Northern Maine Birds 13-27 July 2007

It rained in Caribou on 20 of the first 21 days of July but the past five days have been dry. The hordes of young birds are enjoying the hot weather we're finally experiencing here in northern Maine. Water levels are dropping rapidly and southward migrating shorebirds are being seen around the county. Bird song has picked up a bit recently following a lull during fledging.

Over 800 molting and juvenile waterfowl are being seen on Lake Josephine in Easton this week. Species seen with young include Ruddy Ducks, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, Canada Geese, Blue and Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Ducks, Mallards and Black Ducks. Wood Ducks and Common Goldeneye are also regulars. A female Common Goldeneye was seen at Chimney Pond on Mt Katahdin on Sunday.

Shorebirds seen in central Aroostook county this week include Wilson's Snipe, Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitcher and Killdeer.

Rare inland, a basic plumaged *Red-throated Loon* was reported from Madawaska Lake in T16 R4. *Two rare Black Terns* continue to be seen at the Common Tern colony on the north end of Long Lake in St Agatha.

A new *pair of American Three-toed Woodpeckers* were located along the Beaver Brook Road in T14 R5. Another pair in Stockholm was reported to have been tending fledglings. A late stage, *Black-backed Woodpecker* nest was located off of Route 11 south of Masardis along the St. Croix Road. A singing *Philadelphia Vireo* was heard at the Roaring Brook Campground parking lot in Baxter Park on Sunday.

In Mt. Chase, two families of Eastern Bluebirds have fledged.

Singing Fox Sparrows were heard along the Beaver Brook Road in T13R5. In Baxter State Park, several Fox Sparrows were heard singing just N of Nesowadnehunk Field Campground. Another was heard along the Roaring Brook Trail near Basin Ponds on the east side of Mt. Katahdin. A singing *Vesper Sparrow* on Tuesday night in Woodland was a new yard species for me.

Blackpoll Warblers continue to sing on the sides of Mt Katahdin.

An Evening Grosbeak was heard flying over my yard in Woodland last week.