Peaks Island's Bird Lists, 2016

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Michael LaCombe's daily bird sightings from 2016 are summarized into monthly lists below. On occasion we will provide a list from a single day providing more information such as the number of birds sighted for each species, weather conditions, and observation times. Special lists include the 2015 and 2016 Christmas Bird Count, July 4, 2016 Casco Bay boat trip, and Pat Moynahan's December 8 eBird List.

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

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

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By providing these lists each month, we hope you will compare monthly lists between 2016 and 2017.

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Peaks Island Bird List for December 28, 2016
9:30 AM

Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Distance: 5.0 miles
Comments:  With Patty and Sam Wainright; cloudy, high thirties
29 species (+1 other taxa)

Domestic goose sp. (Domestic type)  3
American Black Duck  4
Mallard  5
Common Eider  75
Surf Scoter  10
White-winged Scoter  13
Black Scoter  43
Long-tailed Duck  18
Bufflehead  13
Red-breasted Merganser  15
Common Loon  13
Red-necked Grebe  4
Great Cormorant  2
Black Guillemot  7
Ring-billed Gull  6
Herring Gull  80
Great Black-backed Gull  6
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  16
American Crow  10
Black-capped Chickadee  6
Carolina Wren  1
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  65
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  4
Song Sparrow  1
Northern Cardinal  4
American Goldfinch  1
House Sparrow  3

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Peaks Island Christmas Bird Count, December 17, 2016

7:00 AM

Duration:6 hours, 12 minutes

Distance: 2.5 miles

Observers: Dan Nickerson and Kathryn Ostermier

29 species

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Canada Goose   80

American Black Duck   24

Mallard   16

Common Eider   15

Black Scoter   1

Long-tailed Duck   15

Bufflehead   3

Common Goldeneye   5

Red-breasted Merganser   8

Common Loon   19

Great Cormorant   1

Ring-billed Gull   77

Herring Gull   34

Downy Woodpecker   3

Pileated Woodpecker   2

Blue Jay   8

American Crow   12

Black-capped Chickadee   11

White-breasted Nuthatch   5

Carolina Wren   2

Northern Mockingbird   1

European Starling   6

Dark-eyed Junco   11

White-throated Sparrow   7

Song Sparrow   4

Northern Cardinal   17

American Goldfinch   11

House Sparrow   84

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Pat Moynahan's Peaks Island Bird List for December 8, 2016

8:40 AM

Party Size: 2

Duration: 2 hours, 55 minutes

Distance: 4.0 mile(s)

40 species

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Domestic goose sp. (Domestic type)   3

American Black Duck   2

Common Eider   25

Surf Scoter   4

White-winged Scoter   2

Black Scoter   6

Long-tailed Duck   10

Bufflehead   6

Common Goldeneye   12

Red-breasted Merganser   22

Common Loon   4

Horned Grebe   2

Red-necked Grebe   35

Sharp-shinned Hawk   1

Bald Eagle   1

Black Guillemot   1

Ring-billed Gull   1

Herring Gull (American)   8

Great Black-backed Gull   1

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)   5

Mourning Dove   2

Red-bellied Woodpecker   2

Downy Woodpecker   2

Hairy Woodpecker   1

Northern Flicker   1

Blue Jay   6

American Crow   2

Black-capped Chickadee   18

Tufted Titmouse   2

Red-breasted Nuthatch   1

White-breasted Nuthatch   1

Winter Wren   2

Golden-crowned Kinglet   1

Northern Mockingbird   3

European Starling   22

Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)   10

White-throated Sparrow   3

Red-winged Blackbird   1

House Finch   10

American Goldfinch   8

House Sparrow   22
 

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Peaks Island Bird List for December 15, 2016

Dec 15, 2016 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Comments:  cold, low thirties with 20-30 mph winds; with P. Wainright

American Black Duck  8
Common Eider  8
Surf Scoter  5
Black Scoter  2
Long-tailed Duck  5
Bufflehead  3
Common Goldeneye  1
Common Merganser  5
Red-breasted Merganser  7
Common Loon  3
Red-necked Grebe  5
Great Cormorant  1
Bonaparte's Gull  1
Ring-billed Gull  30    At Whaleback Cove with HEGU
Herring Gull  70
Great Black-backed Gull  1
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  7
Black-capped Chickadee  2
European Starling  60
Song Sparrow  1
House Sparrow  15

 

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Peaks Island Bird List for December 14, 2016
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Comments:  high tide; sunny, forties; with P. Wainright

American Black Duck  12
Common Eider  40
Black Scoter  4
Long-tailed Duck  5
Bufflehead  5
Common Goldeneye  7
Common Merganser  4
Red-breasted Merganser  7
Common Loon  2
Red-necked Grebe  10
Black Guillemot  5
Ring-billed Gull  5
Herring Gull  300    Feeding very close to shore at high tide at Whaleback, on larvae just under surface
Great Black-backed Gull  2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  12
Mourning Dove  3
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
Blue Jay  3
American Crow  12
Black-capped Chickadee  3
European Starling  9
Dark-eyed Junco  1
Northern Cardinal  1
House Sparrow  15
 

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Peaks Island Bird List for December 6, 2016
11:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Comments:  glorious day: low forties, clear blue, no wind, high tide

American Black Duck  20
Mallard  8
Common Eider  30     One flock of ten held two males
Surf Scoter  2
Long-tailed Duck  5    Yodeling in Gr. Diamond Pass
Bufflehead  20           Much in evidence; four groups of five, ten off back shore, ten in Diamond Pass
Common Merganser  5
Common Loon  4
Red-necked Grebe  5
Great Cormorant  1
Black Guillemot  4
Herring Gull  2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  13
Downy Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  3
American Crow  3
Common Raven  1      Slowly flew over Brackett marshes, croaking loudly; magnificent
Black-capped Chickadee  2
Carolina Wren  2
White-throated Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  2
Northern Cardinal  4
House Sparrow  20
 

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Peaks Island Bird List for November 23, 2016

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Comments:  clear, high forties, beautiful day.

* New Species sighted this month

Canada Goose  15
American Black Duck  5
Mallard  15
Common Eider  18
Long-tailed Duck  2
Bufflehead  5
Common Merganser  5
*Red-necked Grebe  6
*Great Cormorant  2
Herring Gull  12
American Crow  7
Black-capped Chickadee  3
Carolina Wren  1
*White-throated Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  1
Northern Cardinal  1

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Peaks Island Bird List for November 2, 8, and 21, 2016
American Black Duck 
Mallard 
Common Eider 
Black Scoter

White-winged Scoter 
Long-tailed Duck 
Bufflehead 
Common Merganser 
Common Loon 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Black Guillemot 
Ring-billed Gull 
Herring Gull 
Great Black-backed Gull 
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 
Red-bellied Woodpecker 
Northern Flicker 
Blue Jay 
American Crow 
Common Raven 
Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Carolina Wren

Northern Mockingbird 
European Starling

Dark-eyed Junco

Song Sparrow 
Northern Cardinal

House Finch 
American Goldfinch 
House Sparrow 

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Peaks Island Bird List for October 25, 25, and 26, 2016

Canada Geese

Wood Duck
American Black Duck 
Mallard 
Common Eider 
Hooded Merganser 
Common Merganser 
Red-breasted Merganser 
Common Loon 
Double-crested Cormorant 

Red-shouldered Hawk
Black Guillemot 
Ring-billed Gull 
Herring Gull 
Great Black-backed Gull 

Rock Pigeon

Blue Jay
American Crow 

Black-capped Chickadee 
Carolina Wren

American Robin
Northern Mockingbird 
European Starling

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal 

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow   
Red-winged Blackbird

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow 

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Peaks Island Bird List for October 3 and 10, 2016
Wood Duck 
American Black Duck 
Mallard 
Common Eider 

Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant 
Great Blue Heron            
Black Guillemot               
Ring-billed Gull 
Herring Gull 
Great Black-backed Gull 
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 
Mourning Dove 
Downy Woodpecker 
Pileated Woodpecker     
Eastern Phoebe              
Belted Kingfisher

Blue Jay 
American Crow 
Common Raven              
Black-capped Chickadee  
Carolina Wren                 
Gray Catbird

Northern Mockingbird 
European Starling 
Yellow-rumped Warbler 
Chipping Sparrow          
Song Sparrow 

White-throated Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird 
American Goldfinch 
House Sparrow

 

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Peaks Island Bird List for September 12, 13, and 30, 2016
Canada Goose

Wood Duck 
American Black Duck

Mallard 
Common Eider 

Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant 
Osprey                         
Buteo sp.                    
Lesser Yellowlegs           
Black Guillemot 
Herring Gull 
Great Black-backed Gull 
Mourning Dove 
Red-bellied Woodpecker 
Downy Woodpecker 
Northern Flicker 
Eastern Phoebe 
Yellow-throated Vireo   
Blue Jay 
American Crow

Common Raven 
Black-capped Chickadee 
Gray Catbird 
European Starling 
Song Sparrow 
Northern Cardinal 

Eastern Towhee

Red-winged Blackbird
American Goldfinch 
House Sparrow

 

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Peaks Island Bird List for August 25, 27, 29, and 31, 2016
American Black Duck 
Mallard 
Common Eider 
Double-crested Cormorant 

Black-crowned Night Heron

Green Heron
Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

Bald Eagle 
Northern Harrier 
Semipalmated Plover 
Spotted Sandpiper 

Solitary Sandpiper

Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull 
Great Black-backed Gull 
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 
Mourning Dove

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Eastern Phoebe 

Least Flycatcher

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Empidonax sp.

Red-eyed Vereo     
Philadelphia Vireo 
Blue Jay 
American Crow 

Common Raven
Tree Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Barn Swallow 
Black-capped Chickadee 

White-breasted Nuthatch    
Gray Catbird

Northern Mockingbird 
European Starling 
Cedar Waxwing

Northern Parula

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Yellow Warbler
Wilson's Warbler 

Common Yellowthroat

American Redstart
Song Sparrow 

Eastern Tohee
Northern Cardinal 
Red-winged Blackbird 

House Finch
American Goldfinch 
House Sparrow 

 

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Peaks Island Bird List for July 1, 5, 28, and 31, 2016

Wood Duck
American Black Duck 
Common Eider 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Great Egret 
Black-crowned Night-Heron 
Glossy Ibis 
Osprey 
Semi-palmated Sandpiper

Laughing Gull 
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull 
Great Black-backed Gull 
Common Tern 
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 
Mourning Dove 
Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker 
Downy Woodpecker 
American Kestrel 
Eastern Phoebe 
Eastern Kingbird 
Blue Jay 
American Crow 

Tree Swallow

Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee 

Veery

Northern Mockingbird

American Robin
Gray Catbird 
European Starling 
Cedar Waxwing

Black-throated Green Warbler 

Yellow Warbler

Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat

American Redstart
Song Sparrow 
Northern Cardinal 
Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle 
American Goldfinch 
House Sparrow

 

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Casco Bay Bird List for July 4, 2016

9:30AM-2:30PM (8 miles in small boat)

Common Eider  250                     Large numbers at Ram Island
Double-crested Cormorant  700    Most seen at Ram Island, with nests, young; quite a colony
Great Blue Heron  2                     Ram Island
Osprey  1                                    Near Cow Island
Spotted Sandpiper  2                   Ram Island
Black Guillemot  60                     Groups of 5-7 around Ram Island; one group of five off Cushing
Herring Gull  300                        200-250 at Ram Island
Great Black-backed Gull  50         Large concentration at Ram Island
Common Tern  5    [                    Between Great Diamond and Cow/Crow Islands
Mourning Dove  2                       Cow Island
Common Raven  6                      On Cow Island
Tree Swallow  2                          Off Great Diamond
Barn Swallow  20                       Large numbers under main dock, Diamond Cove
Cedar Waxwing  2                      Cow Island
Yellow Warbler  1                       Cow Island
Song Sparrow  2                        In salt marsh off shore of Cow Island

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Peaks Island Bird List for June 9, 13, 20, and 23, 2016

Wood Duck

American Black Duck 

Mallard

Black-crowned Night-Heron 

Great Blue Heron
Common Eider  
Double-crested Cormorant
Herring Gull 
Great Black-backed Gull 
Common Tern

Mourning Dove 

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)

Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker

Willow Flycatcher

Eastern Kingbird 
Blue Jay 
American Crow 
Tree Swallow 
Black-capped Chickadee 
American Robin 
Gray Catbird 
Northern Mockingbird 

Brown Thrasher
European Starling 
Cedar Waxwing 

Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat 
American Redstart 
Song Sparrow 
Northern Cardinal 
Red-winged Blackbird 
American Goldfinch 
House Sparrow 

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Peaks Island Bird List for May 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, and 12, 2016
Canada Goose

Wood Duck

American Black Duck

Mallard 

Black-crowned Night Heron

Glossy Ibis

Greater Yellowlegs
Common Eider

Long-tailed Ducks 
Bufflehead 
Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe 
Double-crested Cormorant 

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull 
Great Black-backed Gull 

Black Guillemot

Turkey Vulture
Mourning Dove

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)

Belted Kingfisher

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Phoebe 

Empidonax sp.
Blue Jay 
American Crow

Fish Crow 

Common Raven
Tree Swallow 
Black-capped Chickadee 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 
American Robin

Grey Catbird 
Northern Mockingbird 
European Starling 

Cedar Waxwing

Black and White Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Redstart
Song Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow 

Chipping Sparrow
Eastern Towhee 
Northern Cardinal 
Red-winged Blackbird 

Common Grackle
American Goldfinch 
House Sparrow 

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Peaks Island Bird List for April 6, 8, 9, and 30, 2016

Canada Goose
American Black Duck 
Mallard  3
Common Eider 

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye
Surf Scoter 
Red-breasted Merganser 
Common Loon 

Double-crested Cormorant
Red-necked Grebe 
Turkey Vulture

Northern Harrier

Bald Eagle 
Thick-billed Murre 
Black Guillemot 
Ring-billed Gull 
Herring Gull 
Great Black-backed Gull 
Mourning Dove 

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 
Downy Woodpecker 
Eastern Phoebe 

Eastern Wood Pewee
Blue Jay 
American Crow 
Tree Swallow 
Black-capped Chickadee 
Red-breasted Nuthatch 
Winter Wren 
Carolina Wren 
Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 
American Robin 
Northern Mockingbird 
European Starling 
Song Sparrow 
Northern Cardinal 
Red-winged Blackbird 
Common Grackle 

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Peaks Island Bird List for March 15, 16, and 22, 2016

Canada Goose

Wood Duck
American Black Duck 
Northern Shoveler 
Northern Pintail  
Common Eider 
White-winged Scoter 
Black Scoter 
Long-tailed Duck 
Bufflehead 

Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser 
Common Loon 
Red-necked Grebe 

Black Guillemot

Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull 
Great Black-backed Gull 
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 
Mourning Dove 
Pileated Woodpecker 
Blue Jay 
American Crow 
Fish Crow     

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Winter Wren
Northern Mockingbird     
Song Sparrow 
Northern Cardinal 
Red-winged Blackbird 
Rusty Blackbird 
Common Grackle 
American Goldfinch 
House Sparrow

 

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Peaks Island Bird List for February 7, 17, and 25, 2016
Canada Goose 
American Black Duck 
Common Eider 
Surf Scoter 
White-winged Scoter 
Black Scoter 
Long-tailed Duck 
Bufflehead 
Common Goldeneye 
Barrow's Goldeneye 
Hooded Merganser 
Common Merganser 
Red-breasted Merganser 
Common Loon 
Red-necked Grebe 
Great Cormorant 
Black Guillemot 
Herring Gull 

Ring-billed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull 
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 

Mourning Dove
Blue Jay 
American Crow

Black-capped Chickadee 
Northern Mockingbird 
European Starling 
Northern Cardinal 

House Finch

American Goldfinch
House Sparrow 

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Peaks Island Bird List for January 1, 24,25, and 28, 2016
American Black Duck 
Mallard 
Common Eider    
Surf Scoter 

Black Scoter
White-winged Scoter 

Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead 
Common Goldeneye 
Barrow's Goldeneye 
Common Merganser 
Red-breasted Merganser

Hooded Merganser 
Common Loon 
Horned Grebe 
Red-necked Grebe

Northern Harrier

Black Guillemot 
Great Cormorant 
Bald Eagle 
Herring Gull 

Ring-billed Gull

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Blue Jay 
American Crow

Black-capped Chickadee

Carolina Wren

Northern Mockingbird 
European Starling 

White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal

House Finch

American Goldfinch 

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Peaks Island Bird List for 2015 Christmas Bird Count, December 19, 2015
7:00AM - 2:00PM (6 miles)
42 species

Canada Goose 1
American Black Duck 70 
Mallard  9
Common Eider 150 
Surf Scoter  7
White-winged Scoter  4
Long-tailed Duck  35
Bufflehead  13
Common Goldeneye  5
Red-breasted Merganser  16
Common Loon  6
Red-necked Grebe  85    Extraordinary line of them out along back shore in sea current from Plum/Long islands
Great Cormorant  14
Bald Eagle  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Rough-legged Hawk  1
Purple Sandpiper  13
Razorbill  3
Black Guillemot  8
Black-legged Kittiwake  2
Ring-billed Gull  10
Herring Gull  400
Iceland Gull  1
Great Black-backed Gull  28
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  2
Mourning Dove  15
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  5
Blue Jay  12
American Crow  26
Black-capped Chickadee  22
White-breasted Nuthatch  4
Carolina Wren  2
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  205
American Tree Sparrow  6
Song Sparrow  2
Northern Cardinal  16
Red-winged Blackbird  1
House Finch  4
American Goldfinch  50
House Sparrow  55

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Assembled by: Patty Wainright