Mixing things up a bit, we decided to do a little chasing around Brunswick this morning - there were just too many notable birds being seen! We began at Brunswick Landing/Bowdoin Sand Plain, where we eventually spotted the 4 UPLAND SANDPIPERS. They have been breeding here for years, and our birdwalks often visit them once or twice a season. Recently they have been more reliable closer to the trail than usual, so it was too good to pass up. Unfortunately, they were not close t

First-of-year arrivals this week included GRAY CATBIRD on 4/30, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW on 5/3, and RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD on 5/6. Our first HOUSE FINCH fledgling was at the feeders on 5/6. 26 species visited the feeding station this week: Red -winged Blackbird: 36 Rock Pigeon: 24 American Goldfinch: 16 House Sparrow: 12 House Finch: 8 Blue Jay: 6 Chipping Sparrow: 6 Mourning Dove: 4 Black-capped Chickadee: 4 European Starling: 4 Song Sparrow: 4 Northern Cardinal: 4 Common G

The first half of the week brought some warmer springlike temperatures and southeasterly winds. A change in the weather pattern for the last three days ushered in some rain, cooler temperatures and east winds. A decent couple of days of hawkwatching were had early in the week, but things went downhill pretty quickly after that. Our numbers are staying below average by quite a bit, with the exception of Northern Harrier. Where are all the Sharp-shinned Hawks? We are hoping for

Today's incredible highlights bookended a rather slow-for-the-date visit to Florida Lake Park. First, on our way to Florida Lake, I spotted 6 SANDHILL CRANES flying over the interstate. I pulled over for a second after exiting, and my car spotted them in the distance, flying north, heading straight up I-295. Then, after the underwhelming visit to Florida Lake, we dropped by Leon Gorham Park to see if we could catch up with the territorial LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH that has made i

A SAVANNAH SPARROW showed up at the feeders for the first time this year on 4/29. 24 species visited the feeding station this week: Rock Pigeon: 45 American Goldfinch: 16 House Sparrow: 12 Red -winged Blackbird: 12 House Finch: 8 Mourning Dove: 6 American Crow: 4 Black-capped Chickadee: 4 European Starling: 4 Chipping Sparrow: 4 Song Sparrow: 4 Northern Cardinal: 4 Common Grackle: 4 Brown-headed Cowbird: 3 Hairy Woodpecker: 2 Downy Woodpecker: 2 Blue Jay: 2 Tufted Titmouse: 2

We continue to stay at below normal temperatures for the season with a low of 35F on 4/21 and only reaching the 50s in the afternoons. Heavy rain on 4/19 kept us inside, and we even dealt with snow and ice pellets on 4/20. Gusty winds ranged from the southeast to northwest. The high day count for the week was 4/25 with 268 hawks counted. A third American Goshawk was seen that day, along with some good close looks at Broad-winged Hawks. Double-crested Cormorants and Tree Swall

Migration really stalled this week, and the overall lack of diversity and especially numbers has really lagged behind expectations recently, and Florida Lake was no exception this morning. However, as one participant put it, nonetheless "Florida Lake never disappoints!" Normally, warblers are already a highlight of a walk here by the end of April, they were not always the star today. While we only heard one single PALM WARBLER, 30 or so YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS did put on a gre

It is warblers at the feeders season, and we had our first YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER on 4/19. Also on 4/19, a flock of 16 BOHEMIAN and 2 CEDAR WAXWINGS were in the yard. 23 species visited the feeding station this week: Rock Pigeon: 45 House Sparrow: 12 Red -winged Blackbird: 12 House Finch: 8 American Goldfinch: 8 Mourning Dove: 6 Chipping Sparrow: 6 Song Sparrow: 6 American Crow: 4 Black-capped Chickadee: 4 European Starling: 4 Northern Cardinal: 4 Common Grackle: 4 Brown-heade

It was nice seeing temperatures in the 50s, with a high of 65 last week. Despite a couple of delayed starts, we managed to count 8 full hours almost every day. The wind flow had an easterly component for much of the week, providing us with some steady seabreezes in the afternoons. Interestingly, despite easterly winds, we had a few days of great hawkwatching. 236 raptors on 4/14 was eclipsed by 627 on 4/17. That big flight occurred on northeast winds which is generally unfavo

There have been two small flocks of Bohemian Waxwings around town recently, and in the past couple of days, a flock of around 100 birds. Even though they have been widespread recently, it was just too good of an opportunity to turn down - especially as they will be heading north any minute now. In fact, perhaps they already did, because we didn't see any! But doing a loop of South Freeport and Yarmouth, we checked a number of locations and just birded our way to and from, hop

Our first CHIPPING SPARROW of the year arrived at the feeders on 4/13. 22 species visited the feeding station this week: Rock Pigeon: 45 House Sparrow: 12 Common Grackle: 10 House Finch: 8 American Goldfinch: 8 Red -winged Blackbird: 8 Mourning Dove: 6 Song Sparrow: 6 American Crow: 4 Black-capped Chickadee: 4 European Starling: 4 Northern Cardinal: 4 Hairy Woodpecker: 2 Downy Woodpecker: 2 Blue Jay: 2 Tufted Titmouse: 2 White-breasted Nuthatch: 2 Eastern Bluebird: 2 Brown-he

The first day of the week was a rain-out, and we had snow on day 3. However, the flights started to pick up for the second half of the week. Winds were gusty most days, ranging from the southeast around to northwest. Temperatures continued to remain below normal. The 8 th , 9 th , and 10 th were consistently good with 50-110 raptors counted. Our first Broad-winged Hawk showed up on 4/6 and numbers of Osprey and American Kestrel are ticking up. Several Bohemian Waxwings poppe

First of years this week included EASTERN PHOEBE on 4/3 and OSPREY over the yard on 4/8. 21 species visited the feeding station this week: Rock Pigeon: 45 House Sparrow: 18 Common Grackle: 10 House Finch: 8 American Goldfinch: 8 Red -winged Blackbird: 8 Mourning Dove: 6 Song Sparrow: 6 American Crow: 4 Black-capped Chickadee: 4 European Starling: 4 Northern Cardinal: 4 Hairy Woodpecker: 2 Downy Woodpecker: 2 Blue Jay: 2 Tufted Titmouse: 2 White-breasted Nuthatch: 2 Eastern Bl

22 species visited the feeding station this week: Rock Pigeon: 45 House Sparrow: 18 Red -winged Blackbird: 12 House Finch: 8 American Goldfinch: 8 Song Sparrow: 8 Mourning Dove: 6 European Starling: 6 Common Grackle: 6 American Crow: 4 Black-capped Chickadee: 4 Northern Cardinal: 4 Tufted Titmouse: 3 Hairy Woodpecker: 2 Downy Woodpecker: 2 Blue Jay: 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch: 2 White-breasted Nuthatch: 2 Eastern Bluebird: 2 Carolina Wren: 1 White-throated Sparrow: 1 Brown-heade

We managed to get in 5 pretty good days of hawk watching this week, despite 2 days of rain and compromised visibility. 77 birds counted on 4/1 and 83 on 4/4 is really not too shabby for early April. The first Osprey, that showed up on 4/1, is always a hallmark to the turning of the season. A second American Goshawk (photographed to the left by Bill Thomspson) on 3/29 was a treat as well. Turkey Vultures made a good showing and American Kestrels are starting to pick up. Tree S

Even though it's still early, the strong northerly winds coupled with a large group suggested Florida Lake was the place to go this morning, and it definitely did not disappoint. We were greeted with a newly-arrived YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER over the parking lot, and enjoyed a mixed-species foraging flock on the way in, including 4 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS and a pair of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. NORTHERN FLICKERS - likely undergoing a little push of migration this morning - were

The week was not exactly off to a great start with no counts conducted on the first 2 days due to snow. But, we made up for it later with some westerly winds and clear skies. The pick of the week was 3/25 with 143 migrants. Our first of years included American Goshawk, American Kestrel, Merlin, and Peregrine Falcon. Blackbirds and American Robins also made a good showing in the middle of the week, along with 2 Sandhill Cranes, Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, and Eastern Phoebe.

We had a really incredible outing...even before we made it to the day's destination. While en route, I spotted a lump in the road ahead...which turned out to be an AMERICAN WOODCOCK! It finished crossing the road, and proceeded to forage at the edge of the road, walking down past our vehicles. Using our cars as a blind, photography opportunities were unrivaled! A short while later, a pair of RED CROSSBILLS were in the road, well seen by my lead car, but departing before we co

The highlight of the week was a flock of about 30 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, joined by 1 CEDAR WAXWING, foraging on what is left of the fruit in and around the store on 3/25. 22 species visited the feeding station this week: Rock Pigeon: 45 House Sparrow: 18 Red -winged Blackbird: 12 House Finch: 8 American Goldfinch: 8 Song Sparrow: 8 Mourning Dove: 6 European Starling: 6 Common Grackle: 6 American Crow: 4 Black-capped Chickadee: 4 Northern Cardinal: 4 Tufted Titmouse: 3 Hairy Woodp

The Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch got off to a decent start on day 1, only to be shut down for the next day due to rain and fog. The remainder of the week was fairly slow bird-wise with some very strong west winds that eventually went around to the east. However, just a couple of hours into the count on the 15 th , an adult GOLDEN EAGLE was spotted soaring over Little Bradbury! This was only the 6 th sighting of this species in the 20 years of this project. Per usual for March