are ice free as well. Larger lakes are still a week or two away from ice out. South winds on Monday brought a decent pulse of migrants. Most migrants were on the lateish side for first arrival dates, but none unusually so.
New/ arriving birds in Aroostook Co. this week:
Snow Goose (4/21)
American Wigeon (4/20)
Green-winged Teal (4/22)
Northern Pintail (4/22)
Northern Shoveler (4/22)
Common Loon (4/20)
Pied-billed Grebe (4/22)
Double Crested Cormorant (4/23)
Great Blue Heron (4/20)
Wilson's Snipe (4/21)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (4/22)
Eastern Phoebe (4/21)
Tree Swallow (4/20)
Barn Swallow (4/24)
White-throated Sparrow (4/24)
*Snow Geese were first spotted* flying high over Portage Lake on the 21st and high numbers (1000+) were reported from the St John River flats in Grand Isle on the the 23rd. Other arriving waterfowl included an American Wigeon at the Robinson Millpond in Blaine, Green-winged Teal at Collins Pond in Caribou, (4) Northern Pintail in Limestone and Northern Shovelers at Lake Josephine in Easton. Green-winged Teal were also spotted at Lake Jo and in Mapleton. The *male Black Scoter continued* at the Town Park Pond in downtown Mars Hill through at least 4/20. Canada Geese, Ring-necked Ducks, Mallards, American Black Ducks, Common Goldeneyes and Common and Hooded Mergansers are all widespread and being seen in numbers. 72 Common Mergansers in Blaine was a high-ish count for that species. 350+ Canada Geese were in a potato field near Trafton Lake in Limestone and nearly that number were seen in another near Lake Josephine. Resident Canada's are already acting skulky at some traditional nesting locations.
A Common Loon on the Mattawamkeag River in Haynesville was a bit of a surprise on the 20th. This area of the river is slow moving but quite narrow and definitely not an impoundment that would make a loon feel comfortable. The big bird was dozing in a sunny eddy... A pair of arriving Pied-billed Grebes looked equally out of place on the ice choked Aroostook River in Caribou on Sunday. The first Double-crested Cormorant seen at Collins Pond on Monday was joined by several others today. Great Blue Herons were seen at Bridgewater (4/19), Limestone (4/22) and Washburn on the 23rd.
A possible Turkey Vulture was seen high over Caribou on the 20th. Adult Bald Eagles continue to tend the incubating eggs at Fort Fairfield with a hatch date coming up soon. A sub-adult Bald Eagle was seen in southernmost Fort Fairfield. A Merlin was vocalizing at Hot Brook Lake in Danforth in northern-most Washington County on Friday. Northern Harriers (mostly males) were reported from Caribou, Presque Isle and Woodland. Arriving Wilson's Snipe were seen in Washburn and Limestone and one was heard at Christina Reservoir in Fort Fairfield. American Woodcock are being heard in Limestone and Houlton. The numbers of Killdeer increased rapidly this week. Eleven were seen/heard in three hours on Sunday including a mating pair at Trafton Lake.
Aroostook County's *first Lesser Black-backed Gull continues* to be seen at Collins Pond most mornings. The adult bird is quite easily distinguished from the numerous Great Black-backed Gulls by its small size, lighter gray back and bright yellow legs. A Pair of River Otters seem to enjoy startling the gulls here and are regular visitors to the pond
The distinctive drumming of a male gave away the identity of an arriving Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Trafton Lake Park in Limestone. Another was seen in Woodland. Pileated Woodpeckers were widely reported and included individuals in Ashland, Castle Hill, Caribou, Limestone, Presque Isle and Woodland.
Insect-eaters showed up in small numbers this week. Bancroft, in southern Aroostook, hosted the first arrivals of both Tree and *Barn Swallows*. Tree Swallows were reported as far north as Caribou, Presque Isle and Wade by the following day. Eastern Phoebes were spotted in Caribou, Mapleton and Woodland. Northern Cardinals were seen in Caribou.
American Robins were ubiquitous and being seen in large numbers. Several hundred were flushed along one mile of road in Washburn on Saturday. Certainly this species numbers in the tens (if not hundreds) of thousands in the area currently. No other thrushes were reported yet this spring.
A few arriving White-throated Sparrows were seen on the 24th in Caribou and Woodland. They joined the Song and American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos. Flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles are continuing to migrate through the area though residents of these species are establishing territories. Female Brown-headed Cowbirds are starting to be seen.
No change in the finch supply this week. An occasional *Evening Grosbeak continues* to be the highlight at my feeder in Woodland. American Goldfinches are almost completely molted and males are starting to disperse from the winters flocks and are singing. Pine Siskins were seen in Forkstown and Linneus.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
Northern Maine Birds 3-18 April 2007, Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Hello,
Early spring bird migration seemed to come to a virtual standstill after the first pulse of arriving birds back in late March. The first two weeks of April were cold and was regularly punctuated with snow storms. Caribou received precipitation on 12 of the last 15 days and temperatures were well below average throughout the period. Northern Maine was lucky and mostly avoided the deluge and high winds that the rest of the state experienced during the April 15-17 storm.
Snow cover continues throughout the area, with open areas only just now appearing. Though small and medium sized streams have opened up, ice cover on some rivers, ponds and lakes has a long way to go.
Some migrants appeared quite stressed during the past two weeks and new arrivals were few. Arriving/New species in the area:
Wood Duck (4/14)
Ring-necked Duck (4/11)
Black Scoter (4/18)
Osprey (4/18)
Rough-legged Hawk (4/14)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (4/16)
Fox Sparrow (4/16)
Despite the limited open water and restricted feeding opportunity, waterfowl numbers increased. But overall numbers and variety are below normal for this time of year. Canada Goose flocks crowded into any open water they could find and flocks of 75-100 are being seen regularly now. Pairs have been seen visiting still-frozen nesting sites. An arriving male Wood Duck was seen swimming in a narrow lead in the ice on the Aroostook River in Fort Fairfield on the 14th. Male Ring-necked Ducks were first spotted on the 11th in Mars Hill. Also in Mars Hill, a *drake Black Scoter* was an early record for this uncommon species on the 18th. Hooded and Common Mergansers are widespread with reports of both species coming in from across the county. Mallard, Black Duck and Common Goldeneye numbers seem to have increased slightly but the winter concentrations in Presque Isle and Caribou seem to have dispersed.
The first Osprey in Aroostook Co. was seen at a nest site near Fish Stream in Island Falls on the 18th. This same nest was reported to be empty and snow covered on the 11th. Bald Eagles were seen in Caribou, Fort Fairfield and Oakfield. An eagle is currently incubating eggs on the nest in the Stevensville area of Fort Fairfield. A light phase Rough-legged Hawk was seen hunting over a field in Fort Fairfield on the 14th. No American Kestrels or Northern Harriers have been reported since they were first seen in the beginning of the month.
A few, very stressed Killdeer survived the ice and snowy periods by feeding on bits of flotsam collecting along the downstream ends of open spots in stream ice. Several drivers reported the birds standing in the roads during the larger snowstorms.
An *adult Lesser Black-backed Gull* at Collins Pond in Caribou photographed and is apparently the first county record for this species. The bird was first seen on 16th roosting on the ice with 200 Great Black-backed, Herring and Ring-billed Gulls. It continues to be seen.
Pileated Woodpeckers were reported in Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Oakfield and Presque Isle. At least one early Eastern Phoebe survived through the 7th in Mount Chase by flycatching on the south facing side of a house. A* lingering Northern Shrike* was seen at the same location the following day. Most Common Raven pairs in the area have begun incubating eggs and nest building and some incubation has been seen for American Crows in the area. A lone Gray Jay visited my feeder in Woodland on the 16th. Six Horned Larks were seen feeding in the road in Fort Fairfield on the 14th and a group of four was seen in Woodland on the 18th.
American Robins were widely reported and had overspread the area early in the month. The birds appeared very stressed with snow covering ground and the limited fruit supply. Several robins were seen eating bird seed at my feeder and numbers were crowded into any snow-free piece of sod they could find. Two hundred American Robins were seen huddled along the foundations of buildings on the UMPI campus in Presque Isle on the 16th.
Sparrow numbers seemed to hold steady over the past two weeks. American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos made up the bulk of the reports. Song Sparrows are singing in Presque Isle, Washburn and Woodland. A *first-of-the-year Fox Sparrow* was seen on the UMPI Campus on the 16th. An apparent final wave of northbound Snow Buntings pushed through the area over the past two weeks. Flocks as large as 350 birds were seen and were reported from Castle Hill, Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle , Washburn and Woodland.
American Goldfinch flocks continue to dominate the feeder activity in the area. 50 were reported at a feeder in Portage Lake and 120 were seen in Woodland. Singing male White-winged Crossbills were heard in Fort Fairfield and Woodland. Purple Finches have thinned out a bit put were still represented in reports from Chapman, Caribou and Woodland. A *few Evening Grosbeaks* continue to be seen in Chapman and Woodland.
Several House Sparrows successfully overwintered at the Walmart parking lot in Presque Isle.
This should be a good week for arrivals.
Early spring bird migration seemed to come to a virtual standstill after the first pulse of arriving birds back in late March. The first two weeks of April were cold and was regularly punctuated with snow storms. Caribou received precipitation on 12 of the last 15 days and temperatures were well below average throughout the period. Northern Maine was lucky and mostly avoided the deluge and high winds that the rest of the state experienced during the April 15-17 storm.
Snow cover continues throughout the area, with open areas only just now appearing. Though small and medium sized streams have opened up, ice cover on some rivers, ponds and lakes has a long way to go.
Some migrants appeared quite stressed during the past two weeks and new arrivals were few. Arriving/New species in the area:
Wood Duck (4/14)
Ring-necked Duck (4/11)
Black Scoter (4/18)
Osprey (4/18)
Rough-legged Hawk (4/14)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (4/16)
Fox Sparrow (4/16)
Despite the limited open water and restricted feeding opportunity, waterfowl numbers increased. But overall numbers and variety are below normal for this time of year. Canada Goose flocks crowded into any open water they could find and flocks of 75-100 are being seen regularly now. Pairs have been seen visiting still-frozen nesting sites. An arriving male Wood Duck was seen swimming in a narrow lead in the ice on the Aroostook River in Fort Fairfield on the 14th. Male Ring-necked Ducks were first spotted on the 11th in Mars Hill. Also in Mars Hill, a *drake Black Scoter* was an early record for this uncommon species on the 18th. Hooded and Common Mergansers are widespread with reports of both species coming in from across the county. Mallard, Black Duck and Common Goldeneye numbers seem to have increased slightly but the winter concentrations in Presque Isle and Caribou seem to have dispersed.
The first Osprey in Aroostook Co. was seen at a nest site near Fish Stream in Island Falls on the 18th. This same nest was reported to be empty and snow covered on the 11th. Bald Eagles were seen in Caribou, Fort Fairfield and Oakfield. An eagle is currently incubating eggs on the nest in the Stevensville area of Fort Fairfield. A light phase Rough-legged Hawk was seen hunting over a field in Fort Fairfield on the 14th. No American Kestrels or Northern Harriers have been reported since they were first seen in the beginning of the month.
A few, very stressed Killdeer survived the ice and snowy periods by feeding on bits of flotsam collecting along the downstream ends of open spots in stream ice. Several drivers reported the birds standing in the roads during the larger snowstorms.
An *adult Lesser Black-backed Gull* at Collins Pond in Caribou photographed and is apparently the first county record for this species. The bird was first seen on 16th roosting on the ice with 200 Great Black-backed, Herring and Ring-billed Gulls. It continues to be seen.
Pileated Woodpeckers were reported in Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Oakfield and Presque Isle. At least one early Eastern Phoebe survived through the 7th in Mount Chase by flycatching on the south facing side of a house. A* lingering Northern Shrike* was seen at the same location the following day. Most Common Raven pairs in the area have begun incubating eggs and nest building and some incubation has been seen for American Crows in the area. A lone Gray Jay visited my feeder in Woodland on the 16th. Six Horned Larks were seen feeding in the road in Fort Fairfield on the 14th and a group of four was seen in Woodland on the 18th.
American Robins were widely reported and had overspread the area early in the month. The birds appeared very stressed with snow covering ground and the limited fruit supply. Several robins were seen eating bird seed at my feeder and numbers were crowded into any snow-free piece of sod they could find. Two hundred American Robins were seen huddled along the foundations of buildings on the UMPI campus in Presque Isle on the 16th.
Sparrow numbers seemed to hold steady over the past two weeks. American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos made up the bulk of the reports. Song Sparrows are singing in Presque Isle, Washburn and Woodland. A *first-of-the-year Fox Sparrow* was seen on the UMPI Campus on the 16th. An apparent final wave of northbound Snow Buntings pushed through the area over the past two weeks. Flocks as large as 350 birds were seen and were reported from Castle Hill, Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle , Washburn and Woodland.
American Goldfinch flocks continue to dominate the feeder activity in the area. 50 were reported at a feeder in Portage Lake and 120 were seen in Woodland. Singing male White-winged Crossbills were heard in Fort Fairfield and Woodland. Purple Finches have thinned out a bit put were still represented in reports from Chapman, Caribou and Woodland. A *few Evening Grosbeaks* continue to be seen in Chapman and Woodland.
Several House Sparrows successfully overwintered at the Walmart parking lot in Presque Isle.
This should be a good week for arrivals.
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