More Birds from Mitchell Field

The piers at Mitchell Field 9-8-15

 Whenever I go to Mitchell Field I have to start at the top of the road which is off Route 123 in south Harpswell. Since Mitchell Field is only 1/2 Mile from the end of my road, it makes it very easy to bird here often. When I first moved to Harpswell last summer there had only been about 11 eBird checklists submitted for this location. Since then I have done my best to add to that data, but birding at Mitchell Field is a pleasure. It is a place I go to to clear my mind and get lost in nature.

The blue water tower

 Whenever you drive into Mitchell Field you have to drive past this blue water tower. Keep your eyes open when passing, because lots of birds like to hang out around this water tower, especially in the summer and fall. I have yet to experience spring at Mitchell Field. So far this winter, most of the birds I am seeing are down near the shore. 

The top of the road.

 It has been too cold for me to walk the .7 mile road that is plowed in winter. The two mile trail that loops along the perimeter of the property is not plowed, but so far this winter the snow is not deep so some people walk it anyways.

Parking at the bottom of the field.

 In the summer I liked to park in the shade beneath this tree, but this area is not plowed in winter either. During the summer they have concerts every Sunday at that gazebo. I had to remember that Sunday afternoons are not the best time to bird at Mitchell Field! But, the concerts were nice and it was nice to see the community come out and enjoy this place.

Cormorants and gulls on the pier.

 I usually drive to the shore, park, and start birding. I always like to see what birds are hanging out on the pier and in the water. During the summer this pier is covered with cormorants, gulls, and pigeons. Sometimes I would see starlings out there as well. 

The mini estuary on the beach.

 There is a public beach, but it is very rocky, though once you get in the water, there is sand beneath your feet. A small creek flows into Middle Bay here, and during low tide many of the birds gather here to feed and drink the fresh water.

Osprey 9-15-15

 Except for the winter, it is not unusual to see an osprey fly overhead!

Canada Geese flying in 9-15-15

 Canada Geese like to take advantage of the estuary as well!

Canada Geese

Coming in for a landing

Sharing the beach with the gulls.

Contentment at the shore.

 I have seen Herring Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, Bonaparte Gulls, Common Terns and even a Black-legged Kittywake here! It's all about timing, but there were more gulls here during summer and fall. Now their numbers have diminished for the winter.

Semipalmated Sandpiper 9-18-15

 I have not seen many shorebirds at Mitchell Field. This little Semipalmated Sandpiper was the first I had ever seen here and it is the only one I have ever seen here. So far I have not recorded any other sandpipers or plovers here.

Yellow-rumped warbler 9-16-15

 However, Mitchell Field is thick with warblers during migration. I saw hundreds of Yellow-rumped warblers in the fields and hedgerows this fall. It will be interesting to see what spring will bring! But, if you check the eBird Hotspot list you will see that other birders have reported many warbler species here.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 9-16-15

Gray Catbird 9-18-15

 Catbirds were a commonly seen species during the summer and fall.

Common Loon in Middle Bay as seen from Mitchell Field shore.

 The loons started to show up around the middle of September.

Common Loon 9-18-2015

Juvenile Double-crested Cormorant 9-18-15

 I saw Double-crested Cormorants here all summer and fall. I have yet to see a Great Cormorant hanging around, however. But I keep hoping! This juvenile Double-crested Cormorant almost tricked me because it was so big and fat, but it is still just a double-crested cormorant!

Yellow-rumped warblers 9-29-15

 Autumn at Mitchell Field was very picturesque. I loved walking the perimeter trail.

Autumn Yellow-rumped Warbler with berries 9-29-15

 Below are some of the other birds I saw at various times during fall migration.

A very poor picture of a White-crowned sparrow seen along the pier 10-6-15

Common Yellowthroat female seen along the pier 10-6-15

Savannah Sparrow seen in the sumac along the pier during fall migration, 10-6-15

I love to go birding at Mitchell Field!

Links:

• Mitchell Field eBird Hotspot info
• Mitchell Field Harpswell Town info
• Mitchell Field Harpswell Heritage Land Trust (HHLT)

World Shorebird’s Day Challenges me with some Mystery Birds

 Yellowlegs in Flight at Wharton Point 9-6-14

I’ll make no bones about it. I am still learning my shorebirds, so when I went out to count birds on World Shorebirds Day at Wharton’s Point in Brunswick, Maine, wouldn’t you know I would encounter some bird species I could not identify. This is, of course, an excellent opportunity to learn, but I think I need some help with some of these. I could tell they were different, but have yet to figure out who they are! However, I do know Black-bellied Plovers and Double-crested Cormorants when I see them!

Black-bellied Plovers with Double-crested Cormorants in the bay.

 

Double-crested Cormorants in Maquoit Bay 9-6-14

These Snowy Egrets below were pretty easy to figure out!

In spite of the tall grasses, their white feathers are a beacon against the green and gold!

But then I spotted this fellow bobbing in the waves!

Mystery Bird #1

Notice the way is rides in the water. It is different than a gull.

This is it in comparison to some gulls. The mystery bird is on the right.

Suddenly the bird took flight and I snapped some shots.

Notice the gray to brownish breast, the white belly, the dark legs, and the gray to brown terminal band on the tail. I cannot find a picture like this in my bird guide, except maybe a jaeger? Perhaps a shearwater? But I could not find one colored like this.

Here’s another shot as it banked and turned.

 

This is hugely cropped, but this is the best view from below.

Any ideas anyone?

Update: I now believe this is a Parasitic Jaeger and have added it to my eBird checklist for this day! (see correction below)

11-19-14 **Double Update: This is an immature Laughing gull!  

I have now deleted Jaeger from my eBird checklist and added Laughing Gull. Thank you Doug Hitchcock and Kyle Lima for your help!

This Greater Yellowlegs is much easier to identify!

 

I love to watch them feeding in the water by sweeping their heads back and forth!

You can see that those long legs are very useful!

 

Front view of the Greater yellowlegs in the surf.

But then there were these two to baffle me again.

They are about the size of a Black-bellied plover, but the bill isn’t right.

 

 

 

Any ideas anyone with more shorebird experience than me?

In the shot below you can see their size in relation to the yellowlegs.

Once I get this figured out I will post the answers here.

World Shorebird’s Day sure was fun as well as a challenge!

Now that winter is almost here, all these shorebirds are long gone.

But the good news is, we have our winter birds returning!

• World Shorebird’s Day web page
• World Shorebird’s Day Summary Report 1
• World Shorebird’s Day Summary Report 2
• World Shorebird’s Day Facebook page
• My eBird checklist for Wharton’s Point on 9-6-2014

Peeps at the Boat Launch

 Semipalmated Plover in the cove at Mere Point Boat Launch

Ever since I moved to Mere Point I have been counting birds at the Boat Launch. Every time I go there I would look for “peeps,” those tiny little shorebirds we all like to see when we are near the ocean. Yet all through winter, spring and summer I never saw a one…until fall migration. You can only imagine my surprise and delight when I went down to count birds on September 3rd and found the little cove next to the boat ramps filled with peeps! Until then I had only seen Great Blue herons and Snowy Egrets in the shorebird category. Then, on the evening of August 22nd, I saw my first Spotted Sandpiper out on the rocks. It flew in low over the bay, landed brief on the rocks, then flew away again.

But, on the morning of September 3rd I went down mid-morning to count birds. I was so surprised to find my own little cove filled with peeps! The tide was going out and the first bird I saw was a much larger Greater Yellowlegs feeding along the tide line in the cove.

Already a good bit of the mudflats was revealed.

 

The Yellowlegs used its long legs to wade into the water.

Then I noticed the peeps.

A Semipalmated Sandpiper came closer.

 

Then the Semipalmated Plovers drew near.

 

I love the way they lift and fold their feet while feeding!

 

The larger Greater Yellowlegs does this as well.

Later in the month I also found a Lesser Yellowlegs in the cove.

We have both species here in Maine.

As the tide continued to recede more and more of the rocks were revealed and for the first time ever I went out on the rocks. I wanted to get closer to the birds and get better pictures. I soon learned I need to find out how to photograph birds in such reflective conditions. Plus, my lens is still doing that chattery thing, so sometimes it just wouldn’t focus right. Still, I did get proof I saw these birds!

Can you find the peeps in this photo?

There are 4 in this cropped shot, but there were many more running around on the rocks and in the mud! The Semipalmated Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers seem to like hanging out with each other. I often found them together.

Whenever I am at the boat launch counting birds I am usually being watched by a crow high in an Eastern white Pine. Sometimes the other crows are feeding down on the rocks in the eel grass as well!

This soupy mud intimidates me, but not the Greater yellowlegs!

You can see its size in comparison to a beer can someone left behind!

This is a view of the cove as seen from the end of the floating dock.

 

On September 5th the inevitable Great Blue Heron flew in.

 

It was soon followed by a Snowy Egret.

I saw snowies here several times, but never a Great Egret.

During the summer I often saw osprey flyover the bay.

This one flew over when I was counting birds for World Shorebirds Day on September 5th. I was so glad to finally add some shorebirds to my Mere Point Boat Launch bird list! All the eel grass has turned brown now with the colder weather and water temperatures and I am now searching the rocks for a Purple Sandpiper! I will let you know if I ever find one here!

 Greater Yellowlegs 9-5-14

 

 Semipalmated Plover 9-3-14

• Mere Point Boat Launch is an eBird Hotspot
• My Mere Point Boat Launch eBird list for 9-3-14
• My Mere Point Boat Launch eBird list for 9-5-14

Mere Point Cove with eel grass covered rocks