Birdwalk Highlights for 9/20: Wolfe's Neck Center.

Before we get to the unfortunate and frustrating news, we'll start with a celebration of a really enjoyable and productive fall morning in the fields, farm, and edges at Wolfe's Neck Center.

Immediately upon exiting our vehicles, I spied a perched INDIGO BUNTING tee'd up on a tall tree in the distance which

Beginning as usual at the cove, there wasn't a lot of mud still exposed, but we had a sample of some of the expected late-season shorebirds: 5 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 1-2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and 7 GREATER YELLOWLEGS - including two particularly close and cooperative individuals.

The first of three GREAT BLUE HERONS posed for us (the later two were busy stalking voles in the field), an AMERICAN PIPIT flew over, and a little wave of migrants included about a half-dozen YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS (a few more were seen later, too).

EASTERN PHOEBES, a total of 7, were rather confiding today, but after leaving the shoreline, we were focused on sparrows. Between three patches of garden/farm and weedy edges, we conservatively estimated a total of 75 SONG SPARROWS and 65 SAVANNAH SPARROWS. Among them, we teased out 2 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, 2 CHIPPING SPARROWS, and 1 SWAMP SPARROW. The garden and edges also hosted the likes of 7 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, 3 GRAY CATBIRDS, 2 fresh juvenile EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, a PALM WARBLER, and a fun view of 3 PINE WARBLERS down low for a change.

Earlier, we looked up upon hearing a calling RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, and found three birds soaring high. Two SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS joined them, and they led us to a group of 4 migrating BROAD-WINGED HAWKS even higher up. Add to that a close fly-by Sharp-shinned Hawk earlier, a hunting COOPER'S HAWK, and a commuting OSPREY making for a great raptor-watching walk as well.

Really, it was an exceptional outing, and we were all enjoying the morning. Unfortunately, the walk ended on a seriously sour note as we approached the unprotected wall of deadly glass of the Smith Center for Research and Education. Shortly after suggesting we check the local barnyard HOUSE SPARROW flock for a rare Dickcissel, we actually found a DICKCISSEL.

Unfortunately, it was DEAD. Yet another victim of a collision of the death trap that has been created here: the ironically promoted "bird-friendly" native garden placed within inches of a giant reflective wall of glass. We see dead birds here every fall, and evidence of recent strikes on every visit.

Today, after seeing the tell-tale sign of a likely-deadly strike (feathers adhered to a smudge), we found the limp body of this Maine rarity. It would have been a "life bird" for some of the group, and it's always special to find one in the Northeast. But not like this. This was horrifying. It was preventable. The solution exists and is present (Feather Friendly decals have been effectively used on the other three sides of the building!) and the inaction at this point - we've been calling attention to this for 2 years now - is indefensible. There's no excuse. And we are angry - and so is the rest of group. You'll be hearing more about this soon; we don't want this special bird to die in vain.