This morning was the last Wednesday walk for the year, at Sabattus Pond looking for ducks. We had a great turn out, 14 people. It started cold and windy with the wind pushing up white caps at the south end of the lake. It was hard to see any ducks, but they were there. So we moved to Riley Road (the CMP trucks were not there) and shelter from the wind was slightly better, the ducks were closer and viewed quite well. Then off to walk the loop from Access Road. Now we were not only sheltered from any wind but we were in the sun. Ducks were easily seen, gulls too, and a number of “song” birds (not singing!) Last we made a brief stop at Martin’s Point and then the American Legion. We had 34 species and a very good day. A nice way to end the season. We’ll be back in May.
Bird seen and heard (H):
Mallard – few
Ring-necked Duck – 1 found by Carol Jack
Greater Scaup / Lesser Scaup – hard to tell apart with the wind, about 50
Black Scoter – 4 or 5 by Gordon Smith
Bufflehead – 20, seen well on the walk
Hooded Merganser – 8 from Martin’s Point
Common Merganser – 1 by Tom Hayward
Ruddy Duck – 300 seen well but hard to count
Double-crested Cormorant – 1 on sand spit
Turkey Vulture – 1 (twice)
Cooper’s Hawk – 1 at American Legion
American Coot – 2 by Linda Seamans
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull – 50+ flying and on sand spit
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher (H) at Martin’s Point
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven – 4 at Antique Mall
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper – 1 walking loop
Carolina Wren (H) – called many times but not seen, odd call but verified via recording, at American Legion
American Robin – at American Legion
Northern Mockingbird – side of Pond Road
European Starling
Dark-eyed Junco – 6
Northern Cardinal (H)
House Finch – 2 at walking loop feeder
American Goldfinch
—
Stan DeOrsey