Sandhill Cranes back at Messalonskee Lake, Belgrade

[Margaret Viens]

I stopped by the boat landing at Messalonskee Lake just before 4 pm to check for any Sandhill Cranes and spring waterfowl as the ice had gone out of the stream and south end of the lake and marsh since last week.

 

I was not disappointed.

 

Messalonskee Lake--boat ramp, Kennebec, US-ME
Mar 30, 2013 3:50 PM - 4:50 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: sunny, 52 degrees; ice completely out of stream area, and part way out into the south end of the lake. 2 Ice fishermen were still on the ice however. Very active for birds compared to 6 days ago.
14 species (+2 other taxa)

Canada Goose 74
American Wigeon 2
American Black Duck 8
Mallard 16
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1
Ring-necked Duck 36 swimming and foraging in stream area with other waterfowl. Counted several times.
Greater/Lesser Scaup 3
Bufflehead 4
Common Goldeneye 16
Hooded Merganser 4
Common Merganser 12
Common Loon 2
Bald Eagle 5 actively "combating" with each other. But also resting together on the beaver house in the marsh
One juvenile seen with large fish - perhaps from ice fishermen
<a href="http://kpviens.smugmug.com/Birds/Birds-with-Food/Birds-with-Fish/23548898_Br43hp#!i&#61;2433244474&k&#61;STZgbqL&lb&#61;1&s&#61;A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://kpviens.smugmug.com/Birds/Birds-with-Food/Birds-with-Fish/i-STZgbqL/0/M/Bald%20Eagle%20%28immature%29%20with%20fish%20-%20Messalonskee%20Lake%2C%20Belgrade%2C%20ME%20-%2030%20Mar%202013-M.jpg" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" /></a>
Sandhill Crane 4 2 pair flew in; circled around across from Hammond Lumber; but settled in in the marsh to the right of the boat landing. Seen with bins and scope. 2 other birders and 2 other photographers there looking for cranes. Could see red on head, 2 were grayer, at least one was more rusty colored.
<a href="http://kpviens.smugmug.com/Birds/Rails-Gallinules-Coots-and/Cranes/16004261_nHBTgQ#!i&#61;2433246039&k&#61;rZFNCnw&lb&#61;1&s&#61;A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://kpviens.smugmug.com/Birds/Rails-Gallinules-Coots-and/Cranes/i-rZFNCnw/0/M/Sandhill%20Cranes%20in%20flight%20%20-%20Messalonskee%20Lake%20Boat%20Landing%20area%2C%20Belgrade%2C%20ME%20-%2030%20Mar%202013-M.jpg" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" /></a>
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Common Grackle 2

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13574721

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

 

Margaret Viens

Waterville