Central Maine wetlands exploration report

[Matthew Gilbert]

Hi folks,

I've spent most mornings over the past three weeks in my kayak (mostly) birding as many under- (or un-) birded wetlands as possible in central Maine. Because Northern Androscoggin county doesn't get much coverage, I spent most of my time focused there, and it turned out to be quite productive! Who knows what could be out there if people spent more time exploring unique breeding habitats in their areas... Hopefully this encourages folks to spend some time on google earth satellite maps or on the national wetlands inventory mapper (thanks Gary for this tip!), pick out nearby spots with interesting-looking habitats, and just give it a shot! Especially in areas without many public trails, a kayak is a complete game-changer. 

Many of these sites were pretty difficult to access, and quite a few times I had to carry my kayak through the woods or drag it through deep marsh. Explanations of how I accessed any "inaccessible" sites can be found on the checklists on the trip report linked here. 

Here's some of the marsh bird highlights: 

- 2 Least Bitterns (Both Androscoggin, although I could use ID advice on this recording of a bird which I really thought was calling from the marsh, and Merlin classifies as LEBI, but which sounds more hollow and more like a Black-billed Cuckoo than any other LEBI I've ever heard, so I'm questioning it a bit)

- 9 American Bitterns (4 Androscoggin, 5 Somerset)

- 6 Virginia Rails (2 Androscoggin, 1 Cumberland, 3 Kennebec)

- 1 Sandhill Crane (at a new location which hasn't been birded before in Kennebec)

- 67 Marsh Wrens (33 Androscoggin, 21 Sagadahoc, 13 Somerset)

- 5 Wilson's Snipe (1 Androscoggin, 4 Somerset)

- 138 Swamp Sparrows

- 74 Wood Ducks

- 22 Hooded Mergs

- 3 Pied-billed Grebes

I also had good luck with other uncommon birds in riparian habitats along the edges of marshes or floodplain forests

- 5 Yellow-throated Vireos (1 Androscoggin, 2 Kennebec, and 2 Somerset)

- 23 Willow Flycatchers (17 Androscoggin, 3 Kennebec, 1 Somerset, 2 Sagadahoc)

- 3 Yellow-billed Cuckoos

- 21 Bank Swallows

- 51 Alder Flycatchers

- 71 Veerys

- 40 Warbling Vireos

Additionally, I encountered a few more northern birds presumably on territory in suitable breeding habitat which felt rather out of place in Androscoggin county. 

- 8 Palm Warblers (all in black spruce bogs in Androscoggin)

- 4 Canada Warblers (Androscoggin)

- 15 Northern Waterthrush (Androscoggin, Somerset, Kennebec)

- 14 Nashville Warblers (all on territory, 13 in Androscoggin, 1 in Somerset)

- 6 Magnolia Warblers (4 on territory in Androscoggin)

Somehow I missed Sora completely! Someday I'll find one in Androscoggin...

Happy birding, 

Matthew