Monhegan Island, Maine

I had the pleasure over the Memorial Day Weekend of leading the Hampshire Bird Club trip to Monhegan Island, Maine, The Island is located about ten miles off the coast of Maine and is easily one of the best birding locations in (Spring/Fall)  New England.

We arrived at Port Clyde around 1:30pm, unloaded the cars, got the tickets and waited in the rain. The rain was light but steady and would remain so for the next day and a half. The boat ride out on the Elizabeth Ann was about an hour and fifteen long minutes to Monhegan. The seas were rough, (6 ft) and by the time we were nearing port, a few on board were looking a little “Green”.

We checked into the Trailing Yew, unpacked and went over the schedule for the next few days. One thing was apparent on our way to the Yew, there were birds on the Island, “Lots of Birds”. We had landed into a fallout. The next morning we had several Magnolia Warblers just on the stone wall! During are walks we constantly had fantastic looks at everything we encountered. It seems that every trip I’ve been on, there is always one warbler that out numbers them all….this year’s winner was the American Redstart. Redstarts were everywhere! Even on the beach feeding on sand fleas.

Without question the majority of the Redstarts were females or young males. They were so common, that non-birder’s would walk up to us and asked what the little bird was with yellow flashes in the wings and tail…..I would respond, AMERICAN REDSTART…….they would immediately fire back and say, no, no, these birds have yellow not red. I know, there female American Redstarts….oh.

Then we would do this all over again when we ran into the next non-birder.

Back to the weather……it was lousy! Many, if not all of us had multiple layers of clothing and rain gear, mittens and warm hats. This same system that brought us our raw and rainy weather, dumped three feet of snow into upper New York state.  However, without this horrible weather we would not have had the birds we did. Besides the Redstarts, we had many Yellow, Magnolia, Canada, Wilson, Yellowthroats etc…all in all we had twenty one species of Warblers, five species of Vireo’s, and numerous Empid Flycatchers. We ended with 109 species of birds and 3 species of mammals.  

By late Sunday afternoon the clouds started to break up and on Monday (departure day) it was a beautiful day……and the ride home was extremely smooth.

Scott

Magnolia Warbler- Not as common as the American Redstarts this weekend, but provided everyone with killer looks.

American Pipit- up to four were present throughout the weekend on Fish Beach.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher- Not normally found on a beach! Part of a large Flycatcher fallout.

Common Yellowthroat

Yellow Warbler-very common and wet.

Chipping sparrow- Not many on the Island, but great views on the steps of the Trailing Yew.

Acadian Flycatcher- Another  standout on Fish Beach.

American Redstart- of the dozens & dozens seen during our stay...this was one of the few males we encountered.

Wilson's Warbler- Fish Beach area.

American Redstart-female. This was the most common warbler we encountered during the weekend. In fact, it was so common...many non-birder's stopped and asked us what the small birds were with yellow in their wings & tails. When I told them it was an American Redstart..they said "NO", it had no red on it! I said that's because they are females....."Yellow Starts"

Wilson's Warbler hiding out in front of the Island Inn.

Carolina Wren- A steady population on the Island

Swainson's Thrush-The only Thrush we had, but gave the group excellent looks. (Ice Pond)

Cape May Warbler-only one, but what a stunner.

White-crowned Sparrow-

Canada Warbler- One of the favorites of the weekend. 

Canada Warbler-up close

Northern Parula

Northern Gannet- Not a lot, but the ones that were around put on a nice show off of Lobster Cove.

Eastern Kingbird down on the rocks at Lobster Cove.

Black-throated Green Warbler-female.

Trailing Yew-Home away from home for the weekend.

Looking out from the Trailing Yew towards the Lighthouse

Monhegan Harbor at dusk

Looking down on the village of Monhegan

Monhegan Lighthouse

The marsh at dusk

Orchard Oriole- Imm Male.

Double-crested Cormorant at the Ice Pond...showing off his Double Crests.

Bay-breasted Warbler- Our only one -near the Schoolhouse.

Lincoln's Sparrow- a handful around that weekend.

Northern Parula with what looks like Chestnut coloring on the flanks?

Chestnut-sided Warbler-A crowd favorite.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Looking towards Whitehead from Burnthead

Blackpoll Warbler-

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Local Lobster fisherman's Co-Pilot!

Black Guillemot -very common from Port Clyde to Monhegan

Harbor Porpoise -on the way back to Port Clyde.

Harbor Seal- also seen on the way back to the mainland

Lighthouse just outside of Port Clyde

The group outside the Trailing Yew.....The Sun did come out!!!!

Migration is on....but low turn out so far

American Robin- Along the Rail Trail in Amherst.

Greetings;

The last couple of weeks have been interesting to say the least. Each year we try to figure out what’s going on with migration… We try and predict the next fallout but most of the time we just kid ourselves into thinking we have a handle on migration.  So far in May, there’s seems to be a huge void of Wood Thrushes, Veery’s, Eastern Kingbirds , Yellow-rumped Warblers and even Catbirds! Most of these should have pulled in by the last week in April… and yet, there are many species that are right on time. The one consist so far, at least in my humble opinion is the lack of numbers. A common thought is that the majority of birds have been held up behind this front that’s now approaching our area. The bottom line is…”Who Knows”, but it’s early May and one thing is for sure, the fun is just beginning.  Keep the bins close by………

Played around a little with the macro lens the other evening....thousands of tiny Red Ants.

Common Yellowthroat- First of the season- Oxbow N.W.R.

Eastern Phoebe- Our Phoebes have return and have justed started sitting on eggs.

Northern Flicker- Bike Trail in Amherst.

Flicker Nest hole- Bike trail-Setting up shop.

Just Missed!

Northern Waterthrush along Mitch's Marina.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow- Bike Trail in Amherst.

Northern Watersnake- Oxbow N.W.R.

White-throated Sparrow- Already started to decline at the feeding station.

Warbling Vireo- Rail Trail

White-crowned Sparrow- made a two day appearance and then headed out.

Yellow-throated Vireo- Mitch's Marina in Hadley.

Yellow-throated Vireo- Up close & Personal!

Glossy Ibis- Amherst

Glossy Ibis- Rail Trail- Amherst

It's been a while since the last post . We certainly had a more typical New England winter this past season , and I finely caught up to the Gray Ghost in January & February. Valerie and I were able to get away in March to Costa Rica & Panama for a week and now spring migration is in full swing.

The Hitchcock Center Spring birding class is also in full swing.....Today's trip brought us down the Rail Trail in Amherst. We started out at Larch Hill conservation Area, an area adjacent to the Hitchcock Center. We had a great encounter with 9 Ruby-crowned Kinglets. All interacting with one another and several showing their brilliant red crowns. We also had several Palm Warblers, 2 Pine and a couple Yellow-rumped Warblers. We then headed to Southeast Street for a quick walk down the Rail Trail to visit an area that recently had three Glossy Ibis?  Although they hadn't been reported in a couple of days, we thought we'd give it a quick scan of the area. As most of us were looking over the main Beaver Pond, Jim & Kim   Athern were looking on the other side of the trail and BINGO! they spotted a large iridescent bird sleeping in the grass....Glossy Ibis was still around, and not just one but all three. The Glossy Ibis is a rare bird in western Massachusetts...reported just about each year, but most keep moving through. Once in a while they'll stay put for a couple of days and give everyone a chance for a look. I've had less than 10 sightings over thirty-five years, so they can be tough to come by.  The Ibis put on a wonderful show, we observed a couple of them eating crayfish several times. The trial also had several Palm Warblers (Eastern) and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. A nice way to spend a Sunday morning....complete lists below.

Glossy Ibis- Rail  Trail. 4-21-13

Glossy Ibis- Amherst Rail Trail.

Palm Warbler- Amherst.

Palm Warbler- Amherst 4-21-13

Pine Warbler-Amherst. Larch Hill

Ruby-crowned Kinglet-Amherst 4-21-13

Yellow-rumped Warbler- Larch Hill -Amherst.

Amherst-Hop Brook-Beaver Pond.Rail Trail, Hampshire, US-MA
Apr 21, 2013 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
32 species

Canada Goose 8
Mallard 6
Common Merganser 1
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 3 continuing since Wednesday afternoon-photos
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Killdeer 1
Mourning Dove 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
American Crow 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Tree Swallow 9
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 7
American Robin 2
European Starling 2
Palm Warbler (Yellow) 12
Pine Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 4
Swamp Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
American Goldfinch 2

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13826633

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

LARCH HILL CONSERVATION AREA-AMHERST, Hampshire, US-MA
Apr 21, 2013 7:10 AM - 8:10 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.3 mile(s)
22 species

Mourning Dove 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 9
American Robin 3
Palm Warbler (Yellow) 3
Pine Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2
Song Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 12
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 4
Common Grackle 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 11

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13826390