Tundra Travelers-
 |  | | Least Sandpiper (Photos by Don Reimer) |
Although I would never wish to hasten the passage of summer, mid-July is a time of year I anticipate - the period when southbound shorebird migration begins. The vanguard of bird movement is now apparent at Weskeag Marsh and along our coastal beaches and inlets. Extending from July through September . . .
Thursday, July 23, 2015
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August 4, 2015 14:11
| Birding with Don Reimer: Armchair Safari- |
It is not uncommon for adventurous birders to trek to remote destinations in search of interesting and exotic birds. Sticking closer to the home front these days, I'm enjoying a sort of armchair safari just outside my front picture window. What does my safari site look like? It contains several bird feeders suspended . . .
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
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August 4, 2015 14:15
| Beach Birds- |
Reaching the outer dunes at Popham Beach, I heard shrill kip-kip-kip vocalizations up ahead as Least Terns darted in from the ocean. A mere 8 to 9 inches in length, the exquisite Least Tern is the smallest of the North American terns. Its black-tipped, straw-yellow bill, black cap and nape and distinctive . . .
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
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August 4, 2015 14:11
| Care and Feeding- |
Seen any baby birds in your neighborhood? For some species, the nesting season has reached the halfway point as fledgling birds are leaving the nest to trail their parents through the woodlands. Many ducks, geese and Pied-Billed Grebes have produced their yearly . . .
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
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July 22, 2015 12:25
| Island View- |
We spent the final days of May on Monhegan Island. Birding on an island provides some observational and geographical advantages. The land mass of islands is finite and precisely defined by boundaries of ocean and sky, in Monhegan's case corralling birds into a mile-and-a-half-long strip. Islands offer . . .
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
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July 7, 2015 11:34
| A River Runs Through It- |
For much of the year, Warren village is a sleepy little community tucked away between Routes 1 and 90. But each May the scene along the Georges riverfront is energized by the annual alewife spawning run. Interested local folks and a growing contingent of photographers from across New England assemble to . . .
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
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June 9, 2015 12:59
| City Birds- |
It is no small wonder that Maine bird watchers celebrate the spectacle of spring bird migration, a period of anticipated arrivals with a few surprises tossed in for good measure. For example, a wayward Cattle Egret strode across a Monhegan Island lawn last week. A majority of Maine's nesting warbler species are now . . .
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
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June 9, 2015 12:58
| Sap Days- |
The sapsucker couple that nests in my neighborhood is active again. I hear their characteristic dragged-out ratta-tat-tat-tat territorial drumming sounds on the maple trees and other resonant surfaces, such as metal street signs. Although several species of sapsuckers span the continent, our Eastern representatives . . .
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
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May 26, 2015 12:14
| Scheduled Arrivals- |
Neighbor #1: "According to my calendar, the Phoebe that nests on my porch each spring should return tomorrow morning." Neighbor #2: "It's amazing that you could possibly know that." Neighbor #1: "Not really; I just check my calendar. The Phoebe has no calendar, but still arrives right on schedule." . . .
Thursday, April 16, 2015
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May 12, 2015 13:54
| On the Road- |
In late March, I motored south for the Connecticut Ornithological Association's annual bird conference. In general, conferences can be boring or stimulating, depending on your interest level in the subject. Birds? Well yes, I was definitely interested. Prior to the day's three birding talks, 215 registrants milled through . . .
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
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April 28, 2015 10:37
| A Farewell to Winter - |
Following our long, snowy winter, we now peer eagerly into March and the prospects of the vernal equinox. Winter birding conditions were challenging this year, leading many folks to stay home and monitor their feeding stations. Feeder watching can pay deep dividends by providing extended opportunities to . . .
(1 comments)
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
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April 15, 2015 09:14
| Personal Ads- |
"Refined, healthy, well-educated man, 35 years old, blue eyes, brown hair, weight 160, 5 feet, 9 inches, wishes to correspond with lady able to finance good business proposition. I am a construction engineer and know the business thoroughly; object, wedding bells and business success for both parties. . . .
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
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April 31, 2015 12:15
| Black Beauty- |
It's 11 degrees outside and snowing lightly as I step into my backyard. Sitting in a state of calm watchfulness, a huge Raven occupies a weathered stub 200 feet away. It is his sentry post. For two weeks the solitary Raven had held vigil over a partially buried frozen Turkey carcass. Recently I added some beef neck bones . . .
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
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March 17, 2015 12:17
| Bird on a Rope- |
Back around Thanksgiving, sections of the midcoast lost electrical power for several days. When our power was restored, we evaluated the "edibility" of remaining food stocks from the fridge and freezer. Unfortunately, a 10-pound frozen turkey that appeared to be slightly . . .
Thursday, February 5, 2015
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March 3, 2015 11:13
| Close Encounters- |
Years ago I led a group of youth birders from Bremen's National Audubon Camp on a late-summer field trip to Weskeag Marsh, where shorebird and falcon activity was high. The enthusiastic group watched with awe as an adult Peregrine Falcon chased after maneuvering shorebirds. Some kids were clearly rooting for . . .
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
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February 17, 2015 10:41
| Inside the Christmas Bird Count- |
Occasionally I'm asked about the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) process and how it works: "How can you count all the birds in your area in one day?" or "How do you know you're not counting the same birds more than once?" These are great questions, but first some background. The initial CBC event occurred in 1900 . . .
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
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February 4, 2015 10:38
| Christmas Bird Count - Results from Thomaston-Rockland count |
As part of National Audubon Society's 115th Christmas Bird Count, the annual Thomaston-Rockland Bird Count was conducted this past Saturday, on December 20. Currently there are 32 Christmas Bird Counts held across the state. The count period extends from December 14 through January 5 and is . . .
(1 comments)
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
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January 20, 2015 10:16
| Staying Late- |
Birds and birders possess a strong sense of seasonal timing. By late April, our wall calendars foretell of arriving American Robins and Red-Winged Blackbirds and the spring nesting season. In fall, we watch with wonder as skeins of Canada Geese and Double-Crested Cormorants ramble southward. . . .
Thursday, December 4, 2014
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January 6, 2015 12:35
| The Winter Finch Forecast- |
As December approaches, birders and feeder watchers anticipate the arrival of "winter finches," that diverse group of nomadic feathered wanderers that vacates the northern boreal forest and heads southward in certain winters. Successfully forecasting the movements of anything wearing feathers is a sketchy blend of . . .
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
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January 6, 2015 12:37
| Binos and Cameras- |
With years of persistent bird watching, it is often possible to identify bird species in a ready fashion. This isn't a magical feat, but actually a matter of visual practice that is possible for most everyone. Size and shape of a given bird are good starting points with identification. Behavior and color patterns are also very . . .
Thursday, November 6, 2014
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December 3, 2014 09:34
| Shades of Yellow- |
One recent morning near Popham Beach I witnessed several hundred chirping Yellow-Rumped Warblers as they flitted throughout stands of bayberry and winterberry bushes or launched headlong, in twisting fly-catching aeronautics. The horde's springtime vestments of vivid yellow, charcoal gray and black . . .
Thursday, October 23, 2014
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November 18, 2014 15:20
| Birds and Buildings- |
For probably thousands of years, certain avian species have adapted to perching and nesting on man-made structures. Buildings are either a boon or a bane to birds, depending on the circumstances. Bright city lights can confuse and disorient neo-tropical migrants at nighttime . . .
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
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November 5, 2014 09:38
| Summer Beach- |
Last week I explored Popham Beach State Park to take in the sights. Anecdotally speaking, there seemed to be fewer bikinis and striped beach balls than in summers past, but that's not why I actually went there. In avian terms though, the summer beach scene indicated that the month of July had arrived . . .
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
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October 22, 2014 10:16
| Long Journey Home - |
Unlike earthbound beings, birds possess considerable powers of flight and navigational ability to travel vast spans of our planet. This is especially true during peak migration periods, when about three-quarters of Maine's breeding birds rotate between breeding and wintering destinations. . . .
Friday, July 4, 2014
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July 29, 2014 13:34
| Great Egg-spectations - |
Mid-June is an opportune time to take stock of the current nesting season, as over 200 species nest across Maine landscapes. In recent decades about 25 southern nesting species have pushed northward into New England as indicated by an influx of Carolina Wrens, Red-Bellied Woodpeckers and Cardinals . . .
Thursday, June 19, 2014
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July 15, 2014 11:47
| Mob Scene - |
Two fundamental aspects of birding, species identification and behavior watching, can lead to challenging and enjoyable field experiences. While birding the perimeter of Monhegan Island's wet meadow in late May, I heard animated vocalizations coming from aloft. . . .
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
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June 18, 2014 11:02
| An Eye on the Spring River - |
During February, I often pondered the half-frozen Georges River that passes through Warren village beneath the Main Street Bridge. The channel opening would constrict at night, becoming a narrow slot carved out by the currents. Common goldeneyes and mergansers loafed along the ice floes . . .
Thursday, May 22, 2014
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June 18, 2014 11:01
| Merit Badges- |
In human terms, a badge is described as "a distinctive emblem worn as a mark of office, membership, achievement, licensed employment, etc." For the avian population, badges constitute a variety of distinctive plumage patterns that contrast with the surrounding body feathers. . . .
Thursday, May 8, 2014
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June 3, 2014 12:12
| Pretty in White- |
For delicate beauty and elegance, it's hard to match members of the heron/egret family. Snowy Egrets have returned to Weskeag Marsh for the summer season, and a roaming pair of Cattle Egrets recently passed through Rockland. Although superficially similar in appearance . . .
Thursday, April 24, 2014
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May 7, 2014 09:36
| Spring Waterfowl- |
April is a peak period for waterfowl migration across the Northeast, as winging flocks of Canada Geese and ducks push northward. Equipped with narrow, pointed wings, waterfowl definitely do not have soaring as an option; for them, trans-regional movement is all about powered flight. . . .
Thursday, April 10, 2014
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May 7, 2014 09:35
| Late Winter's Larder- |
Of the roughly 220 bird species that nest in Maine, about 75 percent of them retreat southward during the winter months. Cold winter weather is one driving force behind such movements, but lack of access to seasonal food is the primary influence at work here. . . .
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
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June 18, 2014 11:03
| Birds as Logos- |
From avian depictions on ancient cave walls, we know that birds have influenced man's thinking and given expression to cultural themes down through the ages. In the modern period, birds continue to exert an active cultural role. These days, birds are widely featured in art and photography, sports team logos . . .
Thursday, March 13, 2014
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March 25, 2014 11:40
| Hoots-Who?- |
Given the amazing abundance of Snowy Owls visiting our region this year, it is easy to neglect other owls that winter or nest here in Maine. Ten species have been documented in the state, falling into several broad categories. Snowy Owls are the only tundra-nester in this group. . . .
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
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March 25, 2014 11:40
| Camera Birds - |
Keeping a camera at the ready when possible, I am always on the prowl for good bird photo opportunities. This week's column features two species that have passed through my camera's viewfinder. Last December I spied a lone Canada Goose nestled near a grassy cove in Cushing. . . .
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
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February 25, 2014 11:10
| Snow Job- |
With our winter bonanza of Snowy Owls here in the Northeast region, owl encounters are a pleasant reality for coastal birders these days. To illustrate, since mid-December I have recorded six separate Snowy Owls within a 10-mile radius of Rockland. . . .
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
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February 25, 2014 11:09
| January Hawks - |
The winter season can be a tough time for hawks in Maine as snow and cold weather systems complicate the food situation. Occupying the upper end of nature's food chain, overwintering hawks rely heavily on capturing birds or small mammals to sustain them throughout those long frigid nights. . . .
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
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February 11, 2014 16:18
| 2013 Thomaston-Rockland Christmas Bird Count |
As part of the longest-running citizen science survey in the world, the annual Thomaston-Rockland Christmas Bird Count was held on December 21. Seesaw weather systems prior to count day played a role in this year's outcomes as back-to-back snowfalls blanketed the region . . .
Thursday, January 2, 2014
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January 28, 2014 16:39
| Winter Wanderers- |
My frequent column readers will recognize a familiar birding maxim: the winter season delivers different sets of birds each year. It is now mid-December and, as forecast, winter finches are quite scarce in these parts. We can trace that situation to widespread abundance of seed . . .
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
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July 15, 2014 11:47
| Thanksgiving- |
The Thanksgiving holiday is an opportune time to consider turkeys. I am not talking about those top-heavy, farm-raised birds that are pardoned and spared from the dinner table each Thanksgiving by the President of the United States. I'm talking about wild stock, the primogenitors of all turkeydom. . . .
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
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December 10, 2013 11:42
| Watching Birds Being Birds- |
Birding field guides provide the framework of identification through two-dimensional depictions that highlight general shape, size and distinctive feather patterns of a bird. And, of course, species identification is an essential step in learning to enjoy birds. Sometimes I strive to sharpen my personal birding skills while driving by identifying road-killed birds . . .
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
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December 10, 2013 11:42
| The Winter Finch Season- |
We have reached that time of year when birders contemplate the arrival of winter finches. This is an equally good time to consider Ontario biologist Ron Pittaway's annual winter finch forecast. Sandwiched between southern Hudson Bay and the five Great Lakes, Ontario's vast boreal tracts produce a high percentage of Maine's wintering finches. . . .
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
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November 12, 2013 13:37
| Bird on a Rock- |
I admit it - a streaky brown bird perched on a barren rock may not elate most bird-watchers. Frequently the "LBJ" (little brown job) factor causes us to pass by a drab-looking bird in pursuit of more colorful or more easily identifiable species. Often the small brown bird in question is a member of the sparrow family. But not always. . . .
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
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October 29, 2013 11:59
| Trap Days- |
In terms of worthwhile bird watching experiences, I heartily recommend Monhegan Island in late September. The active filming of a new movie there based on an island community, "Catatonk Blues," added to the existing fascination this time around. Monhegan's current eight lobstermen were busily focusing on October 1, known to islanders as Trap Day. . . .
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
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October 15, 2013 12:31
| A Visit from Big Bird- |
From years of birding and amateur photography, I have accumulated an adequate catalogue of photos to draw upon for my bi-monthly birding articles. Nevertheless, I always prefer to write about recent scenarios and timely photos whenever possible. The present article actually began on September 9 when I received some online photos of a huge white bird taken . . .
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
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July 29, 2014 13:35
| Raptors & Young Shorebirds Drawn Together During Migration Season- |
The September migration period brings together two amazing groups of birds: raptors and shorebirds. Throughout their summer nesting season, these two distinct groups lead relatively separate lives. Most of our September shorebirds travel down from remote tundra nesting regions, while the majority of hawks and falcons are products of the vast Northern Boreal Forest . . .
Thursday, September 5, 2013
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July 29, 2014 13:35
| Some New Gulls in Town- |
Some folks seek out rainbows in pursuit of beauty and inspiration. Me, I have an odd practice of scanning parking lots to see what forms of bird life might occupy such vast open spaces. Like finding the proverbial pot of gold at rainbow's end, I have been richly rewarded on a few occasions. Around 6 a.m. on August 3, I pulled into the paved parking lot behind Thomaston Grocery . . .
(1 comments)
Thursday, August 22, 2013
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September 11, 2013 09:52
| The Martin Season- |
As a quality birding destination, there is much to recommend the stretch of highway along Route 27 that borders the west side of Messalonskee Lake in Belgrade Village. A variety of interesting land and water birds, including several species of flycatchers, Yellow-Throated and Warbling Vireos, Marsh Wrens, grebes and herons, reside in the mix of marsh, lake and hardwood . . .
Thursday, August 8, 2013
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July 29, 2014 13:36
| Summer Songs- |
On July 3rd at 4:10 a.m. a male cardinal awakened me with his first burst of morning song - a piercing, clear-throated "whoit!, whoit!, purty!-purty! -purty!" A few minutes later, an American Robin launched his throbbing "cheeralup-cheeralee" carol. In midsummer, the early-dawn bird chorus is somewhat diminished. Many of Maine's breeding songsters have abandoned . . .
Thursday, July 25, 2013
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July 29, 2014 13:36
| Spiders and Inchworms and Moths, Oh My!- |
July is a good month to learn more about bird behavior by watching adult birds feeding their young. Sometimes fledgling birds even alert us to their presence through cheeping and begging sounds and quivering motions to solicit the parent's attention. Recently I witnessed two very different species pairs, Great Crested Flycatchers and Black-Capped Chickadees, as parents . . .
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
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October 22, 2014 10:17
| Life on the Beach - |
Fledgling birds are appearing in lots of places. Baby woodpeckers, titmice and sparrows now join their parents at my feeders. Juvenile Chickadees and American Robins are close to gaining their independence. By June 18, the occupants of the Ovenbird nest I wrote about earlier in the month had vacated their temporary dwelling place to seek a summer livelihood in the woods. . . .
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
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October 22, 2014 10:17
| Hiding in the Woods- |
The summer nesting season holds its secrets and wonders. Most songbirds seek out hidden woodland locations to construct a nest and attempt to raise a brood; some birds, such as Eastern Phoebes and American Robins are often comfortable nesting in close proximity to humans. By sheer chance, I encountered a ground-built nest last week during a brief early morning . . .
(1 comments)
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
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November 5, 2014 09:39
| Window Watching- |
Learning to identify the common birds at a glance is certainly fun and challenging at times. Once we have made an accurate identification, though, then what? The other side of this fascinating equation involves watching bird behavior and observing their natural habits. In mid-May, I placed a double shepherd's hook on my front lawn area, suspending an oriole feeder and a . . .
Thursday, May 30, 2013
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November 5, 2014 09:39
| Signs of Spring- |
If you didn't own a calendar, how would you know when spring had arrived? Of course, the blooming flowers and greening lawns are always reliable clues. For me, I often look to the presence of birds to describe each new season. Around 5:45 a.m. the other morning, a little birdy informed me that spring was most certainly here. Well, actually, it was a male Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker . . .
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
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November 18, 2014 15:21
| Waiting for Warblers- |
By mid-April many bird-watchers live in a state of anticipation. We were teased by a trickle of early-arriving migrants - tail-bobbing Eastern Phoebes and scores of American Robins sprawled across lawns and fields - but we await the month of May and hordes of lively, varicolored warblers. The suite of Eastern warblers is truly diverse in terms of color patterns, songs and habitat choices.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
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November 18, 2014 15:22
| Looking at Ducks- |
Perched in tall treetops above my driveway, two male cardinals engage in a morning singing session: "Cheeeer! cheeeer! Tu, tu, tu, tu." They are preparing for spring. Chickadees and House Finches also vocalize nearby. Male Woodcocks have arrived to "sky dance" above our alder-edged fields, and territorial Red-Wing Blackbirds are staking out partially frozen cattail patches. . . .
(1 comments)
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
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November 18, 2014 15:22
| Pigeon Fanciers: Cooper's Hawk & Peregrines- |
If you spend time in downtown Rockland, you may notice pigeons clustered on shingled rooftops, huddled along utility lines or wheeling in tight, graceful formations above the city streets. Other sets of eyes, far sharper and keener than ours, notice them as well. I am talking about two large aerial predators that base their winter survival on capturing Rock Pigeons and Mourning Doves . . .
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
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January 6, 2015 12:38
| Small Goose; Bigger Story- |
On January 31, I followed a typical early-morning routine of checking sundry Rockland bird sites before heading off to work. A powerful, low-pressure weather system, with lashing south winds, horizontal rain and 52-degree temperatures, had pounded the region for over 24 hours and visibility was greatly restricted. . . .
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
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January 6, 2015 12:38
| Dump Pickin'- |
Although 40 years or more have passed, I recall an experience at the former Bristol Town Dump, a genuine garbage dump in those times, with a proud tradition of dump picking. I had parked next to a smartly dressed lady who drove a gleaming, open-topped convertible. As I exited my rusting pickup truck, the lady and I focused on an item lying between us in the gravel. . . .
Thursday, February 7, 2013
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January 6, 2015 12:39
| A Trio of Winter Gulls - |
Gulls are some of the most highly mobile of birds, often shifting their regional locations with the seasons. As we might expect, there is a general southbound parade of gulls during the winter months. And while a few adult individuals arrive here in mid-winter when food grows scarce farther north, a larger share of our winter visitors are immature gulls. . . .
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
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January 6, 2015 12:39
| Evening Grosbeaks- |
Throughout my early childhood, we always maintained a couple of bird feeders outside the kitchen window. Chickadees would rush in to snatch sunflower seeds and then quickly retreat to a thick stand of lilacs. Woodpeckers fed on suet placed in a hanging onion bag. My favorite season was winter, when the nomadic flocks from boreal regions stormed our feeders.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
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January 29, 2013 11:10
| Coastal Bluebirds - |
You may have heard the old expression "a blue bird day." Well, when I researched its origins, I discovered that it is quite unrelated to bluebirds. The term came from downhill skiers to describe a perfectly sunny beautiful day following an overnight storm of powdery snow. Go figure. Last week I photographed several Eastern Bluebirds feeding on staghorn sumac fruits in Rockport. . . .
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
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January 6, 2015 12:40
| Seen any good birds?- |
Encountering fellow birders in the field, a typical greeting is "Seen anything good?" That, of course, depends on your personal definition of what constitutes a "good" bird and your own expectations for the day. A Blue Jay is a common sight here in Maine, but would be a hotline bird in California.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:17
| Pine Grosbeaks - |
True to earlier prognostications, this fall season is shaping up as an irruptive finch winter. Watchers are already encountering troupes of Evening Grosbeaks, Redpolls, White-winged and Red Crossbills and scattered Bohemian Waxwings at feeders and especially around fruit bearing trees. Large vocal flocks of squabbling Pine Siskins are present at thistle feeders.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:18
| Red-tailed Hawk - |
If you have ever driven past a large, bulky hawk perched on a roadside utility line or field fencepost, you may have spotted a Red-tailed. As the fall calendar advances, the odds increase that the hawk in question is a Red-tailed. During the summer, smaller but similar Buteo hawks, such as Broad-winged or Red-shouldered, might occupy these same hunting perches.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:18
| Another Annual Finch Forecast - |
Long-range forecasting is risky business, especially when birds are involved. Each fall Ontario biologist Ron Pittaway issues a winter finch forecast for eastern Canada and, by extension, the nearby tier of northern states. To survive the harsh winter season, roving finch flocks must search out regions with ample stores of cones, fruits and berries. . . .
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:18
| Maine's sparrow - |
Pulling out of my driveway at dawn, I notice dozens of small birds flitting low through my headlight beams; they are all sparrows. Fall is a good time to watch for migrating sparrows around edges of fields and weedy roadways. Decked out in their intricate patterns of browns, grays and whites, sparrows present a marked contrast to our colorful spring warblers.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:19
| Phalaropes - |
It's no secret that I enjoy shorebirds. In the past 15 years or so, I have observed 30 different species feeding or roosting at Weskeag Marsh in South Thomaston. The "rarest" discovery was probably a second-year male Ruff, a Eurasian species that somehow wandered off course during its fall journey to Australia.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:20
| September's Shorebirds - |
The span of fall bird migration extends across several months. Migration is predictable in many ways but is often an untidy process that provides some unexpected bird sightings along the way. Warbler and sparrow movements are now well under way, as a mix of adult and juvenile birds file southward. Raptors, seabirds and waterfowl will rule the skies in coming weeks.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:20
| Headin' offshore - |
After several false starts (prohibitive heavy fog or high seas on previous tries) I took a whale watch cruise out of Bar Harbor in late July. The prospect of seeing bus-sized leviathans was appealing enough, but I was equally interested in the birds lurking offshore. In ecological terms, the deepwater pelagic zones might as well be a separate planet from inshore waters.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:21
| An Osprey Walks into a Bar, Sits Down and Orders a Drink - |
I get occasional phone calls about birds. On August 5 around 7:30 p.m., Katie Syrett phoned from Owls Head. "This is going to sound strange," she said, "but I have an osprey sitting on my porch. It's just standing here staring at me." She had heard a thud outside, apparently produced when the bird made contact with her porch.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:21
| Birding with Don Reimer: Loon Surveys - |
In mid-July I accompanied my friend Mark DiGirolamo during his loon monitoring studies for the Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI), which is funded by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. This work involves surveys of adult and juvenile Common Loon populations on 11 ponds in Waldo County. Our first stop was Sanborn Pond, north of Brooks.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:22
| Piping Plover - |
Some years ago I visited Plymouth Beach in Massachusetts. There I viewed Plymouth Rock - barely enough turf for a big-footed person to safely step ashore. Then I hiked the two-mile beach and found the vocal colony of nesting Piping Plovers at its tip. The area was plainly cordoned off and featured several prominent warning signs to alert passersby.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:22
| Chestnut-sided Warblers - |
If you happen to recognize this bird's snappy accented song, you can drive along most any secondary roadway in midcoast Maine in June and hear dozens of Chestnut-sided Warblers. Turn off your car radio and roll down the windows: "Pleased, pleased, pleased to MEET-CHA!" resounds from wooded roadsides.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:23
| Sora - |
Here's a quick brain teaser: Name a 6- to 8-inch bird with a flexible rib cage that can compress its body laterally to a thickness of less than one inch. By looking at this week's photo, you'll soon discover that the bird in question is a small chicken-like member of the rail family called a Sora. This species personifies the expression "thin as a rail."
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:23
| River Silhouettes - |
Due to my lifelong interest in birds, I own a modest collection of bird guides and scientific volumes. Modern bird guides have definitely evolved and, some would say, improved through the decades. I cut my birding teeth on Roger Tory Peterson's A Field Guide to Birds, and I still open the cover liners periodically to inspect those marvelous flight profiles.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:24
| Three Early Warblers - |
For many Maine bird watchers, spring is personified by the arrival of two dozen or so species of wood warblers. Adorned in their brightest breeding plumage, these small active creatures have been aptly described as feathered jewels. At springtime hotspots, such as Evergreen Cemetery in Portland and Monhegan Island, warblers should be swarming by mid- to late May.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:24
| The Kinglet Clan - |
With the onset of spring migration, Maine bird watchers will encounter groups of incoming birds of all shapes and sizes. The larger species will be easy to spot -soaring turkey vultures, vees of Canada geese and sky-waves of double-crested cormorants heading up river valleys. This week's article concerns two of Maine's tiniest feathered creatures, the Golden-Crowned and Ruby-Crowned Kinglets.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
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January 20, 2015 10:25
| Birding by Ear - |
This week's column begins at the office of a Middletown, Connecticut, audiologist in late March. My former high school comrade John Coggins had invited me for a weekend birding trip and to attend the annual conference of the Connecticut Ornithological Association.
(1 comments)
Thursday, April 12, 2012
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February 17, 2015 10:42
| Night Owls - |
Well, I did it again - spent a sleepless night traveling the byways between Somerville and Palermo on the owl-calling circuit. For a decade now, I've volunteered with the Maine Owl Monitoring Program.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
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February 17, 2015 10:42
| Stakeout - |
Stakeout: (stak-out) noun. Surveillance of an area, building or persons, often by police. Birders are also known to indulge in this practice when rare or unusual species are reported.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
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February 17, 2015 10:43
| Seaside Snowy - |
For many of us, there is something very appealing about owls. Maybe it's their enormous round eyes and upright stance that somehow remind us of miniature people. Myriad children's story books and stuffed owl toys attest to their widespread popularity.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
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February 17, 2015 10:43
| February Arrivals - |
February can be a tough month for birding - sort of between the seasons. Most of the winter birds have already arrived and the early spring migrants are hanging out somewhere south of New England.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
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February 17, 2015 10:44
| Remembering Summer - |
As a kid growing up in a summer tourist town, I recall how local folks anticipated the arrival of the first of the "summer people" who vacationed at our shoreside inns and cottages. For a few warm weeks each summer, it was the "natives" and the "people from away" . . .
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
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February 17, 2015 10:44
| Fish Crows in Rockland - |
Most everyone is familiar with crows. Our local crows are called American Crows, the "standard model" for us Mainers. And a crow is just a crow, right? Well the answer to that particular question depends on what part of Maine you are talking about.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
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February 17, 2015 10:45
| Saga of the Coot Flocks on Chickawaukie Lake |
For people driving past Chickawaukie Lake this fall and early winter (not all of them "birders" in the typical sense), the spectacle of 600 American Coots feeding at lakeside drew their close attention.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
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February 17, 2015 10:45
| Winter Woodpeckers - |
While feeder activity has lagged this fall and early winter, it's been a productive year for trekking woodpeckers in Maine. Most of our regularly occurring woodpeckers, such as Downy, Hairy and the crow-sized Pileated, are essentially nonmigratory, while most Northern Flickers . . .
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
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February 17, 2015 10:46
| Mild Fall Weather Reflected in This Year's Christmas Bird Count |
Each December I begin this Christmas Bird Count summary with the same basic premise: which is that every year is entirely different! As I stepped outside in the pre-dawn darkness this past Saturday, the Big Dipper and a sky-load of crystalline stars shone overhead. The television weather-guessers had forecast a sunny day with light northerly winds.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
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December 21, 2011 11:16
| Thanksgiving Visitor - |
Throughout Thanksgiving Day on Beech Hill Road in Northport, two banquets were going on simultaneously. Indoors a traditional turkey dinner, with a tasty free-range tom turkey, was being served. Outside the spacious farmhouse, an entirely different type of . . .
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
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March 3, 2015 11:15
| Looking Ahead to Winter - |
There is an element in the New England psyche that enjoys the challenge of making long-range predictions. Since 1818, for example, the Farmer's Almanac has announced its yearly weather forecasts many months in advance.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
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March 3, 2015 11:16
| The Big Year - |
Recently I went to see "The Big Year," a movie about three zealous birders who set out on a 1998 competitive quest to find every conceivable bird species within North America and try to break the existing continental record of 721 species observed in a single calendar year.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
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March 3, 2015 11:16
| Lost and Found - |
I recall the excitement I felt, as an inquisitive young boy growing up in New Harbor, when I found two baby robins that had fallen from a springtime nest somewhere in my neighborhood.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
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March 3, 2015 11:17
| Early Morning, Monhegan - |
On September 21 at 4:30 a.m., I began the trudge up the gradual gravel roadway leading to the Monhegan Lighthouse. Guided only by the sweeping beam of the light beacon and blazingly bright stars overhead, I needed no flashlight.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
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March 3, 2015 11:17
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - |
Due to its minuscule size and treetop-dwelling habits, this week's featured species may be unfamiliar to readers.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
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March 3, 2015 11:18
| It's Hawk Season |
Mid-September can be a productive time to gaze skyward in search of migrating raptors. On crisp, clear days with brisk northwest winds, a variety of diurnal raptors move southward along lakefronts, coastlines and ridges.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
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September 14, 2011 21:44
| Mystery Bird Quiz - |
Here's a September mystery bird quiz. At first glance, this generic buff-and-brown-striped bird could be a member of the blackbird family, or possibly some type of sparrow.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
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March 3, 2015 11:19
| Sorting through the birds - |
Since the early settlement of the American continent, our understanding of common birds has been changed through the work of successive generations of ornithologists and bird-watchers.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
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April 31, 2015 12:16
| Territorial Battle - |
My birder/photographer friend Karl Gerstenbeger sent this eyewitness account from his Lincolnville home.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
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April 31, 2015 12:16
| The familiar gray-backed Herring Gull - |
It's only 6:30 a.m. on a workday morning, and I'm already at a Rockland public restroom meticulously scrubbing the soles of my sandals with foaming hand soap, water and paper toweling.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
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April 31, 2015 12:17
| Bird Feeders - |
I am one of an estimated 60 million Americans who feed birds. Why do we do so? While supplemental feeding may slightly increase winter survival rates of a few species, most birds would survive without our well-intentioned provisions.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
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April 31, 2015 12:17
| Alewife season stirs up the river - |
 Osprey with a double alewife catch Photo by Karl Gerstenberger
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A perpetual source of natural beauty, recreational opportunities and commercial activity, the Georges River comes alive each May as schools of alewives make their way upstream to spawn.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
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April 31, 2015 12:18
| Mark Libby - |
Before his death at age 86 on May 9, I spent about four decades birding throughout New England and Eastern Canada with my good friend Mark Libby. He was a great birder and naturalist, who started birding as a young kid growing up in Waterville.
(1 comments)
Thursday, May 26, 2011
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April 31, 2015 12:18
| Ravens - |
A decade ago, I began observing the spring activities at a local raven nest.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
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April 31, 2015 12:19
| Birds of Early Spring - |
 Killdeer
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Birdwise, April is indeed an odd month in Maine. By late in the month, several groups of the early migrants, particularly waterfowl, have already progressed to northern breeding areas.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
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May 3, 2011 10:58
| Fox Sparrows - |
Well before dawn these days, a male Song Sparrow sings enthusiastically beneath my bedroom window: "Maids, maids, maids, put on your teakettle, kettle, kettle." It is still dark outside.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
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April 13, 2011 09:35
| Birding with Don Reimer: Seasonal Transitions - |
Although the spring and fall calendars mark the peak of seasonal bird migration across the continent, there is a constant interchange of birds entering or leaving Maine every month of the year.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
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April 6, 2011 13:31
| A Father Goose story - |
On January 3, Owls Head resident Sandy Heimann contacted me regarding a large white "swoose" that was hanging out with a flock of 40 Canada Geese at the junction of Cripple Creek and the tidal flats near Crockett's Beach.
(2 comments)
Thursday, March 17, 2011
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March 22, 2011 10:42
| Brown Thrasher - |
In truth, I am surprised to be writing about a local Brown Thrasher in the month of March. Actually, the bird in question was discovered in a Rockport sumac patch on February 18!
(1 comments)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
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March 9, 2011 08:47
| Barred Owls - |
This winter's frequent snowstorms create ample opportunities to observe and study animal and bird tracks around our backyards.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
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February 22, 2011 14:40
| Long-eared Owl - |
On a November afternoon, Eileen Murray heard a raucous chorus of American Crows outside her Rockland home. When she went to check the scene, a Long-eared Owl sat staring at her from a huge cedar tree a few feet away.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
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February 8, 2011 13:56
| Purple Gallinule - |
On the afternoon of January 9, Martinsville resident David Morey phoned about a strange bird in his side yard. "The bird looks like some kind of a heron," he said.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
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January 19, 2011 09:15
| Accipiter Hawks - |
If you stock a bird feeding station in your backyard, you have probably encountered one of the three members of the Accipiter family of hawks at one time or another.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
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January 5, 2011 08:53
| Winter Finch Forecast - |
With the approach of each winter season, Maine birders ask a perennial question: "Will we see flocks of winter finches this year?" Since most of these hardy finches nest in boreal Canada, they are relatively unfazed by frigid weather conditions.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
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December 15, 2010 09:05
| When the Russians Came - |
Back in 1992, National Audubon Society's Senior Vice President of Education Marshall Case invited me to lead a field trip for two Russian ornithologists and three teenaged Russian birders.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
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November 23, 2010 14:04
| Never before documented in New England- |
Late October turned out to be an auspicious time for Oregon research ornithologist Randy Moore to visit with family in Rockland.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
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November 17, 2010 07:41
| Fall Migration - |
We are all familiar with the broad seasonal movements of birds during the spring and fall migration periods.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
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November 3, 2010 12:03
| Name-That-Bird Quiz |
Occasionally I submit a Name-That-Bird photo challenge for readers to study and identify.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
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October 20, 2010 14:02
| Wading Birds - |
The challenges associated with studying smallish gray and brown waders is somewhat alleviated when the more sizeable shorebirds arrive in Maine later in the season.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
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September 29, 2010 08:55
| Peregrine Falcon - |
With the exception of the bulky, Arctic-nesting Gyrfalcon, the Peregrine Falcon is the largest of the Eastern falcon clan.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
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September 29, 2010 08:27
| Gull A469 - |
Last April several local birders reported seeing a "strange gull" at Weskeag Marsh with fluorescent orange markers on both wings.
(1 comments)
Thursday, September 2, 2010
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September 8, 2010 12:29
| Warblers - |
Each spring birders anticipate the arrival of the colorful wood warblers that flood across our diverse Maine habitats. Their sundry vocalizations fill the forests and fields as the dawn chorus begins each morning.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
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August 11, 2010 16:22
| Kestrels - |
Formerly known as the Sparrow Hawk, the American Kestrel is the smallest and most common of the falcon clan.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
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July 21, 2010 10:50
| River Surveys - |
Along with about 50 other volunteers, I am beginning a second year of bi-monthly river surveys that canvass 10 rivers from Saco to Machias.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
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July 15, 2010 07:01
| Eagles and Alewives - |
In mid-May the Georges River takes on new life as the annual alewife run begins. Schools of alewives, a member of the herring family, return from the ocean to spawn in the upper reaches of the Georges waterway.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
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June 23, 2010 09:36
| The Nesting Season - |
For a number of Maine's approximately 230 avian nesting species, the transitional period between spring arrival dates and the onset of nesting activity can be rapid indeed.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
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June 9, 2010 13:36
| Migrating Shorebirds - |
By mid-May several species of tundra-nesting shorebirds are making their way northward.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
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June 3, 2010 13:55
| Special Equipment - |
The size, shape and structure of a bird's bill and feet can tell us a lot about its lifestyle.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
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May 19, 2010 21:53
| "Quiz Bird" - |
Some years ago I spent time studying birds with shorebird expert Wayne Petersen. Wayne was a great teacher who would occasionally focus a bird in his spotting scope, smile broadly at his students and announce, "Quiz bird!"
Thursday, April 29, 2010
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May 19, 2010 21:53
| Song Sparrows - |
It is likely that most everyone who reads this column lives in close proximity to a spring Song Sparrow territory.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
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April 31, 2010 17:06
| The Bird Man |
"Hear them?" said Don Reimer, stopping and swinging around to look up at the sky. "Killdeer." The excitable two-note call, kill-deer, kill-deer, kill-deer, kill-deer, was winging away from us, high over the Weskeag Marsh on . . .
Thursday, March 25, 2010
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May 9, 2010 14:33
| Maine Owl Monitoring - |
Since 2002 I have participated in the annual Maine Owl Monitoring Program that is cosponsored by the Maine Department of Inland Fsheries & Wildlife and Maine Audubon.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
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March 24, 2010 10:24
| Black Guillemot - |
The auk family is comprised of several black-and-white seabirds that nest in the upper northern Atlantic region.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
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March 10, 2010 11:17
| Birds in winter - |
On a chilly mid-February day with a biting northwest wind, I sat inside the heated interior of my car watching a Common Loon at rest in the 39-degree water of Rockland Harbor.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
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March 3, 2010 09:00
| Surf Scoter - |
The male Surf Scoter has a very unique appearance that is hard to confuse with other ducks. Aptly nicknamed the "skunk-headed coot," this stocky diver is a velvety black color.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
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February 24, 2010 16:53
| Red-shouldered Hawks - |
A medium-sized woodland hawk, the Red-shouldered Hawk is a member of the buteo family.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
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February 17, 2010 08:49
| Bird Attacks Window . . . - |
Let's begin with an actual newspaper headline from The National Enquirer: "Cincinnati Woman Trapped Inside Her Home With Darkened Windows... Held Captive By Hormonally Imbalanced Birds!" Want to learn more? Read on.
(1 comments)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
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February 10, 2010 08:47
| The Unappreciated "Just Seagulls" - |
Of the different groups of birds pursued by birders, the members of the gull family are perhaps the least appreciated. The general public dismisses them as "just seagulls" that try to rob their sandwich at the beach.
(1 comments)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
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February 3, 2010 08:52
| Black-headed Gull - |
Although about three quarters of Maine's 230 nesting species depart our region each fall, the winter season provides expanded opportunities to see a variety of northern migrant gulls.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
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January 27, 2010 09:21
| Carolina Wren - |
Of the five species of wrens that inhabit Maine during the nesting season, the Carolina Wren is the largest member of the family.
(3 comments)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
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January 21, 2010 16:35
| Weskeag Marsh - |
At least through New Year's Day, three Great Blue Herons had lingered amidst the icy jumble of frozen habitat of Weskeag Marsh.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
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January 21, 2010 16:36
| Owls - |
As the true winter season arrives, owl species come to mind as we begin noticing them perched along roadways and field margins.
(1 comments)
Thursday, January 7, 2010
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January 24, 2010 10:12
| Greater Scaup - |
During the December 19 Rockland-Thomaston Christmas Bird Count, I took special notice of a certain brown duck swimming near to shore at Buoy Park in Rockland Harbor.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
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January 21, 2010 16:36
| Christmas Bird Count Yields 70 Species |
 Mockingbird guarding his berry patch on Rankin Street, Rockland
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A maxim of the annual Christmas Bird Count process still holds true: each year, the finalized results are markedly different.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
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January 24, 2010 10:13
| Purple Sandpiper - |
When I began writing a weekly birding column about three years ago, the first species I featured was a Purple Sandpiper that I had photographed on the Rockland Breakwater.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
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January 21, 2010 16:37
| Stowaway |
On the last day of the season we had a stowaway. She showed up early in the morning before we were even under way and stayed with us almost all the way back to Rockland
Thursday, December 10, 2009
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December 16, 2009 13:54
| Shrikes - |
By late November we begin to see a few of the migratory species that move southward from Canada to spend the winter in New England. These include Tree Sparrows, Snow Buntings and a complement of winter finches such as siskins, crossbills and grosbeaks.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
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January 21, 2010 16:38
| Birds of a different feather - |
In writing a weekly birding column over several years, I try to combine photos of local birds with some relevant information on each given species. By their very nature, most birds are beautiful, graceful creatures that add a sense of interest and inquiry to our lives.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
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January 21, 2010 16:40
| Grebes - |
One of several species of grebes that winter along the Atlantic and Pacific coastlines, the medium-sized Horned Grebe changes its suit of feathers with the changing of the seasons.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
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January 21, 2010 16:41
| Birds and Kids - |
It has been said that our current generation of children is the first generation that does not want to go outside.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
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January 21, 2010 16:41
| Northern species begin to arrive to spend winter in the midcoast - |
The arrival of the fall season is a transitional time for bird migration in Maine.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
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January 21, 2010 16:42
| Hawks - |
As migrating woodland songbirds vacate their Northeastern nesting grounds each fall, several species of hawks begin to appear at bird-feeding stations and neighborhood hotspots where groups of birds congregate.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
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January 21, 2010 16:43
| The Dream Stuff of Birders |
According to one definition, a fallout of birds is "a mass of birds, exceptional in both number and diversity that descends on a given locale as a result of meteorological or seasonal forces."
(1 comments)
Thursday, October 15, 2009
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January 21, 2010 16:45
| Birds and Wind Turbines - |
About a year ago, ornithologist Dr. Richard Podolsky and his assistant Mark DiGirolamo began monthly bird surveys on Monhegan Island to help determine what effects, if any, a proposed wind turbine would have on migratory and resident birds moving across the crest of the island.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
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January 21, 2010 16:46
| Photographing Birds - |
I can specifically recall the day when I first thought, "Boy, do I wish I had a digital camera!"
Thursday, October 1, 2009
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January 21, 2010 16:47
| Nelson's & Saltmarsh Sparrows - |
We usually think of sparrows as birds of open grassland, shrubby woods and roadsides. Two of Weskeag's sparrow species, however, are quite different in their habits and unique dietary choices.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
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January 21, 2010 16:49
| Semipalmated Sandpiper - |
Named for the partial webbing between its toes, the Semipalmated Sandpiper is the most numerous of the group of small shorebirds collectively known as "peeps."
Thursday, September 10, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:19
| Shorebird Migration - |
All aspects of seasonal bird migrations are fascinating; each family of birds approaches migration somewhat differently.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:19
| Wading Birds - |
In coming weeks, folks driving down Buttermilk Lane in South Thomaston may notice a growing number of large wading birds in the pools and pannes around the marsh.
(1 comments)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:20
| Banded Birds - |
In 1803 North American bird banding unofficially began when teenaged John J. Audubon attached delicate silver cords to the legs of some nestling Eastern Phoebes.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:21
| Tree Swallow - |
Arriving in Maine in early to mid-April, the compact, bicolored Tree Swallow is the earliest of our swallow migrants.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:21
| One of the Best Songbirds - |
A bird of mature mixed and deciduous woods in the eastern U.S. and southern Canada, the cinnamon-backed Wood Thrush is more often heard than seen.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:22
| Eastern Kingbird - |
A relatively large and aggressive flycatcher, the Eastern Kingbird is distinctive with its clean black and white appearance and its forceful actions.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:22
| Pied-billed Grebe - |
Nesting in marshy habitats throughout much of central Canada and northern portions of the U.S., the stocky, compact Pied-billed Grebe is the most widespread grebe in North America.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:23
| Barn Swallow - |
Nesting across the northern hemisphere, the Barn Swallow is the most widespread species of swallow in the world.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:24
| Spruce Grouse - |
Although we marvel at the colorful and intricate feather patterns of spring wood warblers, the Spruce Grouse certainly stands out as a resplendent forest beauty.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:24
| American Redstart - |
One of the most lively and acrobatic of the wood warblers, the colorful American Redstart nests across regions of southern Alaska, Canada and the eastern U.S.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:25
| The Nesting Season - |
By mid-June, all but a few of Maine's estimated 230 species of breeding birds have either nested or are already fledging their young. The American Goldfinch is one notable exception, delaying until late July or early August when thistle down is readily available for nest building material and seed is most abundant.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:25
| Chestnut-sided Warbler - |
In a later field journal, John James Audubon wrote: "Beginning in May 1808, I shot five of these birds on a very cold morning near Potts-Grove, Pennsylvania. I have never met a single individual of this species since."
Thursday, June 18, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:26
| Brant Goose - |
At a length of 25 inches and a weight of only three pounds, the Brant Goose is somewhat similar to the larger and more familiar Canada Goose; it is actually about the size of a Mallard Duck.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:26
| Sandhill Cranes in Maine |
Although Sandhill Crane sightings are a routine matter in the Midwestern U.S., any sightings in Maine are always noteworthy.
(5 comments)
Thursday, June 4, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:27
| Eastern Towhee - |
The largest member of the sparrow family, the Eastern Towhee is a bird of brushy hillsides, tangled undergrowth and forest edges.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:32
| Horned Lark - |
Although we are somewhat familiar with Eastern Meadowlarks in our local agricultural fields, the Horned Lark is the only true lark species to inhabit North America.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:34
| Herons - |
 A Tricolored Heron at Weskeag Marsh
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For sheer elegance and functional design, the members of the heron and egret family certainly distinguish themselves.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:40
| Winter Wren - |
The smallest and darkest of the wren species, Winter Wrens occupy the northern sectors of North America; with populations in Europe and Asia, it is the only wren that occurs outside of the Americas.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
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January 24, 2010 13:43
| Seeing Birds - |
Successful bird watching involves some acquired skills and techniques, a decent set of optics and a good measure of luck and timing.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
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January 24, 2010 14:04
| Out-of-Range Rarities - |
Approximately 230 species of birds breed in Maine, and it is possible to observe over 400 species at various seasons of the year.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
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January 24, 2010 14:07
| Northern Raven - |
Technically speaking, the Northern Raven is our largest songbird. Ravens are distinguished from crows by their superior size, heavy bill, long, shaggy throat feathers and wedge-shaped tail.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
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January 24, 2010 14:12
| American Crow - |
The American Crow is a widespread and familiar bird that ranges across much of the American continent. Easily recognized by its all-black plumage, crows are sometimes confused with their larger cousin the Northern Raven.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
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January 24, 2010 14:14
| Waterfowl Migrations - |
April is the primary month for spring waterfowl migration throughout Maine, and it is possible to see over 20 species of migrating ducks.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
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January 24, 2010 14:20
| Vultures - |
As the month of March ushers in a new season of bird migration, we will soon begin to see Turkey Vultures throughout the coastal region.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
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January 24, 2010 14:33
| Bohemian Waxwing - |
Arriving from regions of the northern boreal forest, the nomadic Bohemian Waxwing is one of our most photogenic and elegant songbirds.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
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January 24, 2010 14:37
| Eastern Bluebird - |
In February there were a few reports of Eastern Bluebirds throughout the midcoast. A medium-sized member of the thrush family, these bluebirds are one of the most appealing of our songbirds.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
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January 24, 2010 14:42
| Pine Grosbeak - |
At 8 to 10 inches in length, the Pine Grosbeak is the largest of the winter finches. These plump, colorful birds nest in boreal forest regions stretching from Alaska to Nova Scotia.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
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January 24, 2010 14:45
| Green-winged Teal - |
As the smallest of the North American dabbling ducks, the drake Green-winged Teal weighs less than a pound. Females weigh a mere 6 ounces. In direct comparison, they are about a third of the size of a Mallard.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
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January 24, 2010 14:49
| Snow Geese - |
During the early winter season, several flocks of Snow Geese have lingered in midcoast Maine; local reports have come from Rockland, Cushing, Bremen and Bristol.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
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January 24, 2010 14:53
| Black-headed Grosbeak - |
Normally a breeding bird of the western U.S. and southwestern Canada, a Black-headed Grosbeak arrived in a South Hope dooryard in mid-January.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
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January 24, 2010 14:57
| American Robin - |
In recent weeks, I have received frequent reports of American Robin sightings throughout the midcoast region. Some inquiries expressed concern for the robins and whether they could withstand the cold January temperatures.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
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January 24, 2010 15:00
| Pine Siskin - |
At a length of 4 to 6 inches, the diminutive Pine Siskin is the smallest of the winter finches. The siskin is one of our "irruptive" finches, moving southward in great numbers during certain winters.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
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January 24, 2010 15:02
| Snowy Owl - |
My earliest childhood recollection of this majestic raptor is noticing the bird's striking logo on a box of White Owl Cigars.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
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January 24, 2010 15:04
| Northern Hawk Owl - |
In many ways the handsome Northern Hawk Owl is a bird of contradictions. Although it is truly an owl, its distinctive body shape and aggressive hunting behaviors suggest the qualities of a swift-flying falcon.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
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January 24, 2010 15:08
| Purple Finch - |
The bright, colorful plumage of many male songbirds often makes for easy field identification. But the generally browner or duller plumage of some female birds is a bit more challenging.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
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January 24, 2010 15:10
| Grasshopper Sparrow - |
When my close birding friend Mark DiGirolamo phoned on December 21 to report a Grasshopper Sparrow in Tenants Harbor, I couldn't have been more surprised.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
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January 24, 2010 15:13
| The 109th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count |
Between December 14 and January 5 thousands of volunteers across North America will be participating in the 109th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
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February 7, 2010 12:57
| Yellow-breasted Chat - |
At a length of seven inches, the Yellow-breasted Chat is easily the largest member of the wood warbler family.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
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February 8, 2010 16:21
| Mystery Bird - |
When Roger Tory Peterson published A Field Guide to the Birds in 1934, the initial 2,000 copies of the book sold out in one week.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
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February 8, 2010 16:28
| Red-throated Loon - |
The smallest and most slender of the several loon species, Red-throated Loons migrate from Alaska and extreme northern Canada and spend winters along both coastlines and around the Great Lakes.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
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February 8, 2010 16:33
| Winter Seagulls - |
We have reached the time of year when a few Arctic-nesting gulls arrive at our local harbors. Known as the "white-winged" gulls, Iceland and Glaucous Gulls lack the blackish wingtips and dark tail markings typically found on other gulls.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
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February 8, 2010 16:36
| Golden Eagle - |
The fall and late winter months provide opportunities to see occasional Golden Eagles passing through Maine.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
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February 8, 2010 16:40
| Red-bellied Woodpecker - |
Throughout the early fall, people who watch and feed birds are reporting a heavy increase in Red-bellied Woodpecker sightings across the state.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
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February 8, 2010 16:45
| Migrating Waterfowl - |
 Photo by Don Reimer
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Late October begins yet another wave of bird migration throughout Maine.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
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February 25, 2010 14:45
| Turtle Dove - |
The sleek and graceful Ringed Turtle Dove is the species of dove that is mentioned in the Bible.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
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February 25, 2010 15:07
| Barnacle Goose - |
While it is true that birds of a feather generally tend to flock together, occasionally birds of a slightly different feather may join them.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
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February 25, 2010 15:13
| Ring-necked Pheasant - |
With their long streamlined tail and sleek body profile, both sexes of the Ring-necked Pheasant are dramatic birds indeed.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
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February 25, 2010 15:18
| Migrating Shorebirds - |
In conjunction with the International Shorebird Survey (ISS), I conducted periodic shorebird surveys at Weskeag Marsh again this year.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
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February 25, 2010 15:29
| Lesser Black-backed Gull - |
Within the four seasons of the year it is possible to see over a dozen species of gulls along the mid-coastal region.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
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February 25, 2010 15:32
| Shorebirds - |
By late September the main thrust of the fall shorebird migration has subsided.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
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February 25, 2010 15:39
| Bald Eagle - |
Whenever a mass of gulls suddenly rises over Rockland harbor, it often indicates the presence of a soaring Bald Eagle overhead.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
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February 25, 2010 15:42
| Cooper's Hawk - |
If a hawk is marauding around your backyard bird feeders, the chances are strong that it is a member of the Accipiter family.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
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February 25, 2010 15:45
| Birds of Weskeag Marsh in late August - |
 Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs Photo by Don Reimer
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Seasonal bird migration continues at a brisk pace at Weskeag. By now all of the species have fledged their young, and the marsh has become a rich feeding and staging area for southbound birds.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
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February 25, 2010 16:11
| American Goldfinch - |
With its brilliant yellow plumage and black forehead and wings, the male American Goldfinch is unmistakable.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
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February 25, 2010 16:20
| Yellow Warbler - |
When the anticipation and excitement of spring warbler migration passes, we tend to forget about this tiny colorful family of birds.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
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February 25, 2010 16:23
| A collage of Weskeag birds from early August - |
 Semipalmated Sandpiper Photo by Don Reimer
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In many ways the month of August signals the early beginnings of fall bird migration.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
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February 25, 2010 16:42
| Bobolink - |
Arriving from as far away as the pampas of Argentina each spring, the energetic Bobolink nests in hayfields and open grassy habitats across Maine and southern Canada.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
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February 25, 2010 16:45
| Black-billed Cuckoo - |
Of the two cuckoo species nesting in Maine (the Yellow-billed Cuckoo is the other one) the Black-billed Cuckoo has a more northerly distribution.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
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February 25, 2010 16:48
| Great Blue Heron - |
As the largest and most widespread of the North American herons, the Great Blue Heron is a familiar sight in Maine during much of the year.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
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February 25, 2010 16:52
| Tree Swallow - |
The compact Tree Swallow is the earliest swallow species to arrive in Maine each spring. By mid-April a few male swallows are seen coursing low over ponds and marshes in search of flying insects.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
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March 31, 2010 13:24
| Destination: The Andes Wilson's Phalarope - |
With peak numbers arriving in mid to late August, the southward shorebird migration has already begun. The largest of the three phalarope species, the slender Wilson's Phalarope is also the most terrestrial.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
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March 31, 2010 13:28
| Willet - |
Although many shorebird species nest in northern tundra regions, the Willet occupies an extensive breeding range stretching from Nova Scotia into the Caribbean.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
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March 31, 2010 13:30
| Alder Flycatcher - |
Field identification of a genus of small, drab-looking flycatchers known as the Empidonax can give birders fits.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
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March 31, 2010 13:35
| Black-capped Chickadee - |
Our Maine state bird, the Black-capped Chickadee, is an energetic little creature that enlivens many backyards and woodland settings.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
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March 31, 2010 13:38
| Indigo Bunting - |
Nesting across eastern North America into the Great Plains states, the sparrow-sized Indigo Bunting is one of our most striking songbirds.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
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March 31, 2010 13:41
| Migrating Shorebirds Arriving and Passing Through - |
 Short-billed Dowitcher Photo by Don Reimer
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During mid-May the pace of northward bird migration accelerates greatly. Shorebirds arrive at Maine marshes to spend a few days fattening up in preparation for their long non-stop journey to tundra breeding grounds.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
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March 31, 2010 13:57
| Vesper Sparrow - |
Lumping them together as "LBJs" (little brown jobs), some birders find difficulty in separating the various sparrow species that nest in Maine.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
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March 31, 2010 14:00
| House Wren - |
With boundless physical energy and incessant song, the energetic little House Wren is an appealing backyard visitor.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
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March 31, 2010 14:04
| Black-Crowned Night Heron - |
As its name implies, this heron species is most active at dawn and dusk. It is the most widespread heron species in the world, often nesting in communal groups or colonies.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
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March 31, 2010 14:06
| Buffleheads - |
Readily recognized by its small size and unique black-and-white color patterns, the diminutive Bufflehead is the smallest diving duck in North America.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
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March 31, 2010 14:14
| Killdeer - |
A widespread and familiar member of the plover family, the Killdeer nests across the entire U.S. and into southern Canada.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
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March 31, 2010 14:17
| More Wood Ducks - |
Perhaps the most colorful waterfowl species in North America, the multicolored drake Wood Duck is truly a sight to behold.
Friday, April 25, 2008
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March 31, 2010 14:41
| Spring Migration - |
 A Canada Goose incubates its eggs along the Megunticook River in Camden. Photo by Don Reimer
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What begins as a trickle of bird migration in early April becomes a swift and deep river of movement by mid-May.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
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March 31, 2010 14:38
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