Birdwalk Highlights for 11/29: Grist Mill Park and Farms and Fields Tour.

With the MacGillivray's Warbler still hanging around, it was impossible to resist another visit to Grist Mill Park. We worked the small area of trails, looking and listening. I thought I heard it in the distance, but I could not confirm it. So we looked around, and looked at everything else. And as usual, there were plenty of other birds to hear and see in this little pocket of habitat: a low adult BALD EAGLE, 2 TURKEY VULTURES, and a few HERRING GULLS overhead; 8 MALLARDS in and around the river; and in the bushes and trees: 10 NORTHERN CARDINALS, 10 HOUSE FINCHES, 8 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, 6 DARK-EYED JUNCOS, 5 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, 4 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, 4 TUFTED TITMICE, 2 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 2 DOWNY WOODPECKERS, 2 PURPLE FINCHES, one calling CAROLINA WREN, and one photogenic NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD.

After about 40 minutes, we all clearly heard the MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER We heard it quite well today, but after another 15 minutes of it not showing itself, we decided to move on. The wind was picking up, which made the edge less desirable, but hey, we HEARD a MacGillivray's Warbler in Maine! (And most people on the walk had already seen it, with and/or without me).

I decided to swing for the fences next and look for Snow Buntings and other grassland birds at Mayall Road in Gray/New Gloucester. On the way, we paused at Thornhurst Farm, which was completely devoid of gooses. All we added were about 20 ROCK PIGEONS and about 40 EUROPEAN STARLINGS to the day's list. Another Turkey Vulture was spotted.

And unfortunately, Mayall Road was even more devoid of birds: just 60 or so AMERICAN CROWS in a far field. No waterbirds or grassland birds, and with wind and leaf blowers, nothing emanating from the edge.

Standing at 19 species for the morning, we didn't spot anything new on the drive back, so I made a quick stop at the Cousin's River Marsh where we picked up # 20: a RED-TAILED HAWK.

It was only when we got back to the store and did the board when I realized I didn't write down the MacGillivray's! So the Red-tail was # 21 and about 5 minutes more time spent away from the coffee pot.