Cold Brook Birding (MWT)

Hooded Merganser in Cold Brook, Skowhegan, ME 5-13-11

I am always looking for new places to count birds and I do not let myself be deterred by grocery stores and parking lots. So it was that on a recent trip to Maine Gus and I drove into Skowhegan to pick up some pizza for the family at the local pizza hut in Route 201.

While Gus went into the restaurant to pay for the pizza, I grabbed my bins and headed for the edge of the asphalt.

I could hear all kinds of bird sound coming from the greenery beyond. down over the edge I looked and there found a small pond. above me the trees were full of movement as bird fluttered here and there among the leaves. I did not get to look for very long because we had to hurry home while the pizza was still hot, but as soon as we finished I grabbed my gear and drove back by myself to observe the birds. these are just some of the species I saw on my visit to Cold Brook.

Warbling Vireo 5-13-11

 

Eastern Kingbird 5-13-11

 

Baltimore Oriole 5-13-11

 

Yellow Warbler 5-13-11

 

Can you find the American Redstart in these branches? 5-13-11

 

A pair of Hooded mergansers in the pond 5-13-11.

 

Male Baltimore Oriole 5-13-11

 

Warbling Vireo 5-13-11

 

Common Yellowthroat 5-13-11

 

White-throated sparrow 5-13-11

I did not know this would be my last white-throated sparrow of the year when I saw it. I have not seen one since.

Many times I was looking down through brush like this. I could hear and see common grackles and red-winged blackbirds around the pond.

But I never had to get my feet wet or dirty. I just walked along the edge of the pond and parking lot for a short distance. The pond is just down through the trees. The birds were everywhere! Gus and I were back again on may 29th. We stopped on the way to my in-laws’ house to order pizza once again. and while Gus placed the order and waited for the pizza, I squeezed in about 10 minutes of birding at cold Brook. In that short amount of time I saw 13 species of birds, including tow juvenile European Starlings! Yes, I know they are invasive, but I can’t help myself. I thought these were cute!

Juvenile Starling 5-29-11

 

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Birds seen at Cold Brook in Skowhegan Maine:

Location: Cold Brook
Observation date: 5/13/11
Notes: What a place to watch birds! Discovered this when we went to pick up pizza. Gus went in, I stayed outside by edge of parking lot/pond. After we ate I came back alone to watch birds. What a treasure trove! sunny, warm evening. Photos.
Number of species: 18

Hooded Merganser 4
Herring Gull 1
Mourning Dove 3
Eastern Kingbird 3
Warbling Vireo 2
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 2
European Starling 3
Yellow Warbler 4
American Redstart 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Common Grackle 10
Baltimore Oriole 2
Purple Finch 1
American Goldfinch 4

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

 

Location: Cold Brook
Observation date: 5/29/11
Notes: Watched birds while husband bought pizza. cloudy, gray, 74F.
Number of species: 12

Hooded Merganser 1
Mourning Dove 1
Chimney Swift 6
Eastern Kingbird 1
American Crow 1
swallow sp. 1
Black-capped Chickadee 1
American Robin 1
European Starling 3
Yellow Warbler 1
Red-winged Blackbird 3
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Robert Mortenson of the Birding is Fun blog also knows how to find birds whenever and wherever he can. You can read his recent post on the subject by clicking the following link:

Exotic Parking Lot Birds