Day 23 An Overdue County Bird and Some Shovelers

Snow overnight, but still only about 4 inches on the ground, 25. Distance .5 Initial plan was to got to Peaks for the Screech owl, but the wind deterred us. Dipped on the hoary at Back Cove when pat and I met around 1130. No one else seems to have found it either though there was a report of redpolls too quick to pick through about an hour before we arrived. I may stop by again tomorrow. Then the hybrid black headed ring billed gull Derek saw at Falmouth Town landing. Too many dogs and too few gulls. Up to the Royal River. no Barrows but nice looks at Commons. Could see the drakes' green heads. At grist Mill park I documented what I think was a red but could be a sugar maple. Trees in winter is a tough way to start, but I suspect shape is as important in trees as it is in ducks. Then broke through at the Muddy Rudder with a king fisher and three red tails, and then the shovelers obliged at Porters Landing. Nice opportunity to study the two drakes and comb the flock for a hen which we did not find. Fairly close up RB Mergs tempted me to try with my camera but the day was dark. Only fair.

On to Androscoggin and Sagadahoc corner of the world. Still fruit at the Topsham Fair Mall, but only a few house finches. Robins were present in many areas in flocks of 10 to 20. Finally a drive up Carolina Wren At Weston Barker's for my only tick today.

Shovelers are considered a documentable bird in Maine in December, january and February, But I saw one at Moody Marsh in mid December for the Christmas count (the first for the count), and then these two mid February. i had seen one at Stroudwater on a Christmas count a number of years ago. This pair is the birds in the last 30 days, although there are 2 or 3 individuals in Rockingham.

There is a scattering in the Boston area and a few more on the CT, RI coast., but the population gets serious on Long Island and the NY metro area. Beautiful birds wherever they decide to winter.

Posted on February 21, 2021 02:42 AM by