Peaks Island's Bird Lists, 2021

Michael LaCombe's (ML) and Sam Wainright's (SW) daily bird sightings from 2021 are shown below along with the number of birds for each species, weather conditions, and observation times. If you have a bird list that you want to share (that has first been submitted eBird), please forward it to us for posting on this page. Please forward your list through eBird to patty@wainright.org.

These bird lists are listed sequentially - the most recent one on top.

Michael's and Sam's individual lists are submitted to Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird.

By providing these lists, we hope you will compare birds seen within each month for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Lists Assembled by Patty Wainright

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Christmas Bird Count 2021

December 18, 2021

Canada Goose 8

Mallard 41

American Black Duck 20

Common Eider 71

White-winged Scoter 2

Surf Scoter 17

Long-tailed Duck 40

Bufflehead 14

Common Goldeneye 3

Red-breasted Merganser 38

Wild Turkey 17

Red-necked Grebe 8

Rock Pigeon 58

Mourning Dove 1

Black Guillemot 3

Herring Gull 32

Great Black-backed Gull 1

Common Loon 29

Great Cormorant 7

Bald Eagle 2

Red-bellied Woodpecker 5

Downy Woodpecker 9

Hairy Woodpecker 2

Pileated Woodpecker 2

Blue Jay 13

American Crow 25

Common Raven 2

Black-capped Chickadee 78

Tufted Titmouse 12

White-breasted Nuthatch 10

Carolina Wren 2

Northern Mockingbird 6

European Starling 61

Cedar Waxwing 4

House Finch 18

American Goldfinch 75

Dark-eyed Junco 3

White-throated Sparrow 2

Song Sparrow 10

Northern Cardinal 12

House Sparrow 68

Additional Species:

Black Chicken (grumbling) 1

September 2021

September 21, 2021

8:00 AM
ML
Checklist Comments: Cool, clear, low humidity, near high tide
7 species

peep sp. (Calidris sp.) 2 Very small; ? Least sandpipers; East Ryefield Cove
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) 2 At Alves bench, back shore
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 5
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 15
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 20

September 4, 2021

4:00 PM
Incidental

SW
Checklist Comments: Seashore Ave. at Whaleback and Wharf Cove. Clear, sunny, light offshore wind, tide falling
8 species

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 8
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 35
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 3    Brownish plumage, not grey; yellow-green legs. Other peeps seen were more grey, with black legs.
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) 2 Greyish plumage, not brownish; black legs. Other peeps seen were browner, with yellow-green legs.
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) 1
Common Loon (Gavia immer) 1    Preening, close to shore
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) 1    Offshore
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 2

June 2021

June 24, 2021

8:00 AM - 11:40 AM
7.0 miles

ML
Checklist Comments: Casco Bay (offshore only)Custom Cruises Casco Bay, with Bill and Linda Kussmaul
12 species

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 4    Near boat docks, S. Portland
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 50 Large creche of females and young off shore Ram Island
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia) 16
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 5    Probably more among the mass of colonies on Ram Island
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 700    Large colony on Ram Island
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 12
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) 25
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 300    Large colony on Ram Island
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1    On shoreline at Cape Elizabeth
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 4
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1    On shoreline of Little Diamond; cruising along Diamond Pass
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) 1    On the lower railing of Ram Island Light; deciding what to have for brunch

May 2021

May 8, 2021 (World Migratory Bird Day and Global Big Day)

7:45 AM - 9:55 AM
1.2 miles

SW
Checklist Comments: 46F, 5 km N wind, overcast. Seashore Ave to Battery Steele marsh, along boardwalk to Battery Steele to Florida Ave to Reservoir Ave to Brackett Ave to Florida Ave to Alderbrook.
34 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 2
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 1
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 27
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 9
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 12
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 3
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) 1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 2
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 9
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 17
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 15
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 6
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 1
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 6
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 12
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 4
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 5
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 13
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 11
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 23
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 24
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 4
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 5
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 18

May 7, 2021

8:30 AM
Checklist Comments: Sunny, 50 degrees; backyard feeders

ML
10 species

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 4
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 2
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) 1 At suet feeder
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 4
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 3

May 6, 2021

11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Checklist Comments: Sunny, windy, 55 degrees

12 species

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) 8
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 3
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 5
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 7
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 1

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2

May 6, 2021

8:15 AM
Checklist Comments: Low fifties; morning after heavy rain; just filled the feeders

ML
4 species

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 1 At the suet feeder

April 2021

April 28, 2021

7:30 AM - 11:00 AM
4.0 miles
Checklist Comments: 48 degrees; occasional showers; low tide

28 species

Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 75
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) 5
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 1
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) 7
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 3
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 7
Common Loon (Gavia immer) 2
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 3
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1 In flight over City Point
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 2 One at House, the other between Great and Little Diamond
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 3
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 1 In Brackett marshes / Florida Ave.
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 9
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 3
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 3
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 15
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 12
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 3
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 8
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 16
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 14
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 13
Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) 1 Florida Ave.; answer the recording and came close to the brookside shore;
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 5

March 2021

March 23, 2021

7:15 AM - 11:15 AM
4.0 miles
Checklist Comments: High tide; 33 degrees, initial dense fog, then clearing.

ML
35 species

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 6
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 34
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) 2
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) 40 Strung out in a line in Cushing's passage
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) 6
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 12
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 8
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) 21 Large flock at Ocean and Pleasant
Rock Pigeon (Columba livil) 12
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 4
Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) 1
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 200 At Fort Gorges; spectacular
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 2
Common Loon (Gavia immer) 2
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1    Immature; out over Casco Bay
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 3
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 2
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) 1    Behind Battery Steele
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 8
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 7
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 6
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 18
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 2
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) 2     Male in bright sun; spectacular colors
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 23
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 18
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 22
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 1    Early! At usual spot, east north east end of Battery Steele
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 14
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 6
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 12

March 11, 2021

5:25 PM
Checklist Comments: Walking counterclockwise around Peaks Island.

SW
2 species

American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) 1 Heard on shoreward side of Seashore Ave, between Spar Cove and Wharf Cove...close to Wharf Cove. Bzzzt call, repeating.
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1 Saw COHA, agitated, flying from tree to tree and calling: a slow Kek, kek, kek, about 2-3 sec apart. I think it was a male.

March 9, 2021

7:15 AM - 3:45 PM
3.0 miles
Checklist Comments: Cloudy morning; 34 degrees; rising tide, no wind
ML

21 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 2
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 2
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 10
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) 33
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) 2
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 9
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 7
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) 16
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 1
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 6
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 12
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 4
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 3

March 7, 2021

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Peaks E quadrant
1.0 mile
Checklist Comments: Alderbrook Rd to Florida Ave, to Battery Steele and back; 32F, Clear, light wind.

15 species

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 5
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) 1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 6
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 8
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 2
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1 Singing
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 6
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) 12 (Rare) A flock feeding on cones in tall fir trees. Watched for about 30 min.
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 6
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 6

March 4, 2021

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
3.0 miles
Checklist Comments: Bright sunny clear day; 35 degrees; low tide

ML
22 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 29 At Centennial Beach
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 22 Ferry Beach, down front
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 14
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) 11
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) 4
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 22
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 4
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 1
Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) 2
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 1
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 6
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) 3
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 1 By Brackett Church
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 3
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 2
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 5
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 9
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 2 By Brackett Church
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2

March 2, 2021

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
3.0 miles
Checklist Comments: 11 below with wind chill; high winds; low tide, clear skies
ML

12 species

Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 13
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) 1
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) 1
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 3
Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) 2
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 5
Common Loon (Gavia immer) 1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 3
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 7
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2

February

Great Backyard Bird Count

February 12-15, 2021

Sam Wainright

Total island counts over 4 days

Eastern Screech Owl and Brown Thrasher are considered rare by eBird.

45 Species

Canada Goose

Mallard

American Black Duck

Common Eider

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Barrow's Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Mourning Dove

Thick-billed Murre

Black Guillemot

Great Cormorant

Herring Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Common Loon

Cooper's Hawk

Eastern Screech Owl

Bald Eagle

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Blue Jay

American Crow

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

European Starling

Northern Mockingbird

Brown Thrasher

American Robin

House Sparrow

American Gold Finch

House Finch

Dark-eyed Junco

Song Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

Northern Cardinal

January 2021

January 26, 2021

5:15 PM
Checklist Comments: Whitehead Road and up the hill from Hadlock Cove.

SW
1 species

Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) 1 Tremolo call, repeated at approx. 30 second intervals.

January 8, 2021

3:30 PM - 8:15 AM
3.5 mils)
Checklist Comments: Counterclockwise around Peaks starting at Alderbrook Rd., clear, 35F, NW breeze 5-10 knm. Low-ish tide.

SW
20 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 12
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 8
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 30
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) 2
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) 18
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) 5
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 6
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 4
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 2
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) 4
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 1
Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) 1
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 6
Common Loon (Gavia immer) 12
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) 21 Roosting on Whitehead Cliffs, Cushing Island
Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) 1 Heard the call at dusk, along Whitehead Rd. A tremolo on one pitch that lasted 5-10 sec. When I returned home, I confirmed it by listening to AllAboutBirds recordings of ESOW and Saw Whet Owl (which did not match what I heard).
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 4
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 3