This Week's (few) Highlights, 12/19-25

[Derek and Jeannette Lovitch]

Hi all,

I don’t usually get out birding much in the week before Christmas, and this year it was even less. But a few quick stops, dog-walks, and incidental observations produced only the following observation of note over the past seven days.

1 GRAY CATBIRD, Saco Riverwalk, 12/20.

This Week in Finches:

Although my birding was limited, the dearth of finches was noteworthy. Has the flight passed us by? Did the largest volume of redpolls simply move southward to the west of us? Are there more in the pipeline, or will we have a rather quiet January and February?

EVENING GROSBEAK: 1 (Old Town House Park, North Yarmouth, 12/21).

Red Crossbill: 0

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL:  0

PINE GROSBEAK: up to 10 daily (in and around the yard here at the store all week).

Purple Finch: 0

Common Redpoll: 0

Pine Siskin High Count This Week: 3 (Merrill Road Ext, Freeport, 12/19).

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 Derek and Jeannette Lovitch

 Freeport Wild Bird Supply

 541 Route One, Suite 10

 Freeport, ME 04032

 207-865-6000

 www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com  

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[William Otto]

I have tried to get outside more this winter, but have really enjoyed watching our feeders in Machias with my elderly mother-in-law. Of note we have had a pine warbler coming to our feeders for the last 5 weeks. Over the last couple of weeks it seems to be loosely associated with a flock of American Goldfinches. While it comes to the suet feeders, it is also going after hulled sunflowers. We have also had a Ruby- crowned Kinglet regularly coming to the feeder. Over the last two weeks we have stopped seeing the Evening Grosbeaks, but we have now have a juvenile Red Crossbill (first time at my feeders), American Tree Sparrows (9), and White-throated Sparrows (5). This past week we have seen an increasing number of Common Redpolls (now about 7 come to the feeders).

Yesterday we had 20 species at our feeders, and the cool experience of a new feeder bird. A Sharp-shinned Hawk showed up scattering the birds. It settled in the bushes and about 30 minutes later when one of the two flocks of goldfinches settled into feeding the Sharpie went into action. The pandemonium as the flock of about 60 birds went every which way. It was weird seeing two goldfinches run into each other, two others lightly struck my window and another one hit the side of the house. Don't know if the Sharpie was successful, but we did not see it the rest of the day. 

Looks like it is time to refill the seed feeders. 

Happy Birding everyone!

William

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William Otto
Professor of Chemistry
University of Maine at Machias
215 Science, UMM
116 O’Brien Ave, Machias, ME 04654
207-255-1345
fax: 207-255-1390