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.
These bird lists are listed sequentially - the most recent one on top.
Michael's individual lists are submitted to Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird.
By providing these lists each month, we hope you will compare monthly lists between 2016 and 2017.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Assembled by: Patty Wainright
Acquiring, preserving, and stewarding open space for public use on Peaks Island.
