Birdwalk Highlights for 10/18: Fields and Farms Tour.

To mix things up a bit, we headed inland to check the fields and farms in search of rare geese and Sandhill Cranes.

We began an ended at Thornhurst Farm, finding only 49 CANADA GEESE, and no Cackling Goose - which had been present for much of the week; something must have disturbed the masses before we arrived in the morning.

We then trekked farther afield to the Gillespie Farm fields in Gray/New Gloucester, were we immediately found our second target of the morning: SANDHILL CRANES! But it wasn't the 4-6 that had been reported, it was a goodly dozen!

Also unexpected was a PECTORAL SANDPIPER flying around, seemingly interested in landing but became disinterested by the dryness of the fields. About 40 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS also flew by in small groups, and a BROWN CREEPER called behind us.

Back in the neighborhood, we birded Greely Road and the Twin Brook Rec Area in Cumberland. Only 10 more Canada Geese here, but we enjoyed a nice short stroll at the Rec Area that produced great looks at 3 PALM and several YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS; SONG (13), SWAMP (3) and SAVANNAH (3) SPARROWS, but were especially fond of the extremely confiding pair of COMMON YELLOWTHROATS that found sunning themselves in the open at close range too enticing to care about our presence. Other migrants here included a single RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET and a calling RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. One NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD stood guard in the pasture as well.

Between fields we encountered a fly-by PILEATED WOODPECKER, a roadside flock of about 20 DARK-EYED JUNCOS. Between the drive and all of our stops, other tallies today included about 60 AMERICAN CROWS, 30 COMMON GRACKLES, 22 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, 11 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, 3 COMMON RAVENS, and 3 TURKEY VULTURES, all helping to make for a nice well-rounded birding outing.