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.

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.

1. Canada Goose
2. Ring-billed Gull
3. Wood Duck
4. American Black Duck
5. Mallard
6. Double-crested Cormorant
7. Great Egret
8. Snowy Egret
9. Turkey Vulture
10. Osprey
11. Sharp-shinned Hawk
12. Cooper’s Hawk
13. Red-tailed Hawk
14. Greater Yellowlegs
15. Lesser Yellowlegs
16. Herring Gull
17. Rock Pigeon
18. Mourning Dove
19. Belted Kingfisher
20. Northern Flicker
21. Eastern Phoebe
22. Blue Jay
23. American Crow
24. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
25. Tree Swallow
26. Black-capped Chickadee
27. Tufted Titmouse
28. White-breasted Nuthatch
29. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
30. Eastern Bluebird
31. American Robin
32. European Starling
33. Cedar Waxwing
34. Yellow-rumped Warbler
35. Chipping Sparrow
36. Song Sparrow
37. Northern Cardinal
38. Red-winged Blackbird
39. Common Grackle
40. American Goldfinch
41. House Sparrow