Trip Reports | Home                                                                             fssbirding.org.uk

Maine

USA

17 June - 1 July 2014

 

Observers: F. Simpson

 

Introduction


 

Having birded the desert states of Arizona and New Mexico, and experienced Florida's waterbirds on recent work trips, I began thinking about a destination, somewhere in the north, to see and hear many of North America's wood-warblers and thrushes. In addition, I'd always wanted to hear a Common Loon (Great Northern Diver) calling in the wild. Maine appeared to be the best choice: mostly forested, plenty of lakes, camping friendly, not many people, and essentially for sound recording, little anthropogenic noise pollution. I met about five birders in two weeks and at some sites like Brownfield Bog I didn't encounter another human in hours of birding and listening. This report details the species I encountered at a relaxed pace with the focus more on sound recording than rushing from site to site to amass a large species list. 

 

 

Highlights


 

Common Loon, American Bittern, Wood Duck, American Black Duck, Hooded Merganser, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Bald Eagle, Wild Turkey, Piping Plover, Willet, Upland Sandpiper, Barred Owl, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Black-backed Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Philadelphia Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Gray Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Bicknell's Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Palm Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Canada Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Nelson's Sparrrow, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird & Evening Grosbeak.

 

 

Literature, references & site guides used


Trip reports were obtained from cloudbirders.com and birdtours.co.uk

Pierson, E. C. 1996. A Birder's Guide to Maine. Down East Books.

Sibley, D. 2014. The North American Bird Guide (2nd edition). Bloomsbury.

Dunn, J. L. & Alderfer, J. 2011. Field Guide to the Birds of North America. (6th edition). National Geographic

Stephenson, T & Whittle, S. 2013. The Warbler Guide. Princeton University Press.

Stokes, D., Stokes, L., Elliott, L. 1997. The Stokes Field Guide to Birds Songs: Eastern Region. Hachette Audio.

 

  

Logistics


 

Flights

London Heathrow to Portland Jetport, via Philadelphia with US AIrways cost £640.25 return.

 

Ground Transport

Car hire with Budget was booked through Holiday Autos costing £225.86 for a large 4-door with air con and unlimited mileage but without damage excess waiver. The US-95 road has tolls ($1-2) on some sections. Gasoline was around $3.70 per gallon.

 

Accommodation

Ranged from $15-35 per night for camping, ranging from no facilities in Baxter State Park to everything you could need (shop, wi-fi, electricity, canoe hire, etc) at the large family sites. For me on this trip, a place to pitch and wash was sufficient. The basic cabin (Loon Lodge) at Daicey Pond in Baxter State Park was $55 per night. The Comfort Inn at Portland airport was $110 per night.

 

Maps

Delorme. The Maine Atlas & Gazetteer 1:135000. A large 96 page book with detailed topographic maps, city maps, camp sites lists and other attractions.

 

Useful Websites

Maine Audubon  www.maineaudubon.org

Maine Birding Trail  www.mainebirdingtrail.com

Birding in Maine  www.birdingmaine.com

Maine Birding  www.mainebirding.com

Maine Camping Guide  www.campmaine.com

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry  www.parksandlands.com

Visit Maine  www.visitmaine.com

Wells National Estuarine Reserve  www.wellsreserve.org

Brownfield Bog  www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/land/department/region_a/majorgregorysanborn.htm

Mount Blue State Park  www.maine.gov/mountblue

Baxter State Park  www.baxterstateparkauthority.com

 

 

Itinerary


 

Day 01       17/06/14     London > Philadelphia > Portland, Maine
Day 02       18/06/14     Portland > Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
Day 03       19/06/14     Wells > Kennebunk Plain> Wells
Day 04       20/06/14     Wells > Brownfield Bog > East Brownfield
Day 05       21/06/14     East Brownfield > Brownfield Bog > Mount Blue State Park
Day 06       22/06/14     Mount Blue State Park
Day 07       23/06/14     Mount Blue State Park
Day 08       24/06/14     Mount Blue State Park > Baxter State Park
Day 09       25/06/14     Baxter State Park
Day 10       26/06/14     Baxter State Park

Day 11       27/06/14     Baxter State Park > Bangor > Orrington > Fields Pond Audubon Center

Day 12       28/06/14     Bangor > Fields Pond Audubon Centre > Poland Spring

Day 13       29/06/14     Poland Spring > Scarborough > Saco Heath > Naples

Day 14       30/06/14     Naples > Brownfield Bog > Portland

Day 15       01/07/14     Portland > Philadelphia > London

 

 

 

Diary


 

Day 1
Tuesday 17 June 2014
London > Philadelphia > Portland, Maine


Philadelphia Airport
Several Red-winged Blackbirds around the runway/airfield including one mobbing an American Crow. Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds around at small wetland adjacent to the arrivals terminal. European Starlings noted. Arrived in Portland, Maine, late evening.

 

 

Day 2
Wednesday 18 June 2014
Portland > Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
Partly cloudy, windy, max 21°C


Comfort Inn Airport Hotel, 90 Maine Mall Rd, South Portland, ME 04106
Woke up at 04:15h to an American Robin singing outside. I'd never heard one in the wild before but learning most of the likely species from CDs and xeno-canto before the trip had obviously worked! Later, on departure, the first birds of the trip were seen in the car park with a Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and singing Song Sparrow.

 

Laudholm Farm © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Laudholm Farm

Laudholm Farm 342 Laudholm Farm Rd, Wells, ME 04090, Wells National Estuarine Reserve
43° 20' 08.0" N  70° 32' 58.9" W   Saltmarsh, coastal grassland, dune, beach, river and woodland.
Very windy on arrival, apparently coming off the mid-west tornadoes. Around the farm buildings: American Goldfinch, American Crow, Chipping Sparrow trilling from rooftop, Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallow, Chimney Swift (6+), Northern Flicker, Northern Mockingbird, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe (nesting under the porch at the visitor centre), Bobolink (3-4 displaying mm) in the long, unmown grassland. Occasionaly when the wind dropped a male Bobolink would begin its display flight, quickly followed by the other males.

Knight Trail
A female Cooper's Hawk was soaring but was pushed on when some European Starling started mobbing it. Turkey Vulture soaring, Bank Swallow (Sand Martin) and Canada Goose (3) flew over. Towards the coast, American Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Great Black-backed Gulls were passing.

Barrier Beach Trail > Laird Norton Trail
Black-capped Chickadees foraging in maple trees. First of several vocal Gray Catbirds - common in this area in dense second-growth. Red-eyed Vireo singing monotonously - this was to be a commonly encountered species throughout the trip, persistently singing throughout the day. Brown Thrasher, American Robin, Northern Cardinal. Eastern Towhee (3+) calling from undergrowth (or on the ground), another singing nearby.

Little River saltmarsh overlook  43° 20' 06.1" N  70° 32' 42.3" W
Least Tern (40+) over the protected low dunes. Later something spooked them and 100+ were flying around. At least three pairs of Willet in view; regularly flying up to mob and see off passing gulls and crows. Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird preening in a small tree next to the viewing platform. Two pairs of Piping Plovers (just visible through the binoculars) on the sand near the mouth of Little River. Snowy Egret (2), Green Heron (1), Osprey (1), Great Egret (1), Double-crested Cormorant (15+), American Oystercatcher (2 N), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1), Red-winged Blackbird (several), Common Tern (2+), Bonaparte's Gull (2 imm), Yellow Warbler singing, Song Sparrow singing, American Herring Gull (6), Great Black-backed Gull (2), American Black Duck (2), Common Grackle (1), Mallard (7), American Crow (3), White-tailed Deer (1).

 

Song Sparrow  Melospiza melodia

  Sonogram of Song Sparrow song

Laudholm Farm, Wells, Maine, USA  43° 20' 06.1" N  70° 32' 42.3" W  18 June 2014

Song from territorial Song Sparrow on the edge of a saltmarsh.

[File name: songsparrowLS1121352ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

 

Little River saltmarsh © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Little River saltmarsh

 

Eastern Towhee  Pipilo erythrophthalmus

  Sonogram of Eastern Towhee calls

Laudholm Farm, Wells, Maine, USA  43° 20' 08.0" N  70° 32' 58.9" W  18 June 2014

Song composed of an initial single, whistled phrase consisting of dual elements (at 2.4 and 3.4 kHz) followed by a short, musical trill of 4-6 double-element phrases at a higher frequency.

Singing from maple swamp.

[File name: easterntowheeLS112154ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

Farley Trail  43° 20' 21.1" N  70° 32' 41.8" W
Canada Goose; pr with b/8, plus a flock of 45 adults. Willet (min 2 prs), Barn Swallow (8+), American Black Duck (3), Yellow-rumped Warbler singing, female Wild Turkey on the field/woodland edge, noisy brood of American Crow fledglings.

Cart Trail
Great Crested Flycatcher, Chestnut-side Warbler, Brown Thrasher and Gray Catbird observed.

Wells Beach Campsite 1000 Post Road, US Route 1, Wells, ME 04090
Camped here for two nights ($35/night). Species noted around my tent:
Chipping Sparrow, Gray Catbird, American Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-capped Chickadee.

 

 

Day 3
Thursday 19 June 2014
Wells > Kennebunk Plain> Wells
Partly cloudy and windy, wind dropping and blue sky by late afternoon  24°C


Webhannet Marsh/Drakes Island Road-Harbor Road, Wells Reserve  43° 19' 51.4" N  70° 33' 29.3" W
A few Saltmarsh and Nelson's Sparrows singing and displaying distantly - difficult to hear in the wind. Willet (several prs), Great Blue Heron (1), Snowy Egret (3), Spotted Sandpiper (2), Little Blue Heron (1), American Black Duck (4).

Laudholm Farm, Wells National Estuarine Reserve 43° 20' 08.0" N  70° 32' 58.9" W
June Flicker and her team were banding (ringing) birds this morning. When I arrived they were processing a Brown Thrasher which I got to release. Returned to try and get a sound recording of the displaying Bobolinks, however a lot of grass mowing was in progress. Lots of skipper butterflies in the grassland. Eastern Towhee singing from a maple. Chipping Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, Turykey Vulture, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Robin, House Sparrow, Northern Mockingbird, Song Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, American Kestrel, Brown Thrasher, American Kestrel, Mourning Dove, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, American Crow.

Laudholm Farm © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Laird-Norton Trail

Barrier Beach Trail
Sound recording: Common Yellowthroat, Gray Catbird, Northern Cardinal, Great Crested Flycatcher, Black-capped Chickadee, American Crow, House Finch, Yellow Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird, Mourning Dove. At the end of the trail in the pool near the beach: Great Egret and a female Mallard with a brood of 9 ducklings, plus 7 adults. After hearing many piercing and high-pitched trills in the woodland yesterday and I eventually located the source of these - not a bird, but Eastern Chipmunks (Tamias striatus). Throughout the rest of the trip, they would often appear chattering just when I was recording something interesting.

 

 

Gray Catbird  Dumettela carolinensis

Sonogram of Gray Catbird song

Laudholm Farm, Wells, Maine, USA  43° 20' 08.0" N  70° 32' 58.9" W  19 June 2014

Rambling song of mixed wheezy and warbled elements delivered in stacatto fashion.

Delivered from low branch in open woodland with a dense understory.

[File name: graycatbirdLS112173e_song] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Gray Catbird song

Laudholm Farm, Wells, Maine, USA  43° 20' 08.0" N  70° 32' 58.9" W  19 June 2014

Nasal, cat-like mew calls from which the species takes its name.

Delivered from low branch in open woodland with a dense understory.

[File name: graycatbirdLS112173e_call] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

Laird-Norton Trail
Lookout over the Little River estuary/mouth: today a pair of Willets were closer to the platform, with one bird alarm-calling from a small post. Also Least Terns at the colony, Snowy Egret, Double-crested Cormorant (17+), Canada Goose (18), American Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, American Crow, Common Yellowthroat, Barn Swallow (6), Hairy Woodpecker, Common Grackle and Gray Catbird. Several Canadian Tiger Swallowtails (Papilio canadensis) and Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) passing. Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) in scrub beside the marsh.

Willet  Tringa semipalmata

Sonogram of Willet alarm calling

Laudholm Farm, Wells, Maine, USA  43° 20' 06.1" N  70° 32' 42.3" W  19 June 2014

Repetitive alarm calls from the saltmarsh.

[File name: willetLS112176ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

Yankee Woodlot Trail
White-breasted Nuthatch feeding in Eastern White Pine, Blue Jay, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Americam Crow, Chipping Sparrow, Chestnut-side Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Ovenbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, and Gray Catbird.

Kennebunk Plains WMA, 5 miles west of Kennebunk  
Sandy, grassland plain with areas of scrub and small birch trees, once used for Blueberry cultivation. Hot and windy when I arrived at 16:20h. More activity later in the evening towards 19:50h. Walked several of the trails including the woodland, finding a small pond with lots of dragonflies. Persistance and patience required to see the following at this time of day: Vesper Sparrow (2), Prairie Warbler, Grasshopper Sparrow (singing male), Savannah Sparrow (6+), Indigo Bunting (pr), Brown Thrasher, Black-capped Chickadee, Field Sparrow (several singing), Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Kingbird (2), Bobolink (many of these striking birds displaying in short song flights), Mourning Dove. A distant Upland Sandpiper was briefly displaying. Great Blue Heron flew over. Nearby in Kennebunk, American Robins were common in front lawns, like Blackbirds back home.

Kennebunk Plains © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Kennebunk Plains

 

 

Field Sparrow  Spizella pusilla

  Sonogram of Field Sparrow song

Kennebunk Plains, Maine, USA  43° 24' 12.0" N  70° 37' 36.2" W  19 June 2014

Song composed of pure-tone whistled elements, descending in three distinct sections.

Singing from an overgrown area of the plains with scrub and small trees.

[File name: fieldsparrowLS112211ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

Bobolink  Dolichonyx oryzivorus

  Sonogram of Bobolink perched song

Kennebunk Plains, Maine, USA  43° 24' 12.0" N  70° 37' 36.2" W  19 June 2014

Perched song of wheezy bubbling from open, dry sandy grassland with scrub and a few small trees.

[File name: bobolinkLS112221ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 Sonogram of Bobolink song uttered during display flight

Kennebunk Plain, Maine, USA  43° 24' 12.0" N  70° 37' 36.2" W  19 June 2014

Song flight display over open, dry sandy grassland with scrub and a few small trees.

[File name: bobolinkLS112221ecut]

 

 

Eastern Meadowlark  Sturnella magna

  Sonogram of Eastern Meadowlark calls

Kennebunk Plain, Maine, USA  43° 24' 12.0" N  70° 37' 36.2" W  19 June 2014

Call composed of a repeated single element; a short, low frequency electrical-like buzz.

Calling from open grassland plains with scrub patches.

[File name: easternmeadowlarkLS112219ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

 

Day 4
Friday 20 June 2014
Wells > Brownfield Bog > East Brownfield
Partly cloudy, still some wind, 22°C


Wells Beach Campsite 1000 Post Road, US Route 1, Wells, ME 04090  43° 24' 12.0" N  70° 37' 36.2" W
Singing from dawn (listening from the tent): Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Great Crested Flycatcher, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Gray Catbird, House Wren, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Pine Warbler.

Brownfield Bog/Major Gregory Sanborn WMA, Bog Road, East Brownfield  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W
Freshwater marsh, scrubby wetlands, ponds, maple swamp, peatland, deciduous woodland.
Walked the trail north-west to 43° 58' 58.4" N  70° 54' 03.2" W
Masses of dragonflies present (several species) with hundreds of Libellulids gathering on the tracks. Not many birds on the open water but many warblers and other passerines. Singing: Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Willow Flycatcher, Black-and-white Warbler, Song Sparrow, American Redstart, Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Nsshville Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Red-eyed Vireo, Veery, Ovenbird, and Hermit Thrush in the hour before sunset. Wild Turkey with a brood of 7-8. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers feeding young in the nest. On open water: Canada Goose (pr), Goldeneye (m), Wood Duck (single females flying around), Blue-winged Teal (m), American Black Duck (m), Great Blue Heron, Pied-billed Grebe (1). Also Black-billed Cuckoo, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Black-capped Chickadee, Indigo Bunting, Pileated Woodpecker, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Kingbird, Hairy Woodpecker, and Common Grackle. Muskrat and White-tailed Deer noted.

Brownfield Bog © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Brownfield Bog

 

 

Yellow Warbler  Setophaga petechia

  Sonogram of Hermit Thrush song

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  20 June 2014

Song from this male composed three distinct phrases of pure tone elements; 3-4 slightly hestitant elements fading in, followed by 4-5 stronger downslurred elements, ending with a louder upslurred element.

Singing from willows and birches around marshy pools.

[File name: yellowwarblerLS112297ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

Yellow Warbler  Setophaga petechia

    Sonogram of Yellow Warbler calls

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  20 June 2014

'Chip' call used for contact or alarm.

[File name: yellowwarblerLS112238ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

Red-winged Blackbird  Agelaius phoeniceus

  Sonogram of Red-winged Blackbird song & calls

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  20 June 2014

Song composed of an initial quiet, low-frequency harmonic, followed by a loud, harmonic wheeze. Call note from 3.3 secs composed of a loud, down-slurred, pure tone element probably used in alarm.

Vocalising from willows around marshy pools.

[File name: redwingedblackbirdLS112229e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

 Wild Turkey  Meleagris gallopavo

  Sonogram of Wild Turkey calls

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  20 June 2014

Calls from a female in mixed deciduous woodland.

[File name: wildturkeyLS112280e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

Black-and-white Warbler  Mniotilta varia

  Sonogram of Black-and-white Warbler calls

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  21 June 2014

'Chip' call composed of a sharp, very high-frequency element.

Calling from low down in marshy woodland.

[File name: blackandwhitewarblerLS112290ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

Hermit Thrush  Catharus guttatus

  Sonogram of Hermit Thrush song

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  19 June 2014

Song composed of strophes (shorter than Swainson's) of steady flute-like elements with slight wavering endings; each strophe starting at different frequencies. Singing at dusk from mixed, dense maple/oak/spruce forest.

[File name: hermitthrushLS112305ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

Woodland Acres Campground, 33 Camp Rd, Brownfield, ME 04010
White-throated Sparrow singing at dusk.

 

 

Day 5
Saturday 21 June 2014
East Brownfield > Brownfield Bog > Mount Blue State Park
Blue sky, 24°C


Woodland Acres Campground, 33 Camp Rd, Brownfield, ME 04010
Woke up at 04:16h to a Wood Thrush singing, later Ovenbird, White-breasted Nuthatch, Veery, Hairy Woodpecker, Gray Catbird, Black-capped Chickadee, Black-throated Green Warbler, Veery, Pileated Woodpecker and White-throated Sparrow.

Brownfield Bog/Major Gregory Sanborn WMA, Bog Road, East Brownfield
Freshwater marsh, scrubby wetlands, ponds, maple swamp, peatland, deciduous woodland. Similar species to yesterday and at last the wind had gone allowing some better sound recordings. Additional species today: Least Flycatcher, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Alder Flycatcher, Hooded Merganser, Northern Waterthrush, Mallard, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Turkey Vulture, and Bald Eagle.

Woodland at Brownfield Bog/Major Gregory Sanborn WMA © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Woodland at Brownfield Bog/Major Gregory Sanborn WMA

 

 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  Sphyrapicus varius

  Sonogram of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker drumming

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 49.4" N  70° 53' 39.0" W  19 June 2014

Drumming like someone knocking on a door, but with rapid double or triple tap bursts.

In mixed maple/oak/spruce forest.

[File name: yellowbelliedsapsuckerLS112427ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

   Sonogram of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Begging calls nestlings and mewing contact call

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 49.4" N  70° 53' 39.0" W  19 June 2014

Begging calls from nestlings and mewing contact call from the male.

In mixed maple/oak/spruce forest.

[File name: yellowbelliedsapsuckerLS112410ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker mewing contact call

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 49.4" N  70° 53' 39.0" W  19 June 2014

Mewing contact call from the female.

In mixed maple/oak/spruce forest.

[File name: yellowbelliedsapsuckerLS112410ecut2] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Pileated Woodpecker  Dryocopus pileatus

  Sonogram of Pileated Woodpecker interaction calls

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 49.4" N  70° 53' 39.0" W  19 June 2014

Interaction calls from mixed maple/oak/spruce forest.

[File name: pileatedwoodpeckerLS112427ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

 Black-and-white Warbler  Mniotilta varia

  Sonogram of Scarlet Tanager song

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  21 June 2014

Song composed of a distinctive two section strophe of piercing high-pitched two-element phrase proceeded by a drop in frequency to a more slurred two-element phrase.

Singing low down in marshy woodland.

[File name: blackandwhitewarblerLS112403ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Chestnut-sided Warbler  Setophaga pensylvanica

  Sonogram of Chestnut-sided Warbler song

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  21 June 2014

Song composed of a series of repeated slurred elements, followed by emphatic upslurs, ending with a slower, stronger downslur.

Singing from open, deciduous woodland with scrubby understory.

[File name: chestnutsidedwarblerLS112421ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

 American Redstart  Setophaga ruticilla

  Sonogram of American Redstart song

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  21 June 2014

Song composed of two different strophes of high frequency, downslurred elements, later joined in single strophes.

First year male singing from wetland scrub on edge of deciduous woodland.

[File name: americanredstartLS112447ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Baltimore Oriole  Icterus galbula

  Sonogram of Baltimore Oriole

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  21 June 2014

Simple version of usual song composed of repeated brief whistles.

Singing from deciduous woodland bordering wetlands.

[File name: baltimoreorioleLS112351ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Red-eyed Vireo  Vireo olivaceus

  Sonogram of Red-eyed Vireo song

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  21 June 2014

Song composed of short, monotonously repeated strophes (c0.5 secs) of brief, whistled phrases; this individual averaging one stophe every 1.25 secs.

Singing from sub-canopy of deciduous woodland.

[File name: redeyedvireoLS112364ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

Webb Lake Campground, Mount Blue State Park  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W
White-throated Sparrow singing after dusk when almost dark. Common Loons heard from 22:16h while I was setting in to sleep in the tent. The lake is some distance from the lake but both wails and tremelos could be clearly heard across the forest.

 

 

Day 6
Sunday 22 June 2014
Mount Blue State Park
Blue sky, 17°C


Webb Lake Campground, Mount Blue State Park
• Trail from campsite to the lake: Ovenbird, Black-throated Blue Warbler, American Robin, Hairy Woodpecker, White-throated Sparrow, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-capped Chickadee, Pileated Woodpecker, Winter Wren, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-eyed Vireo, Wood Thrush, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Waterthrush, Common Loon (pr), Yellow-rumped Warbler, Spotted Sandpiper, Pine Warbler and Common Merganser.

Webb Lake, Mount Blue State Park © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Webb Lake, Mount Blue State Park

 

 

Red-breasted Nuthatch  Sitta canadensis

  Sonogram of Song Sparrow song

Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  22 June 2014

Song composed of nasal tooting elements.

Singing from mature spruce/maple forest.

[File name: redbreastednuthatchLS112547e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

American Robin  Turdus migratorius

  Sonogram of American Robin calls

Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  22 June 2014

Calls, probably used in alarm, not unlike Common Blackbird Turdus merula.

Calling from mature maple/oak forest with dense understory.

[File name: americanrobinLS112542ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Northern Waterthrush  Parkesia noveboracensis

  Sonogram of Northern Waterthrush calls

Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  22 June 2014

Sharp, high frequency chip calls.

Calling from wooded shoreline of Webb Lake.

[File name: northernwaterthrushLS112472ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Hairy Woodpecker  Picoides villosus

  Sonogram of Hairy Woodpecker drumming

Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  22 June 2014

Single drum roll from mature mixed woodland.

[File name: hairywoodpeckerLS112493ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Winter Wren  Troglodytes hiemalis

  Sonogram of Winter Wren calls

Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  22 June 2014

Calls composed of high-frequency squeaks, from a fledged brood.

Calling from scrubby understory of mature maple/oak forest.

[File name: winterwrenLS112498ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

• Swett Brook & campsite trails: beautiful forest, undisturbed, even the old boardwalk looked like they didn't get much human traffic. Most people probably come here and just head to the lake. Wood Thrush, White-breasted Nuthatch, Nashville Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Pine Warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Red-eyed Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Brown Creeper, Blue-headed Vireo, American Redstart, Bay-breasted Warbler, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Veery, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Cape May Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, American Crow, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Parula, Canada Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Gray Catbird, Ovenbird, Wood Thrush, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Chipping Sparrow. Canadian Tiger Swallowtails common.

Old boardwalk from the campground, Mount Blue State Park © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Old boardwalk from the campground, Mount Blue State Park

 

• Webb Lake  44° 40' 42.0" N  70° 26' 33.5" W
Sound recording Loons from 21:15-23:00h. The air cooled down quickly after sunset and many Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) along the shoreline began to vocalize (heard only occasionally during the day) persistantly, drowning out the Loons.

  Common Loon  Gavia immer

   Sonogram of Common Loon calls

Webb Lake, Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  22 June 2014, 23:07

Wails from a single bird (with horrible-sounding bullfrogs in background)

[File name: commonloonLS112576e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 Sonogram of Common Loon calls

Webb Lake, Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  22 June 2014, 23:07

Wails from a pair (with horrible-sounding bullfrogs in background).

[File name: commonloonLS112576e]

     

Sonogram of Common Loon calls

Webb Lake, Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  22 June 2014, 23:07

Tremelo duets from a pair (with horrible-sounding bullfrogs in background).

[File name: commonloonLS112576e]

 

  

 

 

Day 7
Monday 23 June 2014
Mount Blue State Park
Blue sky, 20°C


Center Hill, Mount Blue State Park
• Scenic Trail  44° 43' 40.0" N  70° 24' 31.2" W
Noted on the drive between the campsite and Center Hill:  Broad-winged Hawk overhead, Cliff Swallow (4), Eastern Kingbird (2), Eastern Bluebird and American Robins on lawns in the villages.
Mixed woodland on the lower slope of Mount Blue: Red-eyed Vireo, American Robin, Mourning Dove, American Redstart, Blue Jay, Blackburnian Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Red Cardinal, and Hermit Thrush.

Center Hill, Mount Blue State Park © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Center Hill, Mount Blue State Park

 

 

  Blackburnian Warbler  Setophaga fusca

  Sonogram of Blackburnian Warbler song

Center Hill, Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 43' 40.0" N  70° 24' 31.2" W  23 June 2014

Song composed of three phrases, each rising in frequency; low, slow trill or rattle, proceeded by faster, higher trail, ending with very high frequency downslurred element.

Singing from high mature spruce woodland.

[File name: blackburnianwarblerLS112594ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

   

  Mourning Dove  Zenaida macroura

  Sonogram of Mourning Dove song

Center Hill, Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 43' 40.0" N  70° 24' 31.2" W  23 June 2014

Song composed of five mournful woo elements at 390 Hz, except the second, slightly higher at

650 Hz.

Singing from the edge of high mature spruce woodland.

[File name: mourningdoveLS112586ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

   

• Trail to peak of Mount Blue  44° 43' 42.3" N  70° 20' 32.0" W
A steady 1.7 mile straight-up walk, steep and rocky in parts, particularly near the top once the spruce tree became stunted at altitude: Red-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, American Robin, Philadelphia Vireo, American Redstart, Veery, Dark-eyed Junco, Hairy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Bay-breasted Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Black-throated Green Warbler, Northern Flicker, Ovenbird, Nashville Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Pine Warbler, Winter Wren, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Swainson's Thrush, Wood Thrush, White-throated Sparrow, Turkey Vulture. A Bicknell's Thrush was heard singing very distantly near the top around 7pm. Garter Snake on the trail and Mouning Cloak (Camberwell Beauty) near the top.

View from the peak of Mount Blue © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

View from the peak of Mount Blue

 

 

  Blackpoll Warbler  Setophaga striata

  Sonogram of Blackpoll Warbler song

Mount Blue, Maine, USA  44° 43' 42.3" N  70° 20' 32.0" W  23 June 2014

Song composed of a rapid, insect-like, series of very high frequncy elements, fading in and repeated about four times per minutes. Uttered from stunted spruce forest on mountain peak.

[File name: blackpollLS112609ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

   

  Winter Wren  Troglodytes hiemalis

  Sonogram of Scarlet Tanager song

Mount Blue, Maine, USA  44° 43' 42.3" N  70° 20' 32.0" W  23 June 2014

Song composed of c5 sec strophes of rapid phrases of alternating and high and low frequency elements interspersed with rapid trills. Singing from stunted spruce forest on mountain peak.

[File name: winterwrenLS112621ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

   

  Magnolia Warbler  Setophaga magnolia

  Sonogram of Magnolia Warbler song

Mount Blue, Maine, USA  44° 43' 42.3" N  70° 20' 32.0" W  23 June 2014

Song composed of a very short warble of up-and-down slurred whistled elements.

Singing from stunted spruce forest on mountain peak.

[File name: magnoliawarblerLS112607ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Dark-eyed Junco  Junco hyemalis

  Sonogram of Dark-eyed Junco song

Mount Blue, Maine, USA  44° 43' 42.3" N  70° 20' 32.0" W  23 June 2014

Song is a short, musical trill, this one composed of c14 rattles (each with 3 elements) in 1.4 secs.

Singing from open, scrubby area at peak, sourrounded by stunted spruce forest.

[File name: darkeyedjuncoLS112614ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Nashville Warbler  Oreothlypis ruficapilla

  Sonogram of Nashville Warbler calls

Mount Blue, Maine, USA  44° 43' 42.3" N  70° 20' 32.0" W  23 June 2014

'Chip' call from a female, composed of high-frequency metallic-sounding element.

Calling from stunted spruce forest at peak.

[File name: nashvillewarblerLS112616e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

 

 

Day 8
Tuesday 24 June 2014
Mount Blue State Park > Baxter State Park
Blue sky, warm leaving Mount Blue, overcast and cool on arrival at Baxter State Park with heavy rain overnight


Webb Lake Campground, Mount Blue State Park
• Trails around the campground and lake: Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Black-throated Blue Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Pileated Woodpecker, BLue Jay, Magnolia Warbler, Canada Warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Dark-eyed Junco, Winter Wren, Downy Woodpecker, Ovenbird, American Crow, Northern Flicker, Wood Thrush, Least Flycatcher, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-throated Green Warbler, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Blue-headed Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Veery, Hermit Thrush, Blackburnian Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Mourning Dove, and Chipping Sparrow.

Webb Lake Campground, Mount Blue State Park © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Webb Lake Campground, Mount Blue State Park

 

 

  Canada Warbler  Cardellina canadensis

  Sonogram of Canada Warbler song

Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  22 June 2014

Song composed of a short, erratic jumble of clipped warbles.

Singing from low down in mature maple/oak forest with dense understory.

[File name: canadawarblerLS112671ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  White-throated Sparrow  Zonotrichia albicollis

  Sonogram of Scarlet Tanager song

Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA   44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  24 June 2014

Song composed of very clear, steady frequency whistles descending in three stages at 4.6, 4.3, and 3.5 kHz. Often rendered phonetically as Old Sam Peabody Peabody Peabody.

Singing from undergrowth of fairly open, sunlit maple/oak/spruce forest with a rich understory.

[File name: whitethroatedsparrowLS112653ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  White-throated Sparrow  Zonotrichia albicollis

  Sonogram of White-throated Sparrow call

Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA   44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  24 June 2014

Call from a female composed of loud, metallic-sounding chink elements (c5.2-5.5 kHz).

Calling from dense understory of maple/oak/spruce forest.

[File name: whitethroatedsparrowLS112661ecut1] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of White-throated Sparrow call

Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA   44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  24 June 2014

Different call from the same female above: quieter, higher-frequency elements (c8.4-9.2 kHz) with husky quality.

Calling from dense understory of maple/oak/spruce forest.

[File name: whitethroatedsparrowLS112661ecut2] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Brown Creeper  Certhia americana

  Sonogram of Brown Creeper song

Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  24 June 2014

Song composed of short strophes of thin, whistled elements cascading from high to low frequency.

Singing from mature maple/oak/spruce woodland.

[File name: browncreeperLS112636ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Black-throated Blue Warbler  Setophaga caerulescens

  Sonogram of Black-throated Blue Warbler singing

Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  24 June 2014

Song composed of five hissy buzzing phrases; the first four short and downslurred, following by a longer and louder, rising harsh buzz.

Singing while searching for food in the understory of mixed deciduous woodland.

[File name: blackthroatedbluewarblerLS112667ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Black-throated Green Warbler  Setophaga virens

  Sonogram of Black-throated Green Warbler singing

Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  24 June 2014

Song composed of seven high-frequency buzzy elements (sounds much higher pitched than Black-throated Blue); five level elements at 6.1 kHz (increasing in volume), followed by a lower frequency element than a final, longer and louder higher element.

Singing from fairly high in spruces in mixed spruce/maple/oak forest.

[File name: blackthroatedgreenwarblerLS112672ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Hermit Thrush  Catharus guttatus

Sonogram of Hermit Thrush call

Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  24 June 2014

Call composed of a rich (with harmonics), wheezy zweee element.

Calling from low down in mature maple/oak/spruce woodland.

[File name: hermitthrushLS112641ecut1] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 Sonogram of Hermit Thrush call

Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  24 June 2014

Call composed of regularly repeated soft, Blackbird-like, chook elements.

Calling from low down in mature maple/oak/spruce woodland.

[File name: hermitthrushLS112641ecut2] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  Sonogram of Hermit Thrush call

Mount Blue State Park, Maine, USA  44° 40' 44.3" N  70° 26' 58.3" W  24 June 2014

Call composed of downslurred, pure tone pee elements.

Calling from low down in mature maple/oak/spruce woodland.

[File name: hermitthrushLS112641ecut3] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Drive East on Road 2, North on I-95 to Millinocket
• Fine weather all the way until the edge of Baxter State Park where it became increasingly overcast with light ti moderate rain. Species noted on the drove included Buteo sp., Red-tailed Hawk, Brown-headed Cowbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Turkey Vulture, Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, American Crow, Northern Flicker, Chimney Swift, Wild Turkey and Tree Swallow.

Baxter State Park, Piscataquis County
• Tote Road from Togue Pond Gate to Nesowadnehunk Field Campground: 17 mile drive (park max speed 20mph) through closed cover forest with occasional views of the river or mountains.
Wild Turkey and a Moose near the entrance. American Black Duck (2) at Ledge Falls.

Baxter State Park © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Baxter State Park

 

Nesowadnehunk Field © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Nesowadnehunk Field

 

 

Day 9
Wednesday 25 June 2014
Baxter State Park
Overcast, low cloud - lifting after 10:30, max 15°C, heavy rain during the night again


Baxter State Park
• Nesowadnehunk Field  45° 58' 35.1" N  69° 04' 41.2" W
Had rained most of the night. Very grey morning with low cloud base - mountains not visible. Brightened up after 10:30 and bird activity increased. From the picnic tables: Cedar Waxwing (4), several Song and White-throated Sparrows singing, Eastern Bluebird, Spotted Sandpiper (heard), Sharp-shinned Hawk, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red Crossbill (o/h), Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Barn Swallow, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Raven, Red-eyed Vireo, Veery, American Crow, Alder Flycatcher. A pair of Merlins appeared to be nesting in the area and were quite vocal at times.

 

  Merlin  Falco columbarius

  Sonogram of Merlin calls

Nesowadnehunk Field, Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  45° 58' 35.1" N  69° 04' 41.2" W  25 June 2014

Alarm calls from perched bird with probable nest nearby.

[File name: merlinLS112687ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Nesowadnehunk © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Nesowadnehunk

 

  Song Sparrow  Melospiza melodia

  Sonogram of Song Sparrow song

Nesowadnehunk Field, Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  45° 58' 35.1" N  69° 04' 41.2" W  25 June 2014

'Musical' song composed of a several phrases of clear, pure tone elements.

Singing from willow scrub in open grassland.

[File name: songsparrowLS112686ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Alder Flycatcher  Empidonax alnorum

  Sonogram of Alder Flycatcher song

Nesowadnehunk Field, Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  45° 58' 35.1" N  69° 04' 41.2" W  25 June 2014

Song composed of repeated, simple strophes of a horse/wheezy ree-beet; two elements, the first a complex buzz followed by an up-and-down slurred element.

Singing from small Birches and Alders at riverside.

[File name: alderflycatcherLS112688ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

• Nesowadnehunk Field to Nesowadnehunk Lake area (c3 miles N along Tote Road)  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W
Sound recording along the Tote road to four miles north of the campsite and back: White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Alder Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, Red Crossbill, Gray Jay, Bay-breasted Warbler, Fox Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Black-backed Woodpecker. Also observed: Boreal Chickadee (4+), Gray Jay (3 registrations: 1 ad; ad + 2 juvs; 2 ads + 3 juvs), Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (3), Evening Grosbeak (1), Dark-eyed Junco (4), Cedar Waxwing (6+), Northern Waterthrush (pr), Hairy Woodpecker, Pine Siskin (2), Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Winter Wren, and Red-breasted Flycatcher. Also Varying Hare and White-tailed Deer.

 

  Blue Jay  Cyanocitta cristata

[File name: bluejayLS112730ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Three types of vocalisations detailed in the sonograms below:

 Sonogram of Blue Jay calls

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  25 June 2014

Typical jay calls.

[File name: bluejayLS112730ecut]

 

Sonogram of Blue Jay calls

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  25 June 2014

Musical tooting calls (described by Kroodsma as squeaky gate calls).

[File name: bluejayLS112730ecut]

 

Sonogram of Blue Jay calls

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  25 June 2014

Softer, nasal calls.

[File name: bluejayLS112730ecut]

 

  

  Nashville Warbler  Oreothlypis ruficapilla

  Sonogram of Song Sparrow song

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  25 June 2014

Song composed of two distinct sections; repeated two-element phrases, followed by a lower frequency trill. Singing from old-growth spruce forest.

[File name: nashvillewarblerLS112756ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Golden-crowned Kinglet  Regulus satrapa

  Sonogram of Golden-crowned Kinglet song

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  25 June 2014

Song composed of very high frequency elements descending into a lower frequency chattering trill.

Singing from old-growth spruce forest.

[File name: goldencrownedkingletLS112755ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Swainson's Thrush  Catharus ustulatus

  Sonogram of Song Sparrow song

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  25 June 2014

Song composed of strophes (longer than Hermit) of low flute-like elements spiralling into higher frequency whistles.

Singing from old-growth spruce forest.

[File name: swainsonsthrushLS112738ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Swainson's Thrush call

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  25 June 2014

Call composed of a low, soft whit element. Calling from old-growth spruce forest.

[File name: swainsonsthrushLS112713ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Black-backed Woodpecker  Picoides arcticus

  Sonogram of Black-backed Woodpecker calls

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  25 June 2014

Calls, composed sucking-sounding piks and short rattles.

Calling from old-growth spruce forest.

[File name: blackbackedwoodpeckerLS112737e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

North of Nesowadnehunk, Baxter State Park © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

North of Nesowadnehunk, Baxter State Park

 

  Fox Sparrow  Passerella iliaca

  Sonogram of Fox Sparrow song

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  25 June 2014

Song composed of six unique low frequency elements of mostly downslurred whistles - rich and musical sounding.

Singing from old-growth spruce forest.

[File name: foxsparrowLS112741ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Fox Sparrow song

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  25 June 2014

Song from a second different individual; composed of nine low frequency elements (four repeated in doublets), both uplsurred and downslurred whistles - rich and musical sounding.

Singing from old-growth spruce forest.

[File name: foxsparrowLS112747e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Bay-breasted Warbler  Setophaga castanea

  Sonogram of Bay-breasted Warbler song

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  25 June 2014

Song composed of short strophes of very high frequency downslurred elements.

Singing from old-growth spruce forest.

[File name: baybreastedwarblerLS112716ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Red Crossbill  Loxia curvirostra

  Sonogram of Black-capped Chickadee calls

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  25 June 2014

Adult female calling from old-growth spruce forest.

[File name: redcrossbillLS112709ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Camping, Baxter State Park © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Camping, Baxter State Park

 

 

 

Day 10
Thursday 26 June 2014
Baxter State Park
Overcast, cloud clearing after 15:30h, blue sky by late evening, max 17°C


Baxter State Park
• Nesowadnehunk Field Campground  45° 58' 35.1" N  69° 04' 41.2" W
Rained again most of last night. Another grey morning, clouds eventually breaking around 15:00h. Observed while having breakfast: Merlin, Cedar Waxwing, Alder Flycatcher, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Red Crossbill, Pileated Woodpecker, Philadelphia Vireo, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin and Barn Swallow

• Nesowadnehunk Field to Nesowadnehunk Lake area (c4.4 miles N along Tote Road)  46° 01' 48.8" N  69° 03' 50.8" W
Covered an area of dead forest (remnants from old spruce budworm outbreaks) c2.2-3.0 miles north of the campsite: Gray Jay (2 registrations: 2 ads + 3 juvs, ad + juv), Black-backed Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Boreal Chickadee (4+), Red Crossbill (7 + 12), Magnolia Warbler (common), Nashville Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco, American Redstart, Bay-breasted Warbler, Northern Parula, Fox Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler and White-throated Sparrow.
An area of bog pools and dead forest (remnants from old spruce budworm outbreaks) c4.4 miles north of the campsite: Gray Jay (3), American Black Duck (f + juv), Black-throated Green Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Ovenbird, Black-capped Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Philadelphia Vireo, Black-and-white Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Yellow-rumped Warbler. Tree Swallow (pr nesting in dead spruce trunks), Black-throated Blue Warbler.

 Silver-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene) © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.ukSilver-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)

 

 

  Boreal Chickadee  Poecile hudsonicus

  Sonogram of Boreal Chickadee calls

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  26 June 2014

Call like a softer, slower, wheezier, and higher-frequency version of Black-capped Chickadee.

Calling from old-growth spruce forest.

[File name: borealchickadeeLS112769ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 Sonogram of Boreal Chickadee calls

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  26 June 2014

More complicated call composed of short, gurgled twittering.

Calling from old-growth spruce forest.

[File name: borealchickadeeLS112782e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Black-capped Chickadee  Poecile atricapillus

  Sonogram of Black-capped Chickadee calls

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  26 June 2014

Onomatopoeic chick-a-dee calls from old-growth spruce forest.

[File name: blackcappedchickadeeLS112791ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Gray Jay  Perisoreus canadensis

  Sonogram of Gray Jay calls

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 27.3" N  69° 04' 39.2" W  26 June 2014

Calls of musical burrs and harsh chatters from a family party in old-growth spruce forest.

[File name: grayjayLS112772ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Golden-crowned Kinglet  Regulus satrapa

  Sonogram of Golden-crowned Kinglet call

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  26 June 2014

Call composed of high-frequency, speaky elements.

Calling from old-growth spruce forest.

[File name: goldencrownedkingletLS112791ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Yellow-rumped Warbler  Setophaga coronata

  Sonogram of Yellow-rumped Warbler song

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 27.3" N  69° 04' 39.2" W  26 June 2014

Song composed of a slow, wavering, slightly warbled series of elements.

Singing from lower branches on edge of spruce forest

[File name: yellowrumpedwarblerLS112779e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Philadelphia Vireo  Vireo philadelphicus

  Sonogram of Philadelphia Vireo song

Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  46° 00' 37.4" N  69° 03' 46.0" W  26 June 2014

Song composed of short strophes (shorter than Red-eyed) of brief, whistled phrases; slower and higher frequency than Red-eyed Vireo.

Singing from mid-canopy of mixed woodland.

[File name: philadelphiavireoLS1127953ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

• Daicey Pond Campground  45° 52' 54.6" N  69° 01' 46.2" W
Stayed a night in Loon Lodge but no Loons on Daicey pond! A Rusty Blackbird was observed at a spruce bog pool along the access road between Tote Road and the campground.

• Kidney Pond  45° 53' 34.8" N  69° 02' 52.5" W
20:15-00:00h A pair of Common Loons were present but only called once in four hours. Common Merganser (f) and a distant Barred Owl hooting around 23:00h.

Daicey Pond © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Daicey Pond

 

  Common Loon  Gavia immer

  Sonogram of Common Loon calls

Kidney Pond, Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  45° 53' 34.8" N  69° 02' 52.5" W  26 June 2014

Wail from a single bird after dark at 22:10h.

[File name: commonloonLS112810e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Loon Lodge, Daicey Pond © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Loon Lodge, Daicey Pond

 

 

Day 11
Friday 27 June 2014
Baxter State Park > Bangor > Orrington > Fields Pond Audubon Center
Blue sky, now wind, max, 23°C


Baxter State Park
• Daicey Pond Campground  45° 52' 54.6" N  69° 01' 46.2" W
Dragonflies active soon after the sun rose. Observations from Loon Lodge: Hooded Merganser (m), Rusty Blackbird, Raven (pr + b/3), Goldeneye (f), distant Common Loon calling from anorth pond, Northern Parula, American Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Red-eyed Vireo. Several Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus).

 

  Common Raven  Corvus corax

  Sonogram of Hermit Thrush song

Daicey Pond, Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  45° 52' 54.6" N  69° 01' 46.2" W  27 June 2014

Higher frequency calls from a juvenile/fledgling and deeper calls from an adult.

Calling while circling a forested lake.

[File name: ravenLS112825ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

• Stump Pond  45° 51' 57.2" N  68° 57' 37.5" W
Forest lake with many dead tree stumps: Ring-necked Duck (pr), Boreal Chickadee, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Downy Woodpecker, Black-throated Green Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, White-throated Sparrow, Ovenbird, and American Redstart.

Stump Pond © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Stump Pond

• Roaring Brook trail was closed!

• Abol Pond  45° 50' 19.6" N  68° 55' 26.6" W
A Broad-winged Hawk flew over here. Pine Warbler trilling high in lakeside pines, Song Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows singing, and Blue Jays calling.

Millinocket
• Several Ring-billed Gulls waiting on scraps around some fast food restaurants.

 

  Pine Warbler  Setophaga pinus

  Sonogram of Pine Warbler song

Abol Pond, Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  45° 50' 19.6" N  68° 55' 26.6" W  27 June 2014

Song (fast song type) composed of a high frequency rapid trill of slightly upslurred elements (~45 elements in 1.7 secs). Singing from canopy of very tall roadside pine trees.

[File name: pinewarblerLS112834ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Song Sparrow  Melospiza melodia

  Sonogram of Song Sparrow song

Abol Pond, Baxter State Park, Maine, USA  45° 50' 19.6" N  68° 55' 26.6" W  27 June 2014

Song type composed of hoarse-sounding introductory elements, followed by two more musical elements and a slow low-frequency trill, ending with a more complex, fast warble.

Singing from lake-side scrub.

[File name: songsparrowLS112832ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Orrington
• Sedgeunkedunk Stream/Orrington Marsh  44° 43' 46.1" N  68° 45' 22.7" W
Very nice habitat but unfortunately traversed by a busy road (Brewer Lake Road) with noisy traffic - not good for sound recording American Bitterns! One calling distantly and another seen passing very close in flight. Wilson's Snipe calling and displaying distantly, Red-shouldered Hawk (2) overhead. Virginia Rail heard briefly. Osprey on nest, on nearby wooden pylon. Also Wood Duck (f), American Black Duck (f + b/9), Swamp Sparrow, Tree Swallow (9), Cedar Waxwing (3), Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch, Eastern Kingbird, House Finch, American Redstart, Eurasian Starling and Mourning Dove.

Sedgeunkedunk Stream/Orrington Marsh © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Sedgeunkedunk Stream/Orrington Marsh

• Fields Pond Audubon Nature Center  44° 44' 19.3" N  68° 43' 39.0" W
Common Loon (2 prs + single visible), Bald Eagle (imm circling), many pairs of Tree Swallows breeding in nestboxes set on poles, Veery singing, Song Sparrow singing, House Finch singing and around 7 at the feeders, American Goldfinch (5+) at feeders, Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, Cedar Waxwing (3+), Barn Swallow, Yellow Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak (f) at bird table, Savannah Sparrow,

 

  House Finch  Carpodacus mexicanus

  Sonogram of House Finch song

Fields Pond Audubon Centre, Holden, Maine, USA  44° 44' 19.3" N  68° 43' 39.0" W  27 June 2014

Song composed of strophes of fluty and whistled warbling; shorter and less varied than Purple Finch.

Singing from garden habitat.

[File name: housefinchLS112845ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Bangor
• Paul Bunyan Campground
Several Northern Parulas and Red-eyed Vireos singing. American Robins common.

 

 

Day 12
Saturday 28 June 2014
Bangor > Fields Pond Audubon Centre > Poland Spring
Blue sky, max 25°C


Orrington

• Sedgeunkedunk Stream/Orrington Marsh  44° 43' 46.1" N  68° 45' 22.7" W
Similar species to yesterday.

 

  Swamp Sparrow  Melospiza georgiana

  Sonogram of Swamp Sparrow song

Sedgeunkedunk Stream Marsh, Maine, USA  44° 43' 46.1" N  68° 45' 22.7" W  28 June 2014

Song composed of a slow, musical trill with c22 repeated double elements in c1.5 secs.

Singing from dense emergent freshwater vegetation.

[File name: swampsparrowLS112851ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

• Fields Pond Audubon Nature Center  44° 43' 46.1" N  68° 45' 22.7" W
Spent more time sound recording along the trails: Bald Eagle (ad), Osprey (1), Merlin (f), House Wren, House Finch, Mourning Dove, American Goldfinch, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Tree Swallow, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Northern Parula, Eastern Bluebird, Alder Flycatcher, Easter Kingbird, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, Turkey Vulture, Ovenbird, Hairy Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Pine Warbler, Pileated Woodpecker, Scarlet Tanager, Veery, Brown Creeper, Black-capped Chickadee, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-eyed Vireo, Barn Swallow, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Fields Pond © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Fields Pond

 

  Northern Parula  Setophaga americana

  Sonogram of Northern Parula song

Fields Pond Audubon Centre, Holden, Maine, USA  44° 44' 19.3" N  68° 43' 39.0" W  28 June 2014

Song composed of a rising trill increasing in frequency before ending abrupty with a sharp, lower frequency up-and-down slurred element (Veery calling in the background).

Singing from the edge of deciduous woodland bordering wetland.

[File name: northernparulaLS112862ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Cedar Waxwing  Bombycilla cedrorum

  Sonogram of Cedar Waxwing calls

Fields Pond Audubon Centre, Holden, Maine, USA  44° 44' 19.3" N  68° 43' 39.0" W  28 June 2014

High frequency calls from a pair - soft and thin sounding up-and-downslurred elements and trills.

Calling from the edge of deciduous woodland bordering wetland.

[File name: cedarwaxwingLS112920ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Tree Swallow  Tachycineta bicolor

  Sonogram of Tree Swallow calls

Fields Pond Audubon Centre, Holden, Maine, USA  44° 44' 19.3" N  68° 43' 39.0" W  28 June 2014

Chattering twitters from a group mobbing and following a Merlin overhead.

[File name: treeswallowLS112859ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Common Yellowthroat  Geothlypis trichas

  Sonogram of Common Yellowthroat call

Fields Pond Audubon Centre, Holden, Maine, USA  44° 44' 19.3" N  68° 43' 39.0" W  28 June 2014

'Chip' call composed of a hard, sharp Chiit element.

Calling from marsh scrub.

[File name: commonyellowthroatLS112880ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  American Goldfinch  Spinus tristis

  Sonogram of American Goldfinch flight call

Fields Pond Audubon Centre, Holden, Maine, USA  44° 44' 19.3" N  68° 43' 39.0" W  28 June 2014

Calls from a bird in flight.

[File name: americangoldfinchLS112876e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Bangor City Forest  44° 51' 39.0" N  68° 44' 02.4" W
Blackburnian Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Ovenbird, Wood Thrush, Veery, American Robin, American Redstart and Red-winged Blackbird.

 

  Ovenbird  Seiurus aurocapilla

  Sonogram of Ovenbird song

Bangor City Forest, Maine, USA  44° 57' 39.0" N  68° 44' 02.4" W  28 June 2014

Song composed of repeated four element phrases (though sounds like two), two high elements then two low elements, fading in and increasing in volume to an abrupt end.

Singing from understory of mixed deciduous forest.

[File name: ovenbirdLS112914ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Poland Spring Campsite  44° 02' 34.5" N  70° 22' 23.0" W
A pair of Common Loons were on the lake here and further distant birds were calling but noisy campers wasn't conducive to sound recording. White-breasted Nuthatch, Purple Martin (2), Downy Woodpecker, Red-eyed Vireo, Ovenbird, American Robin, Black-capped Chickadee. A muskrat was swimming well after sunset.

 

 

Day 13
Sunday 29 June 2014
Poland Spring > Scarborough > Saco Heath > Naples
Blue sky, humid, max 27°C


Poland
Chimney Swift (30+) over the town.

Scarborough Marsh
• Audubon Center  43° 33' 56.8" N  70° 22' 28.4" W

• Eastern Trail: saltmarsh  43° 34' 05.2" N  70° 21' 32.7" W
Glossy Ibis (4), Snowy Egret (common), Little Blue Heron (2), Great Egret (fairly common), Double-crested Cormorant (fairly common), Tricolored Heron (ad), Marsh Wren, American Herring Gull, Cedar Waxwing (2), Song Sparrow (many singing), Green-winged Teal (m), American Black Duck (f + b/10), Mallard (2), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (2)+), Great Blue Heron (2), American Goldfinch, Tree Swallow (common, with fledged young), Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow (2), Willet (fairly common and vocal), Red-winged Blackbird (common), House Sparrow (m), Spotted Sandpiper (1), American Crow, Yellow Warbler and Common Yellowthroat. Displaying Saltmarsh Sparrows were located at 43° 34' 05.2" N  70° 21' 32.7 with Nelson's Sparrow more distant.

Dunstan River, Scarborough Marsh © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Dunstan River, Scarborough Marsh

 

  Saltmarsh Sparrow  Ammodramus caudacutus

  Sonogram of Saltmarsh Sparrow song

Scarborough Marsh, Maine, USA  43° 34' 05.2" N  70° 21' 32.7" W  29 June 2014

Song composed of quiet, high-frequency gurgles and clipped-whistles.

Singing from saltmarsh vegetation adjoining a small pool.

[File name: saltmarshsparrowLS112949e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Song Sparrow  Melospiza melodia

  Sonogram of Song Sparrow song

Scarborough Marsh, Maine, USA  43° 34' 05.2" N  70° 21' 32.7" W  29 June 2014

Song of descending, clear elements, followed by a trill and a higher frequency element.

Uttered from a lone tree in saltmarsh.

[File name: songsparrowLS112980ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

  Green-winged Teal  Anas carolinensis

  Sonogram of Green-winged Teal calls

Scarborough Marsh, Maine, USA  43° 34' 05.2" N  70° 21' 32.7" W  29 June 2014

Calls from a male, composed of very short, disyllabic piping.

Calling from saltmarsh pool.

[File name: greenwingedtealLS112954ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Scarborough Marsh © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Scarborough Marsh

• Eastern Trail: woodland  43° 34' 16.8" N  70° 21' 14.4" W
Gray Catbird, PIleated Woodpecker, Eastern Kinfbird, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Cedar Waxwing (5), Ovenbird, American Robin, Red-eyed Vireo, American Crow. Several Monarch butterflies.

Saco Heath  43° 32' 47.8" N  70° 28' 25.9" W
• Pine bog with boardwalk trail: Prairie Warbler (pr), Palm Warbler, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Purple Finch, Cedar Waxwing (pr), Song Sparrow, Eastern Wood-Pewee, White-breasted Nuthatch, White-throated Sparrow, Wood Thrush, Black-capped Chickadee, Ovenbird, Blue Jay, and Common Yellowthroat.

Saco Heath © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Saco Heath

 

  Purple Finch  Carpodacus purpureus

  Sonogram of Purple Finch song

Saco Heath Forest, Maine, USA  43° 32' 47.8" N  70° 28' 25.9" W  29 June 2014

Song composed of fairly long strophes of fluty and whistled warbling interspersed with short wheezy, burring phrases.

Singing from top of a pine in pine bog habitat.

[File name: purplefinchLS112988ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Colonial Mast Campground, Long Lake, Naples
• Common Loon (pr) on the lake.

 

 

Day 14
Monday 30 June 2014
Naples > Brownfield Bog > Portland
Blue sky, humid, max 31°C


Brownfield Bog/Major Gregory Sanborn WMA, Bog Road, East Brownfield  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W
Freshwater marsh, scrubby wetlands, ponds, maple swamp, peatland, deciduous woodland.
Walked the trail north-west to 43° 58' 58.4" N  70° 54' 03.2" W
Red-shouldered Hawk, Bald Eagle (ad), Common Loon (1), Osprey, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Least Flycatcher, Veery, Mourning Warbler, Pileated Woodpecker, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Cedar Waxwing, Warbling Vireo, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Black-capped Chickadee, Wood Duck (2fff + b/6, b/4), Willow Flycatcher, Song Sparrow, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, American Black Duck (m), Yellow-throated Vireo, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Hermit Thrush, Eastern Phoebe, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Northern Parula, Swamp Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Mourning Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-eyed Vireo, Northern Flicker, Gray Catbird, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Waterthrush, American Crow, and American Robin

River Jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis) © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

River Jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis)

 

  Scarlet Tanager  Piranga olivacea

  Sonogram of Scarlet Tanager song

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  30 June 2014

Song composed of strophes of six phrases of slurred, low frequency whistled elements.

Singing from high in canopy of mature maple/oak/ forest.

[File name: scarlettanagerLS113035ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Veery  Catharus fuscescens

  Sonogram of Veery song

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  30 June 2014

Song composed of nasal or 'metallic' sounding fluting which rolls and decreases in frequency.

Singing c1.5 metres up in the understory of mixed deciduous woodland bordering wetlands.

[File name: veeryLS113029esong] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 Sonogram of Veery calls

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  30 June 2014

First call type composed of a short, level, whistled element.

Calling c1.5 metres up in mixed deciduous woodland bordering wetlands.

[File name: veeryLS113029ecall1] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 Sonogram of Veery calls

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  30 June 2014

Second call type composed of a lower frequency, downslurred element.

Calling c1.5 metres up in mixed deciduous woodland bordering wetlands.

[File name: veeryLS113029ecall2] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Mourning Warbler  Geothlypis philadelphia

  Sonogram of Mourning Warbler song

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  30 June 2014

Song composed of two sections; 3-4 complex upslurred elements follow by a rapid, lower frequency trill (dropping in frequency).

Singing from the ground and low in undergrowth of damp woodland adjacent to wetland.

[File name: mourningwarblerLS113018ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Chipping Sparrow  Spizella passerina

  Sonogram of Chipping Sparrow song

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  30 June 2014

Song composed of a fast, pulsing, insect-like trill.

Singing from woodland edge overlooking wetland.

[File name: chippingsparrowLS113007ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Oxbow, Brownfield Bog © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Brownfield Bog

 

  Common Yellowthroat  Geothlypis trichas

  Sonogram of Common Yellowthroat song

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  30 June 2014

Song composed of repeated five element phrases; elements rapidly up-and-down slurred in unusual rhythm.

Singing from wetland willows and birches.

[File name: commonyellowthroatLS113041ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Warbling Vireo  Vireo gilvus

  Sonogram of Warbling Vireo song

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  30 June 2014

Song composed of rapid, musical warbling.

Singing from deciduous woodland adjacent to wetland.

[File name: warblingvireoLS113050ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Least Flycatcher  Empidonax minimus

  Sonogram of Least Flycatcher

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  30 June 2014

Song composed of double click-like elements, repeated monotonously.

Singing from the edge of mixed deciduous woodland.

[File name: leastflycatcherLS113047ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Wood Duck  Aix sponsa

  Sonogram of Chipping Sparrow song

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  30 June 2014

Alarm calls from female with brood.

[File name: woodduckLS113054ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Willow Flycatcher  Empidonax traillii

 Sonogram of Willow Flycatcher call

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  30 June 2014

Call composed of a sharp whit element.

Calling from wetland willows and birches.

[File name: willowflycatcherLS113065e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  Eastern Wood-Pewee  Contopus virens

  Sonogram of Eastern Wood-Pewee song

Brownfield Bog, Maine, USA  43° 58' 06.0" N  70° 52' 48.6" W  30 June 2014

Simpler song composed of a single pure-tone, gently slurred element.

Singing from track-edge in mature, deciduous woodland.

[File name: easternwoodpeweeLS113068ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) © Fraser Simpson  ·  www.fssbirding.org.uk

Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor)

Comfort Inn Airport Hotel, 90 Maine Mall Rd, South Portland, ME 04106
American Goldfinch, Common Grackle and Song Sparrow around the car park.

 

 

Day 15
Tuesday 1 July 2014
Portland > Philadelphia > London


Comfort Inn Airport Hotel, 90 Maine Mall Rd, South Portland, ME 04106
Stopped at a garage between the hotel and the airport where the final birds were American Robin (pr + juvs) mobbing and dive-bombing Common Grackles (5+), Eastern Kingbird, American Goldfinch and Song Sparrow.

 

 

 

All photographs © 2014  F. S. Simpson

Fraser's Birding Website · fssbirding.org.uk

 

 Top of PageTrip ReportsHome