Leader: Joe Scott
Target: Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Meet: Store at intersection of Routes 113 and 160
Contact: Doug Hitchcox 671-0185
Field Trip: Biddeford Pool
Leader: Scott Cronenweth
Contacts: Bob and Anne Watson 251-1135
Target: Migrants
Meeting Place: Bufflehead’s Restaurant, Hills Beach
The Harlequin, Winter 2013
Field Trip: Timber Point
Leader: David Rankin
Timber Point is a part of the Rachel Carson NWR, located at the mouth of the Little River. It contains a diverse array of habitats, including salt marsh, rocky shoreline, sheltered coves, freshwater swamp, and forest, and provides great habitat for a variety of birds. Waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, sparrows and other early migrants will be in evidence. The trail is about 3/4 mile long and is an easy walk. There is a spur leading out to a small island that is accessible at low tide only.
Meet at Buffleheads Restaurant on Hills Beach. We will car pool to Timber Point (limited Parking) and bird this new addition to the Rachel Carson System. This is York County Audubon’s first field trip to this area so come prepared for surprises.
Contact: Joanne Stevens 883-6475
Field Trip: Kittery Area
Leader: David Doubleday
Meet at Dunkin Donuts on the corner of Haley Road and Route 1 in Kittery. We will discuss our plans then carpool, looking for raptors, ducks, winter specialties, and spring arrivals.
Contact: Dave 207 205-4041 if you plan to attend or have questions.
Field Trip: York Coast
Meet at the Cliff House in Ogunquit.
Leader: Mike Windsor
Contact: Pat Moynahan 284-5487
Field Trip: Saco River area to Camp Ellis
This field trip was originally scheduled for February 9, but was postponed.
This field trip will explore the Saco River area in Saco and various spots on the river out to Camp Ellis. We will be looking for white-winged gulls, Barrow’s Goldeneyes, other sea ducks, and whatever land species can be found along the Saco River Walk. We will meet at the Saco Transportation Center and will plan, after doing the River Walk, to car pool. Please check with the contact person if the weather seems at all unsuitable.
Contact: Pat Sanborn (sanborn@gwi.net) 781-9837
NORTHERN LAPWING – Berwick, 11/3
On November 3rd, Andy Aldrich and Ken Janes found a Northern Lapwing at the Tuckahoe Turf Farm in Berwick. The bird was observed first around 10:50am and was last seen as it flew of towards the southwest at 12:30pm.
I believe this is only the second record for Maine; one was collected in December 1927 in Aroostook County.
Here are a few notes from Andy on birding Tuckahoe Turf Farm:
NEVER DRIVE ON THE GRASS, OR PARK ON GRASS.
Birders and walkers are welcomed to come and walk any where you wish to.
You may drive on all the roads, if you come during the week PLEASE do not get in their way. As you go into the place there are parking places on the left by the woods. They do load BIG trucks on the weekend, so do not park to block any of the dirt roads.
I was told that they do not want lots of people there at the same time during the week, so if you come in a group check with them first, A group on weekend is okay.
The manager also wanted it to be very clear that people often hunt in the woods around the turf farm and did not want birders disturbing them.
Field Trip: Rarity Roundup
Derek will lead us around York County looking for those rare birds still around at this time of year. We will look for late fall migrants as well as any rarities in York County. Derek will surely find these rare birds.
Meet at the Kennebunk Rest Area off of Rt 95 Southbound at 7:30am. Car Pooling is encouraged.
Contact Pat Moynahan 284-5487.
Lapland Longspur in Sanford
Andrew Aldrich to maine-birds…
Sanford Sewage Plant, York, US-ME
Oct 18, 2012 11:20 AM – 12:40 PMThe LALO was near the fence to the right of the gate into the ponds, one half the distance to the power pole.
The Harlequin, Autumn 2012
Download the Autumn 2012 issue of The Harlequin.
Sanford Sewer Works
Join Andrew Aldrich for waterbirds, sparrows, warblers, and more.
Scarborough Marsh & Pine Point
Join Doug Hitchcox at the Scarborough Marsh for a morning of birding. We will be walking the trails of the marsh and the Pine Point area looking for early migrating birds on their way south. Moderate walking. Meet at the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center located on Route 9 / Pine Point Rd, Scarborough. For more info contact Doug Hitchcox at 207-671-0185.
Savage Preserve, South Berwick, for Butterflies and Dragonflies: July 14, 2012
Twelve adults and two young folks (Sue Bickford’s grandchildren) met at 9 am at the Savage Preserve in South Berwick for our bejeweled and bedazzled walk. Thank goodness for the young folks. They caught the majority of the butterflies and dragonflies for Sue to identify.
The Calico Pendants amazed us with their orange saddlebags, red faces, and wing dots. The butterflies of the day included Cloudless Sulfurs, American Copper, Monarch nectaring on milkweed, one of the Blues, Common Wood Nymph, and Silver-spotted Skipper. Birds included Chipping Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Common Yellowthroat, Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, a family of Eastern Wood Pewees, American Crows, and the endless sound of summer, Red-eyed Vireo.
Thanks, Sue, for a most informative walk and I look forward to next year’s bejeweled and bedazzled. This is a great walk for children — they use up lots of energy.
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- Azure in the net
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- Wood nymph in the hand
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- Skipper in the hand
The Harlequin, Summer 2012
Download the summer 2012 issue of The Harlequin.
Hamilton House, South Berwick: June 9, 2012
Magnificent weather encouraged 17 people to arrive at Historic New England’s Hamilton House property in South Berwick on June 9 for our second annual bird walk at this tranquil and beautiful site. Barn swallows coursed over the field as we climbed a gentle rise to get the sun at our backs, but songbirds were a bit of a challenge to see in tall grass and thick foliage.
With a mix of experienced birders and novices, we slowly but surely introduced various species to the beginners. For many, the highlight was discovering male and female bobolinks carrying food for nest-bound young. Our disturbance kept the caterpillar-carrying male cautious enough for folks to enjoy a scope view, then we moved past so the couple could feed their young. As soon as they were left behind, a Baltimore oriole appeared in front of us and sang brightly in full view.
Neighboring Vaughan Woods State Park beckoned, so we skirted its edge to pick up a few forest species including a singing winter wren. Soon after, we braved a mucky path back to the Hamilton House, where a scan of the Salmon Falls River shore revealed a spotted sandpiper.
In the tidy gardens, a hide-and-seek indigo bunting and a cooperative hummingbird capped off our 2-hour stroll, which put 34 species in the notebook. Donuts and coffee in the gardener’s cottage were a welcome treat offered by our hostess for those who had a few minutes to spare.
- Great Blue Heron
- Turkey Vulture
- Osprey
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Spotted Sandpiper
- Mourning Dove
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Downy Woodpecker
- Eastern Phoebe
- Great Crested Flycatcher
- Red-eyed Vireo
- Warbling Vireo
- Blue Jay
- American Crow
- Tree Swallow
- Barn Swallow
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Tufted Titmouse
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Winter Wren
- Eastern Bluebird
- American Robin
- Gray Catbird
- Yellow Warbler
- Common Yellowthroat
- Chipping Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- Scarlet Tanager
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Indigo Bunting
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Baltimore Oriole
- American Goldfinch
Intervale Marshes: May 5, 2012
On Saturday, May 5th, veteran Maine naturalist Bill Hancock led a group of birders on an exploration of the Intervale Marsh in New Gloucester, Maine. It’s an area of exceptional habitat, much of it protected by the Royal River Conservation Trust. While we were a little too early for many of the migrants, we still saw a good number of birds. Our highlights were great up close visits with a couple of Virginia Rails and a couple of Marsh Wrens. Afterwards, at Bill’s suggestion, we continued our birding up the adjacent Woodman Road, and were delighted to be greeted by the calls of several Sandhill Cranes. Our great thanks to Bill Hancock for leading the trip and introducing us to this great habitat.
Bird Walk at Wells Reserve
Enjoy birding at one of York County’s finest birding spots, the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve at historic Laudholm Farm. Meet the leader in the parking lot at 7:30 am and plan to spend at least a couple of hours on the trails. More information at the Wells Reserve website.
Cumberland County: April 28, 2012
Seven hardy souls joined the York County Audubon Society on its Saturday April 28th walk, led by Rob Speirs, canvasing Portland’s Stroudwater Marsh, Capisic Park, Evergreen Cemetery, and River Point Conservation Area in Falmouth on a blustery day. Rob began with a description of the output from NEXRAD Radar, showing extremely light movement of birds overnight, due to a high pressure system that’s blocking migration into the northeast. The high pressure system parked overhead, chill air and stiff breeze conspired to put a damper on the birds, but the congenial and upbeat group was motivated to compile a respectable list, in spite of challenging conditions.
The morning kicked off at Stroudwater, highlighted by Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, as well as Great and Snowy Egrets in the marsh behind the office buildings.
Capisic Park saw warbler numbers down, but the group enjoyed great looks at several Northern Rough-winged Swallows, vocalizing with their insect-like calls, and watched a Sharpie take a shot at the mix of wheeling Tree and Rough-winged Swallows. This little drama was immediately followed with an over-flight by a Cooper’s Hawk, landing in a tree across the stream, before continuing it patrol of the neighborhood. The recently reported Virginia Rails were silent, but all enjoyed good looks at drake Wood Ducks and a Canada Goose on its nest.
Evergreen Cemetery, with tree tops tossed about in increasing winds, proved a challenge. The group considered overturning rocks and leaf litter in an effort to locate birds. Northern Flicker, Cedar Waxwings and three Red-tailed Hawks were best birds.
River Point Conservation Area in Falmouth, our last stop, was a fast tour of a new birding location for many participants. If few birds were to be found, participants were pleased to be able to familiarize themselves with this excellent spring migrant trap, where Blue-winged Warblers have been consistent for a number of years.
Below is the list from a challenging birding day.
- Canada Goose
- Ring-billed Gull
- Wood Duck
- American Black Duck
- Mallard
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Great Egret
- Snowy Egret
- Turkey Vulture
- Osprey
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Cooper’s Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Greater Yellowlegs
- Lesser Yellowlegs
- Herring Gull
- Rock Pigeon
- Mourning Dove
- Belted Kingfisher
- Northern Flicker
- Eastern Phoebe
- Blue Jay
- American Crow
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow
- Tree Swallow
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Tufted Titmouse
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet
- Eastern Bluebird
- American Robin
- European Starling
- Cedar Waxwing
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Chipping Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- Northern Cardinal
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Common Grackle
- American Goldfinch
- House Sparrow
