Peaks Island Land Preserve, P.O. Box 99, Peaks Island, ME 04108
Peaks Island's Bird Lists, 2018
Michael LaCombe's daily bird sightings from 2018 are shown below along with the number of birds for each species, weather conditions, and observation times.
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, we hope you will compare birds seen within each month for 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Page Design by Marty
Page Assembled by Patty Wainright
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Peaks Island Annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) Lists (include ferry ride counts)
December 15, 2018
Participants/Team: Dan Nickerson (Leader/Ravenwatcher), Beth Nickerson, Kathryn Ostermier (Scribe), Krista Grotto, Joseph Grotto, Michael LaCombe (PI; Driver 1), and Sam Wainright (PI; Driver 2)
Early morning ferry to Peaks Island
6:51- 7:11 AM
Distance: 1.00 mile
Comments: Portland's Peaks Island CBC team (DN, BN, KO, KG, JG)
Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.8.2 Build 15
5 Mallard (Domestic type)
18 American Black Duck
1 Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid)
14 Common Eider
23 Surf Scoter
25 Long-tailed Duck
45 Herring Gull
1 Iceland Gull
7 Great Black-backed Gull
2 Common Loon
2 American Crow
Number of Taxa: 11
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On Peaks Island
Start: 7:11 AM
Distance: 5.00 miles
448 Minutes
Comments: Portland and Peaks Island CBC team (DN, BN, KO, KG, JG, ML, SW)
Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.8.2 Build 15
12 Canada Goose
5 Mallard
13 American Black Duck
100 Common Eider
17 Surf Scoter
63 White-winged Scoter
12 Black Scoter
45 Long-tailed Duck
49 Bufflehead
3 Common Goldeneye
25 Red-breasted Merganser
4 Wild Turkey
1 Horned Grebe
25 Red-necked Grebe
25 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
13 Mourning Dove
6 Razorbill
8 Black Guillemot
2 Ring-billed Gull
9 Herring Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gull
32 Common Loon
1 Great Cormorant
1 Red-shouldered Hawk -- Identified by CBC members and coordinator Dan Nickerson. Buteo with slower wing beats and buoyancy; Rusty breast, upper wings dark, banded tail (put on with a 1” brush); generally more colorful than your average hawk.
4 Red-bellied Woodpecker
5 Downy Woodpecker
2 Hairy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker
1 Peregrine Falcon
20 Blue Jay
10 American Crow
16 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Tufted Titmouse
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
3 White-breasted Nuthatch
2 Winter Wren
1 Carolina Wren
2 Golden-crowned Kinglet
1 Hermit Thrush
1 Northern Mockingbird
16 European Starling
12 Cedar Waxwing
4 House Finch
15 American Goldfinch
3 American Tree Sparrow
1 Fox Sparrow
20 Dark-eyed Junco
2 White-throated Sparrow
16 Song Sparrow
5 Red-winged Blackbird
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
16 Northern Cardinal
150 House Sparrow
Number of Taxa: 53
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Afternoon ferry back to Portland
2:30 - 3:05 PM
2.00 miles
Comments: Portland's Peaks Island CBC team (DN, BN, KO, KG, JG)
Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.8.2 Build 15
85 Canada Goose
20 Common Eider
12 Surf Scoter
28 Long-tailed Duck
10 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
3 Ring-billed Gull
150 Herring Gull
45 Great Black-backed Gull
25 Common Loon
1 Bald Eagle
Number of Taxa: 10
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Peaks Island Bird List for December 6, 2018
1:00 PM - 2:15 PM
Distance: 2.0 miles
Comments: Cold, 17 degrees with wind chill; blue skies; ebbing high tide.
17 species
American Black Duck 1
Common Eider 47
White-winged Scoter 2
Black Scoter 6
Bufflehead 7
Common Goldeneye 1
Red-breasted Merganser 8
Black Guillemot 1
Herring Gull 8
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 2
American Goldfinch 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Northern Cardinal 1
House Sparrow 50
Peaks Island Bird List for October 31, 2018
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Distance: 1.0 mile
Comments: Overcast, low forties, cold wind; very few birds on back shore; with Sam Wainright
19 species
Mallard 6
American Black Duck 2
Common Eider 22
Black Guillemot 2
Ring-billed Gull 4
Herring Gull 12
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Northern Harrier 1 Low, thirty feet in the air overhead; female or immature bird; the bird of the day.
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
European Starling 14
American Goldfinch 4
Dark-eyed Junco 8
Song Sparrow 12
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
House Sparrow 4
Peaks Island Bird List for October 28, 2018
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
Distance: 1.0 mile
Comments: One hour before high tide; huge surf; storm abated early this AM
12 species
American Black Duck 6
Common Eider 100
Black Scoter 6
Semipalmated Plover 2
Laughing Gull 2
Ring-billed Gull 100 Large numbers of gulls in Wharf Cove, equally divided between herring and ring bills; six BLSC's in with them.
Herring Gull 100
Great Black-backed Gull 20
Double-crested Cormorant 2
American Crow 4
European Starling 40
Yellow-rumped Warbler 300 A conservative estimate; clearly a fall-out of them, swarming all along the back shore in flocks of 25-50 or more each. Large flocks reported at Monhegan and Hurricane islands two weeks ago, and smaller numbers all over the Maine coast; Quite a spectacle.
Peaks Island Bird List for October 26, 2018
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Distance: 2.0 miles
Comments: Sunny, low forties, near high tide
28 species
Mallard 11
American Black Duck 15
Common Eider 55
Hooded Merganser 3 In Ice Pond
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 18
Semipalmated Plover 4
Dunlin 2 at Wharf Cove
Pectoral Sandpiper 1 At Wharf Cove, as yesterday
Semipalmated Sandpiper 4
Ring-billed Gull 12
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 2
American Crow 5
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Brown Creeper 1 Alder Brook Road
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Low, darting in bushes, back shore
American Robin 6 Small flock behind Battery Steele
European Starling 15
House Finch 2
Dark-eyed Junco 14
White-crowned Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 30
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 25 Still very active along back shore; hawking insects at Wharf Cove
House Sparrow 25
Peaks Island Bird List for October 25, 2018
8:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Distance: 4.0 miles
Comments: Mostly sunny, low forties with wind chill at 30 degrees; rising tide
37 species
Mallard 10
American Black Duck 16
Common Eider 47
Red-breasted Merganser 5
Semipalmated Plover 4 Demonstrating that he is semipalmated
Dunlin 4
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Black Guillemot 1
Ring-billed Gull 40
Herring Gull 11
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Common Loon 3
Great Cormorant 7
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 1 Immature; flying low over back shore to Trout Pond
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Brown Creeper 1 In woods on Prince Street
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 11
Purple Finch 12 In a flock of a dozen in one large bush, the three I saw clearly all had pink only
American Goldfinch 14
Snow Bunting 4
Dark-eyed Junco 30 Very numerous and all over the island
White-crowned Sparrow 6
White-throated Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 80 The most numerous species on a very busy back shore scene
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 22 All over the back shore area; probably twice as many that I didn't identify. they were even competing with the shore birds at Wharf Cove
Northern Cardinal 5
House Sparrow 120
Peaks Island Bird List for October 11, 2018
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: Steady rain, fifties, fog 100 yards off chore; with S. Channon
16 species
Mallard 3
American Black Duck 5
Common Eider 18
Black Scoter 19 In Diamond Pass, far out
Common Goldeneye 1 Off Evergreen Landing; solitary
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 18
Herring Gull 45
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Common Loon 1
Great Cormorant 2
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 5
Northern Mockingbird 1
Song Sparrow 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 7
Peaks Island Bird List for October 9, 2018
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: High tide; sunny, hot, 78 degrees and very humid
23 species
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 2
American Black Duck 15
Common Eider 65
Mourning Dove 4
Semipalmated Plover 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Ring-billed Gull 21
Herring Gull 8
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Common Loon 2
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 5
Common Raven 2
Brown Creeper 1 Scuttled up large shag-barked tree behind Battery Steele; distinctly uniformly brown
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 4
American Pipit 1 Solitary, feeding in weed wrack Wharf Cove; tail bobbing when still
Savannah Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler 7
House Sparrow 8
Peaks Island Bird List for October 7, 2018
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: Cloudy, fifties, intermittent light rain; high tide today at 10:07 AM; with Sam Wainright
22 species
American Black Duck 7
Common Eider 30
Mourning Dove 1
Semipalmated Plover 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 22 Feeding in weed wrack at Wharf Cove; no LESA in the flock
Ring-billed Gull 40 At Wharf Cove, high tide
Herring Gull 4
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 In trees upper Centennial St. near Island Ave
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 1
European Starling 20
Dark-eyed Junco 2
White-throated Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 8
Baltimore Oriole 1 High in tree at junction of Centennial Street and Island Ave
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20 Along back shore, concentrated most in shrubs bordering Wharf Cove hawking behavior frequent
Northern Cardinal 1
House Sparrow 14
Peaks Island Bird List for October 6, 2018
8:50 AM - 10:10 AM
Distance: 2.0 miles
Comments: High tide; sunny, high forties, low fifties, high surf
28 species
Mallard 4
American Black Duck 11
Common Eider 98
Semipalmated Plover 1 HUGE, compared to the LESP's with which it was feeding
Least Sandpiper 22 Quite small, and dwarfed by the single SEPL among them; yellow-green legs; feeding carefully amid the kelp at high tide. The clinchers are the leg color and the striking size difference with the plover
Black Guillemot 2
Ring-billed Gull 88 In Wharf Cove at high tide, feeding on an insect hatch
Herring Gull 12
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Common Loon 2
Great Cormorant 1 Size and thick neck striking compared to the few DCCO's still around
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 2
Tree Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling 2
American Goldfinch 9
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 22
Red-winged Blackbird 7
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 1
House Sparrow 11
Peaks Island Bird List for September 23, 2018
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Distance: 2.0 miles
Comments: Sunny, sixties, falling tide
14 species
Wood Duck 3
Mallard 3
American Black Duck 6
Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid) 2
Common Eider 87
Black Guillemot 4
Herring Gull 33
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Double-crested Cormorant 14
Blue Jay 2
Common Raven 1
Cedar Waxwing 1
American Goldfinch 1
Song Sparrow 2
Yellow Warbler 1
Peaks Island Bird List for September 16, 2018
9:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: With Sam and Patty Wainright; 65 degrees, sunny
34 species
Wood Duck 5
American Black Duck 2
Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid) 8
Common Eider 172
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 6
Mourning Dove 3
Black Guillemot 10
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Common Loon 4
Double-crested Cormorant 43
Great Blue Heron 4
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 13
American Crow 17
Tree Swallow 18
Black-capped Chickadee 17
Tufted Titmouse 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 4
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 2
Cedar Waxwing 3
American Goldfinch 12
Song Sparrow 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 3
Northern Cardinal 2
House Sparrow 30
Peaks Island Bird List for September 2, 2018
7:15 AM - 10:00 AM
Distance: 2.0 miles
Comments: With Sam Wainwright; sixties, humid, falling tide
Highlight of the AM - minke whale off back shore
31 species
American Black Duck 5
Common Eider 157
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 4
Mourning Dove 7
Laughing Gull 2
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 42
Great Black-backed Gull 8
Northern Gannet 1
Double-crested Cormorant 13
Osprey 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Alder Flycatcher 1
Blue Jay 11
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Gray Catbird 14
Brown Thrasher 1
Northern Mockingbird 3
European Starling 8
Cedar Waxwing 3
American Goldfinch 9
White-throated Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 4
Eastern Towhee 3
Red-winged Blackbird 9
Kentucky Warbler 1 Low in bushes, with good long looks from both of us; uniform olive above with more striking green of tail; uniformly yellow underneath, down to coverts; no white (in contrast to female COYE); slight black horizontal streaking at lores, cap olive, without any contrasting crest; prominent eye ring, but white and not yellow, and only with posterior half of a complete ring. (see p. 633 Stokes, female) Medium in size; judging from photos in Sibley's, Crossley, Stephenson & Whittle, and Peterson Warbler Field Guide, this is a first fall female. Seen at corner of Seashore Drive and Alder Brook Road.
Common Yellowthroat 5
Northern Cardinal 2
House Sparrow 34
Peaks Island Bird List for August 29, 2018
9:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Distance: 2.0 miles
Comments: What started at 75 degrees and 70% humidity ended at noon as another intolerable example of global warming
18 species
Common Eider 89 (11 immature male eiders; 15 immature female eiders)
Mourning Dove 4
Herring Gull 55
Great Black-backed Gull 11
Double-crested Cormorant 13
Great Egret 1 (Fly over from Cushing's I. Also, one seen on Peaks by Palfreys)
Empidonax sp. 1 (Probably an ALFL, but not a sound)
Eastern Phoebe 3 (Three together at Brackett St. marshes; migrating flock?)
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Gray Catbird 3
Northern Mockingbird 5 (Together; migrating? four seemed smallish; immatures?)
European Starling 5
Cedar Waxwing 13
American Goldfinch 5
Song Sparrow 11
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 (Call only; behind Battery Steele)
House Sparrow 97
Peaks Island Bird List for August 16, 2018
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: Very hot and humid; low tide; with Sam and Patty Wainright
29 species (+3 other taxa)
American Black Duck 7
Common Eider 131 (125 female adults; 4 immature males; 2 immature females)
Mourning Dove 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
peep sp. 12
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 15 (11 adults and 4 juveniles)
Great Black-backed Gull 9 (8 adults and 1 juvenile)
Double-crested Cormorant 41
Great Blue Heron 1
Osprey 3
Broad-winged Hawk 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Empidonax sp. 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 20
Black-capped Chickadee 11
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 1
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 1
Cedar Waxwing 1
American Goldfinch 20
Song Sparrow 4
Eastern Towhee 3
warbler sp. (Parulidae sp.) 1 (Possibly a Wilson's Warbler)
Northern Cardinal 12
House Sparrow 4
Peaks Island Bird List for August 15, 2018
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Distance: 2.0 miles
Comments: The long way to the grocery store; hot and humid
21 species
American Black Duck 1
Common Eider 140 (135 females and 5 immature males)
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 11
Mourning Dove 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Black Guillemot 1
Herring Gull 12
Great Black-backed Gull 7
Double-crested Cormorant 9
Osprey 4
Downy Woodpecker 1
American Crow 3
Gray Catbird 2
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 1
Cedar Waxwing 5
American Goldfinch 8
Song Sparrow 4
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Northern Cardinal 1
Peaks Island Bird List for August 1, 2018
8:15 AM - 10:20 AM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: With Sam and Patty Wainright
37 species
American Black Duck 13
Common Eider (20 female adults and 4 immatures)
Double-crested Cormorant 17
Great Blue Heron 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
Glossy Ibis 1
Osprey 1
Black Guillemot 3
Herring Gull 51 (40 adults and 11 juveniles)
Great Black-backed Gull (10 adults and 2 juveniles)
Common Tern 29
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1
Mourning Dove 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Eastern Phoebe 3 (Family)
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 20
Black-capped Chickadee 24
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 2
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 7
Northern Mockingbird 1
Cedar Waxwing 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Song Sparrow 12
Northern Cardinal 15
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Common Grackle 3
American Goldfinch 26
House Sparrow 22
Peaks Island Bird List for July 29, 2018
7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
2.0 miles
23 species (+1 other taxa)
Comments: Brackett Church Silent Auction Bird Trip with Claudine Weatherford, Jeremy Wyant, Timothy Wyant
Mallard 1 Female mallard x black duck hybrid (?)
American Black Duck 5
Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid) 1
Common Eider 2
Double-crested Cormorant 7
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Herring Gull 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
American Crow 2
Tree Swallow 5
American Robin 1
Gray Catbird 15
European Starling 6
Cedar Waxwing 10
Common Yellowthroat 2
American Redstart 2
Yellow Warbler 3
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Song Sparrow 6
Eastern Towhee 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 8
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 12
Peaks Island Bird List for July 21, 2018
7:30 AM - 10:45 AM
4.0 miles
Comments: Near full tide; 60's with dense fog clearing by 9:30AM
41 species
American Black Duck 8
Common Eider 41
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Green Heron 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Cooper's Hawk 3
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Herring Gull 34
Great Black-backed Gull 13
Caspian Tern 2
Common Tern 3
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 4
Mourning Dove 3
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker. 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 3
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 8
Tree Swallow 5
Black-capped Chickadee 1
House Wren 1
American Robin 1
Gray Catbird 18
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 13
Cedar Waxwing 3
Common Yellowthroat 2
Yellow Warbler 4
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 13
Eastern Towhee. 4
Northern Cardinal 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak. 1
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Common Grackle 1
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 32
Peaks Island Bird List for June 26, 2018
7:00 AM - 11:00 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: Sunny, sixties, rising tide; with P. Wainright, A. Whitman, K. McCarthy
42 species
American Black Duck 4
Common Eider 53 (46 females, 3 males; 4 immature ones)
Common Loon 2
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 3
Snowy Egret 1
Glossy Ibis 5
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Common Tern 1
Mourning Dove 4
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Alder Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Warbling Vireo 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 5
Common Raven 1
Tree Swallow 16
Black-capped Chickadee 3
House Wren 1
American Robin 7
Gray Catbird 11
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 10
Cedar Waxwing 5
Common Yellowthroat 10
American Redstart 7
Yellow Warbler 16
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Wilson's Warbler 1 Behind Battery Steele, where seen previously; black cap
Song Sparrow 25
Eastern Towhee 5
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 17
Common Grackle 1
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 16
House Sparrow 35
Peaks Island Bird List for June 24, 2018 (Annual PeakFest Bird Walk)
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
0.6 mile
Comments: Partly cloudy changing to sunny skies; incoming tide 3/4's; PeaksFest Birding on backshore with Anne (PI), Lori (NJ), Megan (PI), Theresa (RI), and Patty (PI)
27 species
Common Eider 30
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 9
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
Black Guillemot 1
Herring Gull 12
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Common Tern 2
Mourning Dove 3
Alder Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 6
Tree Swallow 16
Gray Catbird 4
European Starling 4
Cedar Waxwing 1
Common Yellowthroat 5
Yellow Warbler 9
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Song Sparrow 11
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 14
House Finch 6
American Goldfinch 12
Peaks Island Bird List for June 23, 2018
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
1.5 miles
Comments: With P. Wainright
28 species
American Black Duck 5
Common Eider 103
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 1
Herring Gull 7
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Mourning Dove 7
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 6
Tree Swallow 18
Barn Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 5
American Robin 6
Gray Catbird 11
European Starling 13
Cedar Waxwing 3
Common Yellowthroat 6
American Redstart 8
Yellow Warbler 27 Peaks seems to be overrun with them this year.
Song Sparrow 18
Eastern Towhee 4
Northern Cardinal 7
Red-winged Blackbird 16
Common Grackle 2
American Goldfinch 9
House Sparrow 6
Peaks Island Bird List for June 21, 2018
7:00 AM - 10:00 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: High tide; overcast; 60 degrees
30 species
American Black Duck 5
Common Eider 109
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 19
Great Blue Heron 2
Herring Gull 19
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1
Mourning Dove 3
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 11
Common Raven 1
Tree Swallow 18
Black-capped Chickadee 1
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 19
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 22
Cedar Waxwing 6
Common Yellowthroat 5
American Redstart 2
Yellow Warbler 31 All over the island
Song Sparrow 13
Eastern Towhee 3
Northern Cardinal 4
Red-winged Blackbird 17
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Common Grackle 5
American Goldfinch 13
House Sparrow 9
Peaks Island Bird List for May 26, 2018
Time: 5:15 AM - 6:15 AM
Comments: Across from 8th Maine: On deck with coffee; low tide, sunrise at 5:03, heavy overcast with storm coming in from west
20 species
Canada Goose 6
Common Eider 4 In the cove
Double-crested Cormorant 7 Flight over the cove
Glossy Ibis 3 In flight overhead; curved bill un-mistakeable; first sighting for me this year
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 5
Black-capped Chickadee 1
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling X Too numerous to count
Cedar Waxwing 1
Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Heard, never seen; thin high pitched two note call repeated three times, identical to call in iBird Pro: zee-se, zee-se, zee-se. Answered the call but would not come in. Just after sunrise at 5:15; not call of BAWW, AMRE, or CMWA; could not get a recording with iPhone.
Yellow Warbler 3 Came readily to call; evident very early, just after sunrise
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 In silver maple next to deck
House Sparrow X Too numerous to count
Peaks Island Bird List for May 25, 2018
Time: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: With Sam and Patty Wainright
41 species
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 5
American Black Duck 7
Common Eider 27
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 1
Snowy Egret 1
Osprey 1
Black Guillemot 2
Laughing Gull 1
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 8
Mourning Dove 5
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 5
Tree Swallow 6
Barn Swallow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Veery 1
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 4
European Starling 10
Common Yellowthroat 5
American Redstart 4
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 8
Song Sparrow 8
Eastern Towhee 3
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 13
Common Grackle 5
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 8
House Sparrow 10
Peaks Island Bird List for May 16, 2018
Time: 8:15 AM - 10:15 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: Cold; 47 degrees, overcast, low tide; with P. Wainright
33 species
Mallard 2
Common Eider 51
Double-crested Cormorant 22
Laughing Gull 2
Herring Gull 8
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Mourning Dove 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 3
Tree Swallow 11
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 7
European Starling 13
Northern Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
American Redstart 3
Yellow Warbler 6
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 6
Eastern Towhee 3
Northern Cardinal 5
Baltimore Oriole 2 Florida Avenue, by the geyser
Red-winged Blackbird 13
Common Grackle 5
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 18
Peaks Island Bird List for May 14, 2018
Time: 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: With Patty Wainright; overcast, chilly wind, 48 degrees, low tide
34 species
Mallard 1
Common Eider 22
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Snowy Egret 1
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 1
Herring Gull 7
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 9
Mourning Dove 1
Alder Flycatcher 1 Back shore drive, just to left of Higgins' place
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 5
Common Raven 1
Barn Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 7
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 11
Northern Waterthrush 1 Behind SW end of Battery Steele; long views
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
Yellow Warbler 9
Blackpoll Warbler 1 Along Brackett Avenue near marshes
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Alder Brook Road
Black-throated Green Warbler 5
Song Sparrow 12
Eastern Towhee 3
Northern Cardinal 9
Red-winged Blackbird 9
Common Grackle 4
American Goldfinch 3
House Sparrow 10
Peaks Island Bird List for April 23, 2018
Time: 3:30 PM
Protocol: Incidental
1 species
Osprey 1 House Island buoy; female on nest, male on rail, standing guard
Peaks Island Bird List for April 23, 2018
Time: 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: An hour past high tide; high forties, low fifties; bright sunny day, mild wind
25 species
Brant 2 Off back shore
Mallard 6 In flight in the morning sun, quite beautiful
Common Eider 33
Black Scoter 11
Wild Turkey 1 Bold, brazen, unafraid; walked right by me on back shore drive
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Great Blue Heron 1 Overhead in flight, on Alder Brook Rd.
Herring Gull 200 Ram Island alive with them this morning
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Mourning Dove 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 5
Black-capped Chickadee 11
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Alder Brook Rd. by Wainrights
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 High in Wainright's trees, Alder Brook Rd.
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 23
Palm Warbler (Yellow) 1 By marsh waters on Florida Ave. Very active; a lucky photo
White-throated Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 14
Northern Cardinal 7
Red-winged Blackbird 16
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 7
Peaks Island Bird List for April 3, 2018
Time: 11:15 AM - 1:45 PM
4.0 miles
Comments: Overcast, 42, cold SE wind, rising tide 3/4's
30 species
Canada Goose 2
Mallard 6
Common Eider 82
Surf Scoter 16
White-winged Scoter 10
Black Scoter 22
Long-tailed Duck 11
Bufflehead 1
Common Goldeneye 5
Red-breasted Merganser 16
Wild Turkey 1
Common Loon 5
Black Guillemot 3
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 12
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 12
Black-capped Chickadee 6
European Starling 11
Song Sparrow 20
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 1
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 1
House Sparrow 13
Peaks Island Bird List for March 21, 2018
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
3.0 miles
Comments: With Patty Wainright; forties, overcast, rising tide
23 species
American Black Duck 3
Common Eider 14
Black Scoter 20
Long-tailed Duck 3
Bufflehead 10
Common Goldeneye 3
Wild Turkey 12
Black Guillemot 2
Herring Gull 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 12
Mourning Dove 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 21
Black-capped Chickadee 18
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 6
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 6
Peaks Island Bird List for March 20, 2018
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3.0 miles
Comments: Bright sun; low forties; rising tide; little wind
18 species
Common Eider 73
Black Scoter 21
Long-tailed Duck 2
Red-breasted Merganser 7
Wild Turkey 12 The person who tipped me off says he has 30-50 in his woods, feeds them 10 lbs of sunflower seeds a day, and his neighbor feeds them cracked corn. The birds are huge.
Common Loon 7
Turkey Vulture 2
Black Guillemot 1
Herring Gull 12
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 23
Mourning Dove 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 11
Black-capped Chickadee 21
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
Northern Cardinal 2
House Finch 5
Peaks Island Bird List for March 18, 2018
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:15 PM
3.0 miles
Comments: Bright sunny day; cold, with 15 degree wind chill
17 species
American Black Duck 2
Common Eider 28
Black Scoter 32
Long-tailed Duck 5
Red-breasted Merganser 3
Herring Gull 9
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Tolman Heights
Downy Woodpecker 2 Tolman Heights
Pileated Woodpecker 2 Alderbrook Road
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 7
Black-capped Chickadee 9
Carolina Wren 1 Alderbrook Road
American Robin 3 Together, outer Brackett Ave
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 4
House Finch 5 At junction of Alderbrook and Brackett
Peaks Island Bird List for March 16, 2018
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
4.0 miles
Comments: Mostly sunny, 35 degrees, with cold NW wind, wind chill 22; incoming tide
17 species
Mallard 11
American Black Duck 1
Common Eider 107
Black Scoter 47
Long-tailed Duck 2
Red-breasted Merganser 7
Herring Gull 9
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 18
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 6
Black-capped Chickadee 8
Brown Creeper 1 Behind Wainright's; on its large shaggy barked tree
Song Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 1
House Finch 4 Sounded like forty
House Sparrow 5
Peaks Island Bird List for March 15, 2018
Time: 9:45 AM - 11:15 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: Mostly cloudy; thirties, cold wind, high tide
21 species
Mallard 7
American Black Duck 6
Common Eider 85
Surf Scoter 4
White-winged Scoter 6
Black Scoter 34
Long-tailed Duck 6
Bufflehead 6
Red-breasted Merganser 9
Common Loon 1
Herring Gull 9
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 Yellow legs, on chimney over by City Point
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 13
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
American Crow 9
Black-capped Chickadee 3
European Starling 60
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 4
House Sparrow 5
Peaks Island Bird List for March 8, 2018
Time: 4:30 PM
Incidental Sighting
Comments: Crossing on 4:30 ferry; large migrating flock; flock seen early over Jamaica Bay, Brooklyn
1 species
Brant 55 Large string over Casco Bay, while crossing on 4:30 ferry
"They are impressive: fly in single file, quite low and fast, with a purpose and not much talk.
Headed for Hudson Bay, where they summer." (ML)
Peaks Island Bird List for February 28, 2018
Time: 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
4.0 miles
Comments: High tide, overcast early, then sunny; 40's
32 species
Mallard 11
American Black Duck 4
Common Eider 107
White-winged Scoter 1
Black Scoter 27
Long-tailed Duck 5
Bufflehead 8
Common Goldeneye 1
Red-breasted Merganser 11
Common Loon 3
Great Cormorant 11
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 11
Mourning Dove 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Peregrine Falcon 1 Swooping over Battery Steele marshes, scattering birds everywhere; breathtaking
Eastern Kingbird 1 This is a puzzler; seen at a distance and photo taken with 700mm telephoto; appeared larger and darker than an eastern wood-peewee; no recorded sighting of an EAKI on bird before April
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 7
Black-capped Chickadee 11
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 14
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 6
Red-winged Blackbird 11
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 45
Peaks Island Bird List for February 20, 2018
Time: 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: Overcast with occasional light rain; 40's, fog off shore; rising tide
19 species
Canada Goose 11
Mallard 11
American Black Duck 3
Common Eider 35
Black Scoter 13
Long-tailed Duck 1
Bufflehead 18
Common Loon 3
Herring Gull 5
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 9
Mourning Dove 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 9
Black-capped Chickadee 1
European Starling 5
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 1
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 14
Peaks Island Bird List for February 17, 2018
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
4.0 miles
Comments: Bright sun, rising tide, cold, high twenties; with Patty and Sam Wainright
28 species
American Black Duck 3
Common Eider 138
Surf Scoter 5
White-winged Scoter 2
Black Scoter 28
Long-tailed Duck 13
Bufflehead 22
Common Goldeneye 2
Red-breasted Merganser 11
Common Loon 16
Great Cormorant 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Bald Eagle 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Herring Gull 3
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 29
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 12
Black-capped Chickadee 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
Peaks Island Bird List for February 14, 2018
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
3.0 miles
Comments: 45 degrees, sunny, low tide
16 species
Canada Goose 41
Mallard 17
American Black Duck 2
Common Eider 63
Long-tailed Duck 7
Bufflehead 13
Common Loon 5
Red-necked Grebe 1
Herring Gull 9
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 15
Black-capped Chickadee 1
European Starling 5
Northern Cardinal 1
House Finch 5
House Sparrow 43
Peaks Island Bird List for February 8, 2018
Time: 8:45 AM - 11:45 AM
3.0 miles
17 species
Canada Goose 9
Mallard 13
American Black Duck 2
Common Eider 4
Surf Scoter 11
Black Scoter 8
Long-tailed Duck 12
Bufflehead 20
Common Goldeneye 2
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Common Loon 1
Herring Gull 32
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 11
American Crow 17
Northern Cardinal 3
House Sparrow 6
Peaks Island Bird List for January 24, 2018
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3.0 miles
Comments: With P. Wainright; overcast, low thirties, after ice storm
15 species
Canada Goose 5
American Black Duck 4
Common Eider 105
Surf Scoter 3
White-winged Scoter 19
Black Scoter 225 Raft of 130 in Diamond Pass with 10 WWSC
Long-tailed Duck 3
Bufflehead 9
Red-breasted Merganser 7
Common Loon 10
Herring Gull 7
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 21
American Crow 2
Northern Mockingbird 1 At junction Great Pond Road and Seashore Drive
House Finch 8
Peaks Island Bird List for January 15, 2018
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
3.0 miles
Comments: With Peter, Jill King; very cold
18 species
Common Eider 55
Surf Scoter 4
White-winged Scoter 4
Long-tailed Duck 5
Bufflehead 32
Common Goldeneye 9
Red-breasted Merganser 6
Common Loon 6
Black Guillemot 5
Ring-billed Gull 3
Herring Gull 17
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 33
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 5
Black-capped Chickadee 2
European Starling 13
House Sparrow 7
Peaks Island Bird List for January 9, 2018
Time: 9:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: Sunny, low thirties, falling tide
23 species
Canada Goose 175
Mallard 2
American Black Duck 2
Common Eider 88
Surf Scoter 5
Long-tailed Duck 4
Bufflehead 18
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Common Loon 2
Great Cormorant 2
Herring Gull 18
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Mourning Dove 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 7
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
White-throated Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 2
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 30
Peaks Island Bird List for January 3, 2018
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Distance: 3.0 miles
Comments: Sunny, 'warm', in the 20's; high tide
17 species
Canada Goose 43 In bay by TEIA, very close to shore, at high tide
Common Eider 187
Surf Scoter 5
White-winged Scoter 6
Black Scoter 12
Long-tailed Duck 13
Bufflehead 37
Common Goldeneye 13
Hooded Merganser 1
Red-breasted Merganser 5
Common Loon 7
Northern Harrier 1
Black Guillemot 3
Herring Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 33
Blue Jay 1
Peaks Island Bird List for January 2, 2018
Time: 2:30 PM
Comments: Crossing on ferry to Peaks
1 species
Bald Eagle 1 Above Diamond Pass between Peaks and Little Diamond; being harassed by four crows