Hermit thrush and 66 robins!
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Sandi
Jan 21, 2022, 3:41:51 PM1/21/22
to Maine birds
Linda Powell and I went out on a survey for the Maine Bird Atlas yesterday to celebrate my birthday. At the Lake George boat landing in Skowhegan, we counted 66 (!) robins flitting around in the trees and shrubs. We've both seen robins gathered up like that when they return in early spring, but in late January, this far north and inland? Never.
While we were busy counting robins, a non-robin hopped up onto a log near a small stream with open water. It was an overwintering hermit thrush! Linda got some good pictures of it. Weird winter...I hope it survives.
chr...@myfairpoint.net
Jan 21, 2022, 3:58:34 PM1/21/22
to maine...@googlegroups.com
Those must be my neighbor's Robins, which departed after cleaning out his crabapple tree last week. 😉 It's only a couple of miles, as the Robin flies. Robins are generally around all winter in small flocks, searching out the crabapple trees and other similar plants. Even so, that's a good sized flock you had. I've seen Hermit Thrush around here in mid-winter, as well, but very rarely. What was more surprising (for me, anyway) was the Red-winged Blackbird I found on the Waterville Xmas Count a few weeks ago. And these birds seem to be able to survive the cold as long as they can find enough food.
Wally S.
Wally S.
Dana Valleau
Jan 21, 2022, 4:33:17 PM1/21/22
to chr...@myfairpoint.net, Maine-birds
Cool, good sightings, must be abundant food available. I've seen robins all winter long high in the Boundary Mountains when there is a good mountain ash crop. They are hardy birds as long as they can find food.
I'll be on the lookout northwest of Rangeley this weekend!
Cheers,
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/1642798711.9o7ihilokk8gww4s%40webmail.myfairpoint.net.
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