Peaks Island's Bird Lists, 2018
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Michael LaCombe's daily bird sightings from 2018 are shown below along with the number of birds for each species, weather conditions, and observation times.
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These bird lists are listed sequentially - the most recent one on top.
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Michael's individual lists are submitted to Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird.
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By providing these lists, we hope you will compare birds seen within each month for 2016, 2017, and 2018.
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Page Design by Marty
Page Assembled by Patty Wainright
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Peaks Island Annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) Lists (include ferry ride counts)
December 15, 2018
Participants/Team: Dan Nickerson (Leader/Ravenwatcher), Beth Nickerson, Kathryn Ostermier (Scribe), Krista Grotto, Joseph Grotto, Michael LaCombe (PI; Driver 1), and Sam Wainright (PI; Driver 2)
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Early morning ferry to Peaks Island
6:51- 7:11 AM
Distance: 1.00 mile
Comments: Portland's Peaks Island CBC team (DN, BN, KO, KG, JG)
Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.8.2 Build 15
5 Mallard (Domestic type)
18 American Black Duck
1 Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid)
14 Common Eider
23 Surf Scoter
25 Long-tailed Duck
45 Herring Gull
1 Iceland Gull
7 Great Black-backed Gull
2 Common Loon
2 American Crow
Number of Taxa: 11
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On Peaks Island
Start: 7:11 AM
Distance: 5.00 miles
448 Minutes
Comments: Portland and Peaks Island CBC team (DN, BN, KO, KG, JG, ML, SW)
Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.8.2 Build 15
12 Canada Goose
5 Mallard
13 American Black Duck
100 Common Eider
17 Surf Scoter
63 White-winged Scoter
12 Black Scoter
45 Long-tailed Duck
49 Bufflehead
3 Common Goldeneye
25 Red-breasted Merganser
4 Wild Turkey
1 Horned Grebe
25 Red-necked Grebe
25 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
13 Mourning Dove
6 Razorbill
8 Black Guillemot
2 Ring-billed Gull
9 Herring Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gull
32 Common Loon
1 Great Cormorant
1 Red-shouldered Hawk -- Identified by CBC members and coordinator Dan Nickerson. Buteo with slower wing beats and buoyancy; Rusty breast, upper wings dark, banded tail (put on with a 1” brush); generally more colorful than your average hawk.
4 Red-bellied Woodpecker
5 Downy Woodpecker
2 Hairy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker
1 Peregrine Falcon
20 Blue Jay
10 American Crow
16 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Tufted Titmouse
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
3 White-breasted Nuthatch
2 Winter Wren
1 Carolina Wren
2 Golden-crowned Kinglet
1 Hermit Thrush
1 Northern Mockingbird
16 European Starling
12 Cedar Waxwing
4 House Finch
15 American Goldfinch
3 American Tree Sparrow
1 Fox Sparrow
20 Dark-eyed Junco
2 White-throated Sparrow
16 Song Sparrow
5 Red-winged Blackbird
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
16 Northern Cardinal
150 House Sparrow
Number of Taxa: 53
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Afternoon ferry back to Portland
2:30 - 3:05 PM
2.00 miles
Comments: Portland's Peaks Island CBC team (DN, BN, KO, KG, JG)
Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.8.2 Build 15
85 Canada Goose
20 Common Eider
12 Surf Scoter
28 Long-tailed Duck
10 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
3 Ring-billed Gull
150 Herring Gull
45 Great Black-backed Gull
25 Common Loon
1 Bald Eagle
Number of Taxa: 10
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Peaks Island Bird List for December 6, 2018
1:00 PM - 2:15 PM
Distance: 2.0 miles
Comments: Cold, 17 degrees with wind chill; blue skies; ebbing high tide.
17 species
American Black Duck 1
Common Eider 47
White-winged Scoter 2
Black Scoter 6
Bufflehead 7
Common Goldeneye 1
Red-breasted Merganser 8
Black Guillemot 1
Herring Gull 8
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 2
American Goldfinch 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Northern Cardinal 1
House Sparrow 50
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Peaks Island Bird List for October 31, 2018
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Distance: 1.0 mile
Comments: Overcast, low forties, cold wind; very few birds on back shore; with Sam Wainright
19 species
Mallard 6
American Black Duck 2
Common Eider 22
Black Guillemot 2
Ring-billed Gull 4
Herring Gull 12
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Northern Harrier 1 Low, thirty feet in the air overhead; female or immature bird; the bird of the day.
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
European Starling 14
American Goldfinch 4
Dark-eyed Junco 8
Song Sparrow 12
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
House Sparrow 4
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Peaks Island Bird List for October 28, 2018
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
Distance: 1.0 mile
Comments: One hour before high tide; huge surf; storm abated early this AM
12 species
American Black Duck 6
Common Eider 100
Black Scoter 6
Semipalmated Plover 2
Laughing Gull 2
Ring-billed Gull 100 Large numbers of gulls in Wharf Cove, equally divided between herring and ring bills; six BLSC's in with them.
Herring Gull 100
Great Black-backed Gull 20
Double-crested Cormorant 2
American Crow 4
European Starling 40
Yellow-rumped Warbler 300 A conservative estimate; clearly a fall-out of them, swarming all along the back shore in flocks of 25-50 or more each. Large flocks reported at Monhegan and Hurricane islands two weeks ago, and smaller numbers all over the Maine coast; Quite a spectacle.
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Peaks Island Bird List for October 26, 2018
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Distance: 2.0 miles
Comments: Sunny, low forties, near high tide
28 species
Mallard 11
American Black Duck 15
Common Eider 55
Hooded Merganser 3 In Ice Pond
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 18
Semipalmated Plover 4
Dunlin 2 at Wharf Cove
Pectoral Sandpiper 1 At Wharf Cove, as yesterday
Semipalmated Sandpiper 4
Ring-billed Gull 12
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 2
American Crow 5
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Brown Creeper 1 Alder Brook Road
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Low, darting in bushes, back shore
American Robin 6 Small flock behind Battery Steele
European Starling 15
House Finch 2
Dark-eyed Junco 14
White-crowned Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 30
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 25 Still very active along back shore; hawking insects at Wharf Cove
House Sparrow 25
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Peaks Island Bird List for October 25, 2018
8:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Distance: 4.0 miles
Comments: Mostly sunny, low forties with wind chill at 30 degrees; rising tide
37 species
Mallard 10
American Black Duck 16
Common Eider 47
Red-breasted Merganser 5
Semipalmated Plover 4 Demonstrating that he is semipalmated
Dunlin 4
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Black Guillemot 1
Ring-billed Gull 40
Herring Gull 11
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Common Loon 3
Great Cormorant 7
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 1 Immature; flying low over back shore to Trout Pond
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Brown Creeper 1 In woods on Prince Street
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 11
Purple Finch 12 In a flock of a dozen in one large bush, the three I saw clearly all had pink only
American Goldfinch 14
Snow Bunting 4
Dark-eyed Junco 30 Very numerous and all over the island
White-crowned Sparrow 6
White-throated Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 80 The most numerous species on a very busy back shore scene
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 22 All over the back shore area; probably twice as many that I didn't identify. they were even competing with the shore birds at Wharf Cove
Northern Cardinal 5
House Sparrow 120
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Peaks Island Bird List for October 11, 2018
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: Steady rain, fifties, fog 100 yards off chore; with S. Channon
16 species
Mallard 3
American Black Duck 5
Common Eider 18
Black Scoter 19 In Diamond Pass, far out
Common Goldeneye 1 Off Evergreen Landing; solitary
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 18
Herring Gull 45
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Common Loon 1
Great Cormorant 2
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 5
Northern Mockingbird 1
Song Sparrow 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 7
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Peaks Island Bird List for October 9, 2018
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: High tide; sunny, hot, 78 degrees and very humid
23 species
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 2
American Black Duck 15
Common Eider 65
Mourning Dove 4
Semipalmated Plover 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Ring-billed Gull 21
Herring Gull 8
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Common Loon 2
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 5
Common Raven 2
Brown Creeper 1 Scuttled up large shag-barked tree behind Battery Steele; distinctly uniformly brown
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 4
American Pipit 1 Solitary, feeding in weed wrack Wharf Cove; tail bobbing when still
Savannah Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler 7
House Sparrow 8
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Peaks Island Bird List for October 7, 2018
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: Cloudy, fifties, intermittent light rain; high tide today at 10:07 AM; with Sam Wainright
22 species
American Black Duck 7
Common Eider 30
Mourning Dove 1
Semipalmated Plover 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 22 Feeding in weed wrack at Wharf Cove; no LESA in the flock
Ring-billed Gull 40 At Wharf Cove, high tide
Herring Gull 4
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 In trees upper Centennial St. near Island Ave
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 1
European Starling 20
Dark-eyed Junco 2
White-throated Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 8
Baltimore Oriole 1 High in tree at junction of Centennial Street and Island Ave
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20 Along back shore, concentrated most in shrubs bordering Wharf Cove hawking behavior frequent
Northern Cardinal 1
House Sparrow 14
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Peaks Island Bird List for October 6, 2018
8:50 AM - 10:10 AM
Distance: 2.0 miles
Comments: High tide; sunny, high forties, low fifties, high surf
28 species
Mallard 4
American Black Duck 11
Common Eider 98
Semipalmated Plover 1 HUGE, compared to the LESP's with which it was feeding
Least Sandpiper 22 Quite small, and dwarfed by the single SEPL among them; yellow-green legs; feeding carefully amid the kelp at high tide. The clinchers are the leg color and the striking size difference with the plover
Black Guillemot 2
Ring-billed Gull 88 In Wharf Cove at high tide, feeding on an insect hatch
Herring Gull 12
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Common Loon 2
Great Cormorant 1 Size and thick neck striking compared to the few DCCO's still around
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 2
Tree Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling 2
American Goldfinch 9
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 22
Red-winged Blackbird 7
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 1
House Sparrow 11
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Peaks Island Bird List for September 23, 2018
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Distance: 2.0 miles
Comments: Sunny, sixties, falling tide
14 species
Wood Duck 3
Mallard 3
American Black Duck 6
Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid) 2
Common Eider 87
Black Guillemot 4
Herring Gull 33
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Double-crested Cormorant 14
Blue Jay 2
Common Raven 1
Cedar Waxwing 1
American Goldfinch 1
Song Sparrow 2
Yellow Warbler 1
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Peaks Island Bird List for September 16, 2018
9:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: With Sam and Patty Wainright; 65 degrees, sunny
34 species
Wood Duck 5
American Black Duck 2
Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid) 8
Common Eider 172
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 6
Mourning Dove 3
Black Guillemot 10
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Common Loon 4
Double-crested Cormorant 43
Great Blue Heron 4
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 13
American Crow 17
Tree Swallow 18
Black-capped Chickadee 17
Tufted Titmouse 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 4
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 2
Cedar Waxwing 3
American Goldfinch 12
Song Sparrow 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 3
Northern Cardinal 2
House Sparrow 30
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Peaks Island Bird List for September 2, 2018
7:15 AM - 10:00 AM
Distance: 2.0 miles
Comments: With Sam Wainwright; sixties, humid, falling tide
Highlight of the AM - minke whale off back shore
31 species
American Black Duck 5
Common Eider 157
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 4
Mourning Dove 7
Laughing Gull 2
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 42
Great Black-backed Gull 8
Northern Gannet 1
Double-crested Cormorant 13
Osprey 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Alder Flycatcher 1
Blue Jay 11
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Gray Catbird 14
Brown Thrasher 1
Northern Mockingbird 3
European Starling 8
Cedar Waxwing 3
American Goldfinch 9
White-throated Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 4
Eastern Towhee 3
Red-winged Blackbird 9
Kentucky Warbler 1 Low in bushes, with good long looks from both of us; uniform olive above with more striking green of tail; uniformly yellow underneath, down to coverts; no white (in contrast to female COYE); slight black horizontal streaking at lores, cap olive, without any contrasting crest; prominent eye ring, but white and not yellow, and only with posterior half of a complete ring. (see p. 633 Stokes, female) Medium in size; judging from photos in Sibley's, Crossley, Stephenson & Whittle, and Peterson Warbler Field Guide, this is a first fall female. Seen at corner of Seashore Drive and Alder Brook Road.
Common Yellowthroat 5
Northern Cardinal 2
House Sparrow 34
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Peaks Island Bird List for August 29, 2018
9:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Distance: 2.0 miles
Comments: What started at 75 degrees and 70% humidity ended at noon as another intolerable example of global warming
18 species
Common Eider 89 (11 immature male eiders; 15 immature female eiders)
Mourning Dove 4
Herring Gull 55
Great Black-backed Gull 11
Double-crested Cormorant 13
Great Egret 1 (Fly over from Cushing's I. Also, one seen on Peaks by Palfreys)
Empidonax sp. 1 (Probably an ALFL, but not a sound)
Eastern Phoebe 3 (Three together at Brackett St. marshes; migrating flock?)
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Gray Catbird 3
Northern Mockingbird 5 (Together; migrating? four seemed smallish; immatures?)
European Starling 5
Cedar Waxwing 13
American Goldfinch 5
Song Sparrow 11
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 (Call only; behind Battery Steele)
House Sparrow 97
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Peaks Island Bird List for August 16, 2018
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: Very hot and humid; low tide; with Sam and Patty Wainright
29 species (+3 other taxa)
American Black Duck 7
Common Eider 131 (125 female adults; 4 immature males; 2 immature females)
Mourning Dove 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
peep sp. 12
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 15 (11 adults and 4 juveniles)
Great Black-backed Gull 9 (8 adults and 1 juvenile)
Double-crested Cormorant 41
Great Blue Heron 1
Osprey 3
Broad-winged Hawk 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Empidonax sp. 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 20
Black-capped Chickadee 11
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 1
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 1
Cedar Waxwing 1
American Goldfinch 20
Song Sparrow 4
Eastern Towhee 3
warbler sp. (Parulidae sp.) 1 (Possibly a Wilson's Warbler)
Northern Cardinal 12
House Sparrow 4
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Peaks Island Bird List for August 15, 2018
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Distance: 2.0 miles
Comments: The long way to the grocery store; hot and humid
21 species
American Black Duck 1
Common Eider 140 (135 females and 5 immature males)
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 11
Mourning Dove 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Black Guillemot 1
Herring Gull 12
Great Black-backed Gull 7
Double-crested Cormorant 9
Osprey 4
Downy Woodpecker 1
American Crow 3
Gray Catbird 2
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 1
Cedar Waxwing 5
American Goldfinch 8
Song Sparrow 4
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Northern Cardinal 1
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Peaks Island Bird List for August 1, 2018
8:15 AM - 10:20 AM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: With Sam and Patty Wainright
37 species
American Black Duck 13
Common Eider (20 female adults and 4 immatures)
Double-crested Cormorant 17
Great Blue Heron 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
Glossy Ibis 1
Osprey 1
Black Guillemot 3
Herring Gull 51 (40 adults and 11 juveniles)
Great Black-backed Gull (10 adults and 2 juveniles)
Common Tern 29
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1
Mourning Dove 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Eastern Phoebe 3 (Family)
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 20
Black-capped Chickadee 24
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 2
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 7
Northern Mockingbird 1
Cedar Waxwing 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Song Sparrow 12
Northern Cardinal 15
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Common Grackle 3
American Goldfinch 26
House Sparrow 22
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Peaks Island Bird List for July 29, 2018
7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
2.0 miles
23 species (+1 other taxa)
Comments: Brackett Church Silent Auction Bird Trip with Claudine Weatherford, Jeremy Wyant, Timothy Wyant
Mallard 1 Female mallard x black duck hybrid (?)
American Black Duck 5
Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid) 1
Common Eider 2
Double-crested Cormorant 7
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Herring Gull 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
American Crow 2
Tree Swallow 5
American Robin 1
Gray Catbird 15
European Starling 6
Cedar Waxwing 10
Common Yellowthroat 2
American Redstart 2
Yellow Warbler 3
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Song Sparrow 6
Eastern Towhee 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 8
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 12
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Peaks Island Bird List for July 21, 2018
7:30 AM - 10:45 AM
4.0 miles
Comments: Near full tide; 60's with dense fog clearing by 9:30AM
41 species
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American Black Duck 8
Common Eider 41
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Green Heron 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Cooper's Hawk 3
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Herring Gull 34
Great Black-backed Gull 13
Caspian Tern 2
Common Tern 3
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 4
Mourning Dove 3
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker. 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 3
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 8
Tree Swallow 5
Black-capped Chickadee 1
House Wren 1
American Robin 1
Gray Catbird 18
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 13
Cedar Waxwing 3
Common Yellowthroat 2
Yellow Warbler 4
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 13
Eastern Towhee. 4
Northern Cardinal 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak. 1
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Common Grackle 1
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 32
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Peaks Island Bird List for June 26, 2018
7:00 AM - 11:00 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: Sunny, sixties, rising tide; with P. Wainright, A. Whitman, K. McCarthy
42 species
American Black Duck 4
Common Eider 53 (46 females, 3 males; 4 immature ones)
Common Loon 2
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 3
Snowy Egret 1
Glossy Ibis 5
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Common Tern 1
Mourning Dove 4
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Alder Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Warbling Vireo 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 5
Common Raven 1
Tree Swallow 16
Black-capped Chickadee 3
House Wren 1
American Robin 7
Gray Catbird 11
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 10
Cedar Waxwing 5
Common Yellowthroat 10
American Redstart 7
Yellow Warbler 16
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Wilson's Warbler 1 Behind Battery Steele, where seen previously; black cap
Song Sparrow 25
Eastern Towhee 5
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 17
Common Grackle 1
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 16
House Sparrow 35
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Peaks Island Bird List for June 24, 2018 (Annual PeakFest Bird Walk)
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
0.6 mile
Comments: Partly cloudy changing to sunny skies; incoming tide 3/4's; PeaksFest Birding on backshore with Anne (PI), Lori (NJ), Megan (PI), Theresa (RI), and Patty (PI)
27 species
Common Eider 30
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 9
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
Black Guillemot 1
Herring Gull 12
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Common Tern 2
Mourning Dove 3
Alder Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 6
Tree Swallow 16
Gray Catbird 4
European Starling 4
Cedar Waxwing 1
Common Yellowthroat 5
Yellow Warbler 9
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Song Sparrow 11
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 14
House Finch 6
American Goldfinch 12
Peaks Island Bird List for June 23, 2018
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
1.5 miles
Comments: With P. Wainright
28 species
American Black Duck 5
Common Eider 103
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 1
Herring Gull 7
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Mourning Dove 7
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 6
Tree Swallow 18
Barn Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 5
American Robin 6
Gray Catbird 11
European Starling 13
Cedar Waxwing 3
Common Yellowthroat 6
American Redstart 8
Yellow Warbler 27 Peaks seems to be overrun with them this year.
Song Sparrow 18
Eastern Towhee 4
Northern Cardinal 7
Red-winged Blackbird 16
Common Grackle 2
American Goldfinch 9
House Sparrow 6
Peaks Island Bird List for June 21, 2018
7:00 AM - 10:00 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: High tide; overcast; 60 degrees
30 species
American Black Duck 5
Common Eider 109
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 19
Great Blue Heron 2
Herring Gull 19
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1
Mourning Dove 3
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 11
Common Raven 1
Tree Swallow 18
Black-capped Chickadee 1
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 19
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 22
Cedar Waxwing 6
Common Yellowthroat 5
American Redstart 2
Yellow Warbler 31 All over the island
Song Sparrow 13
Eastern Towhee 3
Northern Cardinal 4
Red-winged Blackbird 17
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Common Grackle 5
American Goldfinch 13
House Sparrow 9
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Peaks Island Bird List for May 26, 2018
Time: 5:15 AM - 6:15 AM
Comments: Across from 8th Maine: On deck with coffee; low tide, sunrise at 5:03, heavy overcast with storm coming in from west
20 species
Canada Goose 6
Common Eider 4 In the cove
Double-crested Cormorant 7 Flight over the cove
Glossy Ibis 3 In flight overhead; curved bill un-mistakeable; first sighting for me this year
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 5
Black-capped Chickadee 1
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling X Too numerous to count
Cedar Waxwing 1
Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Heard, never seen; thin high pitched two note call repeated three times, identical to call in iBird Pro: zee-se, zee-se, zee-se. Answered the call but would not come in. Just after sunrise at 5:15; not call of BAWW, AMRE, or CMWA; could not get a recording with iPhone.
Yellow Warbler 3 Came readily to call; evident very early, just after sunrise
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 In silver maple next to deck
House Sparrow X Too numerous to count
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Peaks Island Bird List for May 25, 2018
Time: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: With Sam and Patty Wainright
41 species
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 5
American Black Duck 7
Common Eider 27
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 1
Snowy Egret 1
Osprey 1
Black Guillemot 2
Laughing Gull 1
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 8
Mourning Dove 5
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 5
Tree Swallow 6
Barn Swallow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Veery 1
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 4
European Starling 10
Common Yellowthroat 5
American Redstart 4
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 8
Song Sparrow 8
Eastern Towhee 3
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 13
Common Grackle 5
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 8
House Sparrow 10
​
​
Peaks Island Bird List for May 16, 2018
Time: 8:15 AM - 10:15 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: Cold; 47 degrees, overcast, low tide; with P. Wainright
33 species
Mallard 2
Common Eider 51
Double-crested Cormorant 22
Laughing Gull 2
Herring Gull 8
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Mourning Dove 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 3
Tree Swallow 11
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 7
European Starling 13
Northern Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
American Redstart 3
Yellow Warbler 6
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 6
Eastern Towhee 3
Northern Cardinal 5
Baltimore Oriole 2 Florida Avenue, by the geyser
Red-winged Blackbird 13
Common Grackle 5
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 18
Peaks Island Bird List for May 14, 2018
Time: 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: With Patty Wainright; overcast, chilly wind, 48 degrees, low tide
34 species
Mallard 1
Common Eider 22
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Snowy Egret 1
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 1
Herring Gull 7
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 9
Mourning Dove 1
Alder Flycatcher 1 Back shore drive, just to left of Higgins' place
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 5
Common Raven 1
Barn Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 7
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 11
Northern Waterthrush 1 Behind SW end of Battery Steele; long views
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
Yellow Warbler 9
Blackpoll Warbler 1 Along Brackett Avenue near marshes
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Alder Brook Road
Black-throated Green Warbler 5
Song Sparrow 12
Eastern Towhee 3
Northern Cardinal 9
Red-winged Blackbird 9
Common Grackle 4
American Goldfinch 3
House Sparrow 10
​
Peaks Island Bird List for April 23, 2018
Time: 3:30 PM
Protocol: Incidental
1 species
Osprey 1 House Island buoy; female on nest, male on rail, standing guard
Peaks Island Bird List for April 23, 2018
Time: 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: An hour past high tide; high forties, low fifties; bright sunny day, mild wind
25 species
Brant 2 Off back shore
Mallard 6 In flight in the morning sun, quite beautiful
Common Eider 33
Black Scoter 11
Wild Turkey 1 Bold, brazen, unafraid; walked right by me on back shore drive
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Great Blue Heron 1 Overhead in flight, on Alder Brook Rd.
Herring Gull 200 Ram Island alive with them this morning
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Mourning Dove 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 5
Black-capped Chickadee 11
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Alder Brook Rd. by Wainrights
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 High in Wainright's trees, Alder Brook Rd.
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 23
Palm Warbler (Yellow) 1 By marsh waters on Florida Ave. Very active; a lucky photo
White-throated Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 14
Northern Cardinal 7
Red-winged Blackbird 16
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 7
​
​
Peaks Island Bird List for April 3, 2018
Time: 11:15 AM - 1:45 PM
4.0 miles
Comments: Overcast, 42, cold SE wind, rising tide 3/4's
30 species
Canada Goose 2
Mallard 6
Common Eider 82
Surf Scoter 16
White-winged Scoter 10
Black Scoter 22
Long-tailed Duck 11
Bufflehead 1
Common Goldeneye 5
Red-breasted Merganser 16
Wild Turkey 1
Common Loon 5
Black Guillemot 3
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 12
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 12
Black-capped Chickadee 6
European Starling 11
Song Sparrow 20
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 1
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 1
House Sparrow 13
​
Peaks Island Bird List for March 21, 2018
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
3.0 miles
Comments: With Patty Wainright; forties, overcast, rising tide
23 species
American Black Duck 3
Common Eider 14
Black Scoter 20
Long-tailed Duck 3
Bufflehead 10
Common Goldeneye 3
Wild Turkey 12
Black Guillemot 2
Herring Gull 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 12
Mourning Dove 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 21
Black-capped Chickadee 18
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 6
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 6
​
Peaks Island Bird List for March 20, 2018
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3.0 miles
Comments: Bright sun; low forties; rising tide; little wind
18 species
Common Eider 73
Black Scoter 21
Long-tailed Duck 2
Red-breasted Merganser 7
Wild Turkey 12 The person who tipped me off says he has 30-50 in his woods, feeds them 10 lbs of sunflower seeds a day, and his neighbor feeds them cracked corn. The birds are huge.
Common Loon 7
Turkey Vulture 2
Black Guillemot 1
Herring Gull 12
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 23
Mourning Dove 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 11
Black-capped Chickadee 21
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
Northern Cardinal 2
House Finch 5
​
​
Peaks Island Bird List for March 18, 2018
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:15 PM
3.0 miles
Comments: Bright sunny day; cold, with 15 degree wind chill
17 species
American Black Duck 2
Common Eider 28
Black Scoter 32
Long-tailed Duck 5
Red-breasted Merganser 3
Herring Gull 9
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Tolman Heights
Downy Woodpecker 2 Tolman Heights
Pileated Woodpecker 2 Alderbrook Road
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 7
Black-capped Chickadee 9
Carolina Wren 1 Alderbrook Road
American Robin 3 Together, outer Brackett Ave
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 4
House Finch 5 At junction of Alderbrook and Brackett
​
Peaks Island Bird List for March 16, 2018
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
4.0 miles
Comments: Mostly sunny, 35 degrees, with cold NW wind, wind chill 22; incoming tide
17 species
Mallard 11
American Black Duck 1
Common Eider 107
Black Scoter 47
Long-tailed Duck 2
Red-breasted Merganser 7
Herring Gull 9
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 18
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 6
Black-capped Chickadee 8
Brown Creeper 1 Behind Wainright's; on its large shaggy barked tree
Song Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 1
House Finch 4 Sounded like forty
House Sparrow 5
​
​
Peaks Island Bird List for March 15, 2018
Time: 9:45 AM - 11:15 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: Mostly cloudy; thirties, cold wind, high tide
21 species
Mallard 7
American Black Duck 6
Common Eider 85
Surf Scoter 4
White-winged Scoter 6
Black Scoter 34
Long-tailed Duck 6
Bufflehead 6
Red-breasted Merganser 9
Common Loon 1
Herring Gull 9
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 Yellow legs, on chimney over by City Point
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 13
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
American Crow 9
Black-capped Chickadee 3
European Starling 60
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 4
House Sparrow 5
​
​
Peaks Island Bird List for March 8, 2018
Time: 4:30 PM
Incidental Sighting
Comments: Crossing on 4:30 ferry; large migrating flock; flock seen early over Jamaica Bay, Brooklyn
1 species
Brant 55 Large string over Casco Bay, while crossing on 4:30 ferry
"They are impressive: fly in single file, quite low and fast, with a purpose and not much talk.
Headed for Hudson Bay, where they summer." (ML)
​
Peaks Island Bird List for February 28, 2018
Time: 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
4.0 miles
Comments: High tide, overcast early, then sunny; 40's
32 species
Mallard 11
American Black Duck 4
Common Eider 107
White-winged Scoter 1
Black Scoter 27
Long-tailed Duck 5
Bufflehead 8
Common Goldeneye 1
Red-breasted Merganser 11
Common Loon 3
Great Cormorant 11
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 11
Mourning Dove 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Peregrine Falcon 1 Swooping over Battery Steele marshes, scattering birds everywhere; breathtaking
Eastern Kingbird 1 This is a puzzler; seen at a distance and photo taken with 700mm telephoto; appeared larger and darker than an eastern wood-peewee; no recorded sighting of an EAKI on bird before April
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 7
Black-capped Chickadee 11
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 14
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 6
Red-winged Blackbird 11
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 45
​
​
Peaks Island Bird List for February 20, 2018
Time: 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: Overcast with occasional light rain; 40's, fog off shore; rising tide
19 species
Canada Goose 11
Mallard 11
American Black Duck 3
Common Eider 35
Black Scoter 13
Long-tailed Duck 1
Bufflehead 18
Common Loon 3
Herring Gull 5
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 9
Mourning Dove 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 9
Black-capped Chickadee 1
European Starling 5
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 1
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 14
Peaks Island Bird List for February 17, 2018
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
4.0 miles
Comments: Bright sun, rising tide, cold, high twenties; with Patty and Sam Wainright
28 species
American Black Duck 3
Common Eider 138
Surf Scoter 5
White-winged Scoter 2
Black Scoter 28
Long-tailed Duck 13
Bufflehead 22
Common Goldeneye 2
Red-breasted Merganser 11
Common Loon 16
Great Cormorant 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Bald Eagle 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Herring Gull 3
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 29
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 12
Black-capped Chickadee 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
​
​
Peaks Island Bird List for February 14, 2018
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
3.0 miles
Comments: 45 degrees, sunny, low tide
16 species
Canada Goose 41
Mallard 17
American Black Duck 2
Common Eider 63
Long-tailed Duck 7
Bufflehead 13
Common Loon 5
Red-necked Grebe 1
Herring Gull 9
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 15
Black-capped Chickadee 1
European Starling 5
Northern Cardinal 1
House Finch 5
House Sparrow 43
​
​
Peaks Island Bird List for February 8, 2018
Time: 8:45 AM - 11:45 AM
3.0 miles
17 species
Canada Goose 9
Mallard 13
American Black Duck 2
Common Eider 4
Surf Scoter 11
Black Scoter 8
Long-tailed Duck 12
Bufflehead 20
Common Goldeneye 2
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Common Loon 1
Herring Gull 32
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 11
American Crow 17
Northern Cardinal 3
House Sparrow 6
​
​
Peaks Island Bird List for January 24, 2018
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3.0 miles
Comments: With P. Wainright; overcast, low thirties, after ice storm
15 species
Canada Goose 5
American Black Duck 4
Common Eider 105
Surf Scoter 3
White-winged Scoter 19
Black Scoter 225 Raft of 130 in Diamond Pass with 10 WWSC
Long-tailed Duck 3
Bufflehead 9
Red-breasted Merganser 7
Common Loon 10
Herring Gull 7
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 21
American Crow 2
Northern Mockingbird 1 At junction Great Pond Road and Seashore Drive
House Finch 8
​
​
Peaks Island Bird List for January 15, 2018
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: With Peter, Jill King; very cold
18 species
Common Eider 55
Surf Scoter 4
White-winged Scoter 4
Long-tailed Duck 5
Bufflehead 32
Common Goldeneye 9
Red-breasted Merganser 6
Common Loon 6
Black Guillemot 5
Ring-billed Gull 3
Herring Gull 17
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 33
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 5
Black-capped Chickadee 2
European Starling 13
House Sparrow 7
​
​
Peaks Island Bird List for January 9, 2018
Time: 9:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: Sunny, low thirties, falling tide
23 species
Canada Goose 175
Mallard 2
American Black Duck 2
Common Eider 88
Surf Scoter 5
Long-tailed Duck 4
Bufflehead 18
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Common Loon 2
Great Cormorant 2
Herring Gull 18
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Mourning Dove 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 7
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
White-throated Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 2
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 30
​
​
Peaks Island Bird List for January 3, 2018
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: Sunny, 'warm', in the 20's; high tide
17 species
Canada Goose 43 In bay by TEIA, very close to shore, at high tide
Common Eider 187
Surf Scoter 5
White-winged Scoter 6
Black Scoter 12
Long-tailed Duck 13
Bufflehead 37
Common Goldeneye 13
Hooded Merganser 1
Red-breasted Merganser 5
Common Loon 7
Northern Harrier 1
Black Guillemot 3
Herring Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 33
Blue Jay 1
​
Peaks Island Bird List for January 2, 2018
Time: 2:30 PM
Comments: Crossing on ferry to Peaks
1 species
Bald Eagle 1 Above Diamond Pass between Peaks and Little Diamond; being harassed by four crows