Bobolink

Additionally, 33% of boreal forest birds have been lost, 37% of shorebirds and grassland bird populations like the Bobolink (which nests in Maine) are down by over 50% across their entire respective populations.

Additionally, in the waning afternoon hours of June 22 I happened upon my first Bobolink of the year along the Spurwink Trail.

For me it is also the time of year where I can set out to look for specific species like the Bobolink with its rambling song, or uncommonly seen shorebirds like the American Oystercatcher, or different types of terns like the Artic and Roseate, and elusive birds like the American Bittern and Virginia Rail.

Later in the day along the Spurwink Town Farm section of town where salt marsh meets with rolling uncut pastures I noted three male Bobolinks giving their “display flights.”

Alder Flycatcher spotted within the wet tangles, call was a distinctive wheezed “ree-BEE-a.” Bobolinks, three total frolicking across uncut pasture, their bubbly music bouncing across the marsh.

This list includes birds that can still be seen in Cape Elizabeth at certain times of year like the Evening Grosbeak, Bobolink, Golden-winged Warbler, Eastern Towhee and Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

Later that same day my wife and I spotted a single Bobolink along the fringes of the Spurwink Marsh.

The song of the Lapland Longspur is a sweet, jingly warble that sounds somewhat like a Bobolink.

Early summer is also when I set out to find certain species without which the season would feel incomplete: Bobolinks with their tumbling, metallic songs; uncommon shorebirds like the American Oystercatcher; terns such as Arctic and Roseate; and elusive marsh birds like the American Bittern.

Amazingly, two Bobolinks appeared while I was watching the Meadowlarks.