Keep your eyes out!!

[Thomas Foley]

I learned this morning and wanted to keep spreading the word that a STELLER'S SEA-EAGLE that was seen in a few places in nearby Atlantic Canada over the summer was seen again by many birders yesterday in Falmouth, Nova Scotia. Looking at eBird, these Canadian records appear to comprise the only reports outside the bird's normal range (Korea, Japan, and far eastern Russia) and Alaska. This individual has been in our general region since at least June 28 and clearly doesn't mind doing some traveling (and Falmouth, NS is only ~140 miles from Lubec as the sea-eagle flies!). 

The earliest report I can find is from Gillis Island, NB on June 29. It looks like the bird spent just about the entire month of July just outside Gaspe, QC, and the latest report before yesterday's  seems to be from Matane, QC on August 8. Really awesome bird of prey, way way outside its typical range, disappearing for long periods of time before re-emerging... sounds familiar...

Anyway, I thought it would be good to have this bird on our collective radar just in case it decides to take a jaunt over the border. A first lower 48 record bird would be a pretty sweet catch!

-Tom