Mere Point Boat Launch 12-21-14
It’s been a full year now that I have been monitoring and counting birds at the Mere Point Boat Launch in Brunswick, Maine. I first suggested it as an eBird Hotspot shortly after moving here in February of 2014. It has been exciting to seen the list of birds at this location grow, and even more exciting for me to share it with friends. I loved having Chris Rohrer bird here with me last summer. Since then other birders have come and added to the data. We are currently up to 100 species for this location, of which I have seen 96, and I can only hope more species will be added as the birding continues! Here are just some of the species I observed last fall, along with the seasonal changes.
October 2014
Leaves were starting to turn, and there were a few boats still moored in the bay.
Double-crested cormorants still glided through calm waters.
Song Sparrows still foraged on green grass!
Canada Geese take wing 10-12-14
November 2014
Low tide in the bay exposes the golden eel grass on the rocks.
A female Common Eider paddles off the point 11-13-14
Winter preparations are underway and the buoys have been pulled from the water 11-13-14.
I spotted the first Horned Grebes down where Mere Point Bay joins with Casco Bay 11-13-14.
I was not happy to see this domestic cat walking across the boat launch area since I know how many sparrows and finches are still around! Domestic cats belong indoors and not out hunting song birds!
Just 2 weeks later the barriers were up and we had snow 11-29-14!
No more walking out on the floating dock!
They remove this for the winter. It will be reinstalled in the spring.
Long-tailed Ducks flying over the bay are another sign of the coming winter!
Hundreds of ducks and geese are in the bay far across the water where I cannot identify them all!
But it’s easy to identify these Canada Geese!
I went back to count birds the next day and found this Blue Jay…
…and this blue snow! 11-30-14
The parking lot still sported a melting layer of slush in front of the out houses and information boards. 11-30-14
It was starting to look like a bleak November day.
As always, the sentinel crow was there to keep an eye on things!
Soon Winter would come and change the boat launch even more.
Ducks and geese in the bay 11-29-14
Hi Kathie, the boat launch looks like a great place for birding.. Wonderful sightings of the ducks, geese, grebes and eider.. Have a great weekend and happy birding!
ReplyDeleteIt is a great place. thank you Eileen! I hope you had a good weekend as well!
DeleteGood for you, Kathy, for your initiative in establishing the Mere Point boat Launch as an e-bird hotspot! I certainly enjoyed your series of photographs documenting some of your sightings.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karen!
DeleteAll your sightings at the boat launch (except the cat) are wonderful, Kathie! I'm hoping to add more eBird hotspots to my area this spring/summer. Right now, there are three. Thanks for joining me for Feathers on Friday!
ReplyDeletepriairebirder, good for you! Finding new eBird spots is fun, but even more fun when you see others start to use them!
DeleteIt was fun to participate in Feathers on Friday as well.
Those are lovely scenes Kathie and so many pretty birds. I'm looking forward to getting some bird photos again.
ReplyDeleteDenise, thanks for stopping by! I look froward to seeing your bird photos as well!
DeleteI love your cormorant picture, so pretty. Great post of the passing seasons.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Celeste!
Delete