March 14, 2018
Cape Elizabeth bird report: late winter 2018
No matter the season, Cape Elizabeth is a treasure trove for birders. February 2018 yielded reasonable numbers of Pelagic Alcids along the shorelines of Cape and…
The columns
All 155 columns, from March 2018 to September 2026, as they were printed in The Cape Courier.
2018 16 columns
March 28, 2018
Cape Birding Report: mid-March 2018
Bird sightings for the last couple of weeks have not in particular pointed toward springtime. As for noteworthy birding observations from across Cape Elizabeth and…
April 11, 2018
Birding observations through April 2
The extensive and varied habitat that surrounds us offers ideal stopover conditions for migrants along the coast (Atlantic flyway). More than one Savanah Ipswich Sparrow…
April 25, 2018
Birding report for mid-April
Despite the unsavory weather conditions that persisted through mid-April, Cape Elizabeth saw the return of Osprey - on April 8 a first of season bird was spotted fishing…
May 9, 2018
Birding Report for April 15-30
Throughout the last two weeks of April it was possible to find isolated pockets of spring migrants throughout Cape Elizabeth. There was an early female Scarlet Tanager…
May 23, 2018
Cape Elizabeth birding report May 1 -14
Spring migration hit its stride during the first couple of days in May. Eastern Towhees showed up right on time. A House Wren was seen and heard along Shore Road. Our…
June 6, 2018
Birding report for May 15 – 28
A kaleidoscopic array of wood warblers has been pouring through Cape Elizabeth over the last two weeks. In the late afternoon of May 28 the Gull Crest trails were…
June 20, 2018
Birding Report for May 29 – June 12
Most breeding songbirds are on their summer territories or are already nesting. Across the more interior intact forest sections of Cape Elizabeth, Black-throated green…
July 25, 2018
Cape Elizabeth birding report for June 26 through July 15
This time of year, there are many stellar birds to be spotted and heard across Cape Elizabeth. The last week of June into the 4th of July yielded good numbers of…
August 29, 2018
Cape Elizabeth birding report for the first part of August
Continued muggy and buggy weather stretched through the first two slow birding weeks of August.
September 12, 2018
Birding report for last week of August through Labor Day
Good numbers of fledgling white-breasted nuthatches, tufted titmice and American goldfinches have been frequenting our feeders. A young female Carolina wren briefly made…
October 10, 2018
September Birding Report
One reason that I like the autumn bird migration is that it lasts longer than the spring migration. Some birds maintain their breeding plumage well into early September…
October 24, 2018
Cape Elizabeth birding report: October 1-15
Notable mentioning’s over the first two weeks of October include a close encounter between a Pileated Woodpecker and a Belted Kingfisher within “Robinson Woods III”, a…
November 7, 2018
Birding report for last two weeks of October
Across parts of the northern boreal forests this year happens to be a less than robust year for coniferous cone and birch seeds. When this happens many of the birds that…
November 21, 2018
Cape Elizabeth birding report, early November
The shorter days and good stretches of soggy weather have made it more challenging to look for drifting migrants over the last two weeks. On November 2nd my wife spotted…
December 11, 2018
Bird report for last two weeks of November
The wintery weather during the last two weeks of November set the stage nicely for the arrival of winter finches from the coniferous forests far north. During the last…
2019 21 columns
January 16, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding report
With an increase in pine cones and acorns in 2017 came the bonanza of small mammals in 2018. This in turn led to what was probably a good breeding year for owls.
February 6, 2019
Birding report for mid-January
In the late afternoon of January 12 a Northern Harrier, aka “Marsh Hawk” was spotted hunting along the fringes of the Spurwink River. On this same day there was…
February 20, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding observations for early February
The polar conditions through early February made for slow birding pretty much everywhere except the backyard. This time of year, it’s hard not to marvel at the resilience…
March 14, 2019
Cape Elizabeth Birding Report
I had mentioned in my last column that this time of year can be very productive in terms of seeing and hearing owls. Late afternoon on Feb 16 was a two owl day for my…
March 26, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding report
Midway through the second week in March is when the early spring migrants started to show up across Cape Elizabeth. On the morning of March 13 my wife called me to the…
April 10, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding observations for late March
The two weeks leading up to April 1st saw a slow thawing of snow and significant numbers of Canada geese passing overhead every night, preferring to push north when the…
April 24, 2019
Cape birding observations for April
Spring is here and the northbound migration of birds has really just begun. During the second week of April there was a profusion of sparrow activity. Chipping sparrows…
May 7, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding report
Favorable southerly winds in late April brought a torrent of migrants to the lower states. Unfortunately, many of the northbound songbirds that follow insects have been…
May 22, 2019
Birding observations for the first two weeks of May
The fits and starts of spring migration across Cape definitely hit a steadier stride starting on the fourth day of May. A herald of springtime, Baltimore Orioles have…
June 5, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding report
The northward push of birds showed no signs of slowing down through May 28. Over Memorial Day weekend, a kaleidoscopic array of wood warblers poured into and over Cape…
June 19, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding report for early June
Most breeding songbirds have reached their summer time haunts or are already nesting. Across the more interior intact sections of Cape Elizabeth, Black-throated Green…
July 3, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding observations for late June
Across Cape, breeding season is in full swing. On June 14 there were 52 Common Eiders in Pond Cove including a dozen ducklings each accompanied by several adult females.…
July 24, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding observations for early July
This time of year, there are many stellar birds to be spotted and heard across Cape. The last days of June through the 15th of July yielded good numbers of Baltimore…
August 14, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding report
The last days of July were uncomfortably warm and our temperate broadleaf and mixed forests experienced significant understory growth making it more of a challenge to…
September 11, 2019
Cape birding report for late August through Labor Day
In last days of August across the upper canopies of our wooded habitat one could still hear the rich, whistling song of the Baltimore Oriole and the super sweet rolling…
September 25, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding report
Despite it being hurricane season (and thus a chance for rare birds to show up), our post Labor-day September has had a rather luxurious feel to it. Many of the songbirds…
October 9, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding report
At this time of year, on most evenings if one steps outside after 10:00 p.m. the various chips, zeets and peeps of migrating birds can be heard across the night sky.
October 23, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding report
This is the time of the year that a wide variety of birds are still winging their way south. During the first two weeks of October, the birds that pass through Cape…
November 6, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding report
In the last two weeks of October southbound migrants are becoming more scarce, however they can still be observed. The threadlike high-pitched call notes of the…
November 20, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding report
Over the last couple of weeks shorter days and no shortage of yardwork have made it tricky to keep an eye out for errant migrants. A few observations are worth mentioning…
December 11, 2019
Cape Elizabeth birding report
Every fall for the last 20 or so years two Ontario field ornithologists put together a “Winter Finch Forecast” predicting which boreal birds will likely “irrupt,”…
2020 20 columns
January 22, 2020
Birding report for late December into January
In the last days of December around dusk, my wife, son and I were walking along the road down to the beach parking lot within Crescent Beach State Park when we accidently…
February 5, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
On a sunny Saturday afternoon (January 18) two adult Bald eagles flew high above Shore Road. These regal raptors mate for life and can live 30 or more years in the wild.…
February 19, 2020
Birding notes from the dead of winter
The decently moonlit, windless and almost snowless conditions during the last days of January through early February make it a good time to catch owls doing the courtship…
March 11, 2020
Birding notes for late February through the first day of March
Birders and non-birders alike are looking and listening for signs of the approaching spring. The best and most sure sign of spring in February is to hear birds singing on…
April 8, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
This is most certainly a complicated time but one thing that keeps many of us centered and hopeful is the birds all around us. Seemingly unaffected by the tremendous…
April 22, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
As challenging as the last couple of weeks have been, discovering moments of joy can be as simple as the sudden appearance of a new bird in the yard. In the first full…
May 6, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
Several weather fronts in late April brought a torrent of migrants to the lower states. Unfortunately, many of the north bound songbirds that follow insects have been…
May 20, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
On the afternoon of May 1 along Wells Road, a flock of twelve Glossy Ibis foraged the flooded fields with their sickle-shaped bills while a mixed flock of Tree Swallows…
June 3, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
May has been slow to evolve in large part due to upper-level low pressure systems in the mid-Atlantic states producing unfavorable winds and below normal temperatures.…
June 17, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
With the waning of peak migration and summertime close at hand, most songbirds have reached their breeding haunts or are already on the nest. In the tops of our taller…
July 1, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
Across town breeding season is in full swing. Our backyard is now abuzz with youngsters. After a brief hiatus Baltimore Orioles have returned to our yard and on the 21st…
July 20, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
As the dog days of July set in, the Baltimore Orioles returned to our yard in impressive numbers. Many moments were spent observing busy parents and begging youngsters.…
August 12, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
On one of many exceedingly still and sultry evenings in late July I slipped into the tall timber section of Great Pond Preserve II.
August 26, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
Continued muggy and buggy weather stretched through the first two slow birding weeks of August. Lack of rain has dried up many of our feeder streams and this has pushed…
September 9, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
During the last days of August across the upper canopies of our forests one could still here the faint whistling song of the Baltimore Oriole.
September 23, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
Wind direction is important for migrating birds as are other variables. One in particular is called photoperiod, which is the amount of solar light that occurs during the…
October 21, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
As our days grow shorter and neotropical migrants return to their wintering haunts, birders begin to eagerly anticipate a report issued every autumn for the last twenty…
November 4, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
As November rapidly approaches, the migration spectacle still unfolds all around us. It is a time where the ordinary can seem quite extraordinary. An ancient ritual as…
November 25, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
On the 5th of November a flock of nineteen Pine Siskins arrived on our property. A goldfinch in disguise, the Pine Siskin is similar in size and shape to that of our…
December 16, 2020
Cape Elizabeth birding report
Over the last several weeks an array of winter visitors have arrived across Cape. Inland, the winter finch irruption continues to unfold, yielding more and more reported…
2021 19 columns
February 3, 2021
Cape Elizabeth birding report
One of the things I enjoy about bird watching is the year-round opportunity presented to reflect on my own appreciation of nature.
February 17, 2021
Cape Elizabeth birding report
If there is a silver lining to the current pandemic it likely lies in the form of increased awareness for nature, conservation and of course, birds. Fortunately, this…
March 10, 2021
Cape Elizabeth birding report
Although March can be unpredictable and unpleasant, for me this late winter month also brings a unique anticipation along with a re-kindled sense of hope and possibility…
March 24, 2021
Cape Elizabeth birding report
On these last days of winter, the most northern, and last arriving of the winter finches from this past season’s noteworthy irruption (i.e., Redpolls, Pine Siskins, Pine…
April 7, 2021
Cape Elizabeth birding report
Winter residents like Buffleheads, Scoters and Red-breasted Mergansers are now starting to depart for breeding grounds far north and west of here. Other winter birds like…
April 21, 2021
Cape Elizabeth birding report
Birds with shorter migratory flights like many sparrow and blackbird species have the luxury of sensing local conditions to their north and selectively capitalizing on…
May 5, 2021
Cape Elizabeth birding report
Migrating at night is a risky business. One way to increase chances of success is for birds to travel in small flocks, constructively working as a team. Many songbirds…
May 19, 2021
Cape Elizabeth birding report
The last few days of April through the first week of May saw colder than average temperatures and mostly unfavorable wind conditions. But with spits and sputters, spring…
June 2, 2021
Local birding report
The second and third weeks of May where both exhilarating and exhausting at times as enormous numbers of songbirds and shorebirds pushed through Cape. Migration analysis…
June 16, 2021
Local birding report
With the waning of peak migration and summertime close at hand, most birds have reached their breeding haunts and are actively pursuing mates or already on the nest. In…
June 30, 2021
Local birding report
With the electricity of the migration behind us, mid-to-late June across Cape is a great time to catch birds raising their next generation. For me it is also the time of…
July 21, 2021
Local birding report
As the birding doldrums of early summer settle in across Cape, there is still always something of interest to see or hear and it is just a matter of being out in the…
August 11, 2021
Local birding report
After dusk in late July through August, the dreamy tune of Eastern Wood Peewees can still be heard among the whispering trees deep within Robinson Woods. While…
September 22, 2021
Local birding report
In the past few years scientists have unlocked an unprecedented window into the phenomenon of nocturnal migration which has led to a new golden-age of bird observation.…
October 6, 2021
Local birding report
One of the things that I appreciate about birds is their ability to link themselves to my memory of places and seasons - so that the sudden appearance of a bird, a song…
October 20, 2021
Local birding report
October is a busy month for birds across Cape Elizabeth. We have winter residents now arriving, migrant songbirds and shorebirds are still trickling through from further…
November 3, 2021
Local birding report
Connections between the boreal forests in Canada and the movements of wandering winter finches in fall and winter have been closely studied since 2012. According to Tyler…
November 24, 2021
Local birding report
Over the last couple of weeks the shorter days and no shortage of yardwork have made it challenging to keep an eye and ear out for lingering migrants. A few observations…
December 22, 2021
Local birding report
In late November my son and I slipped over to Scarborough to seek out the previously reported American Coots. This bulky chicken-like bird that swims like a duck is more…
2022 18 columns
January 19, 2022
Local birding report
On one of the last days of December while walking the back path along Crescent Beach State Park I noticed a flurry of activity around a gnarled old Pitch Pine Tree. I had…
February 2, 2022
Local birding report
Despite bitter temperatures and the lack of irruptive winter finches, 2022 continues to be full of surprises.
February 16, 2022
Local birding report
It is at this time each year when my mind often drifts to thoughts of Snow Buntings, Horned Larks and elusive Lapland Longspurs. Far from the treeless arctic habitats…
March 9, 2022
Local birding report
Although March’s weather is often unpleasant and unpredictable, for me this late winter month also brings a unique anticipation for what is just around the corner, spring…
March 23, 2022
Local birding report
It is staggering to imagine that if you were alive in 1970, more than 1-in-4 birds have disappeared within your lifetime. Of this figure 90 percent of the losses come…
April 6, 2022
Local birding report
Before lawns green up, and before fields and meadows come to live, many of the first signs of spring across Cape Elizabeth can be found in our tidal and inland salt…
April 20, 2022
Local birding report
Up until this point, there has been a steady trickle of northbound avian traffic through Cape Elizabeth.
May 18, 2022
Local birding report
The last two weeks of April through the first week of May saw colder than average temperatures and mostly unfavorable migratory wind conditions. Ruby-crowned and…
June 15, 2022
Local birding report
Over the last two weeks one of the most active places to be before dusk is where the woods meet the upper wetland sections of Pond Cove. The chorus here at sundown…
June 29, 2022
Local birding report
By mid-to-late June the lisping cries from flocks of Cedar Waxwings have begun to wane across the upper canopies of our woodlands and summer resident songbirds are…
July 10, 2022
Local birding report
As early summer settles in across Cape there is always something of interest to see or hear and it is just a matter of being out in the yard or the field to chance upon…
August 10, 2022
Local birding report
As the humid, dry conditions of July wore on many of the forest songbirds seemed to have become discouraged from song. After months of wooing and raising broods…
August 24, 2022
Local birding report
Cape Elizabeth’s southernmost point of land is a storied island just off our coastline named Richmond Island. With permission, I spent the night of August 13 on this…
September 21, 2022
Local birding report
Every two to four years the tin hornlike notes of a particular little songbird fill our forests. Less common of the two nuthatches that breed in Cape, the exceedingly…
October 5, 2022
Local birding report
The third and fourth weeks of September saw many summer bird residents starting to depart for their winter homes while other southbound migrants were stopping in briefly…
October 19, 2022
Local birding report
In early October the chatter of Tufted Titmice, Black-capped Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches busying themselves for the coming winter months is hard to ignore.…
November 22, 2022
Local birding report
On the drizzly morning of October 25, a pair of Evening Grosbeaks briefly visited my backyard. I first spotted the smoke gray colored female perched in a leafless Crab…
December 21, 2022
Local birding report
Wintertime is a particularly good time of year to observe unusual combinations of different bird species in our backyards. In the first week of December, I was delighted…
2023 16 columns
January 7, 2023
Local birding report
In the first few weeks of January, I am thankful for many things, including the fine sweet trill of Red-breasted Nuthatches, the way a Brown Creeper’s song calls to mind…
February 7, 2023
Local birding report
The last several weeks of January brought both mild temperatures and our first significant snowfall of the year. On January 13 I observed two lingering male Belted…
February 22, 2023
Local birding report
On the coldest day of February I went searching for Snow Buntings, Horned Larks and elusive Lapland Longspurs. Far from the treeless artic habitats from which these…
March 15, 2023
Local birding report
On the afternoon of March 2 I spotted a flock of black and white ducks along the Spurwink River. Before I was able to get a good look the ducks took wing, retreating…
March 29, 2023
Local birding report
Discovering moments of joy can be as simple as the sudden appearance of a new bird in the yard. Fortunately, early spring migrants like the Song Sparrow are appearing in…
April 12, 2023
Local birding report
Year after year there is a predictable order to the arrival of songbirds migrating north along the Atlantic Flyway. The early birds arriving and passing through Cape in…
May 10, 2023
Local birding report
The unsettled weather that continued through much of April and into the first week of May seemed to have slowed the northbound journey of many migrating songbirds. By the…
June 21, 2023
Local birding report
By mid-to-late June breeding season is well under way across Cape and birds are singing mightily as they establish territories and nests. Resident birds like Carolina…
July 5, 2023
Local birding report
Early to late July for me is the time of year where I can set out to look and listen for specific species I may have missed during spring migration like the Warbling…
July 26, 2023
Local birding report
By mid-July breeding season for woodland birds is winding down and consequently they have less reason to sing. The reduced frequency of singing makes finding birds even…
August 16, 2023
Local birding report
Cygnus the Swan constellation of stars flies high along the Milky Way in August and somewhere between the treetops and the cloud bottoms a buzzy tseep call drips down out…
September 28, 2023
Local birding report
The second and third weeks of September saw many of our summer resident songbirds depart for their winter homes while other southbound migrants were stopping in briefly…
October 11, 2023
Local birding report
When trying to identify birds high up in trees or deep within thickets it is important to get a good hold on several of the characteristic traits (movements and call…
October 25, 2023
Local birding report
October is a relatively busy month for birds across Cape Elizabeth. Winter backyard residents such as the White-throated Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco are arriving, migrant…
November 8, 2023
Local birding report
As the days grow shorter and neotropical migrants are well on their way to wintering haunts, birders begin to eagerly anticipate a report issued every autumn for the last…
November 23, 2023
Local birding report
On the afternoon of November 4 I came across a very late in the season Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. This was a particularly joyous occasion because the last time I encountered…
2024 16 columns
January 17, 2024
Local birding report
For the birds that choose not to migrate south, maximizing calories ingested while minimizing calories spent is the formula for survival during the winter months.…
February 7, 2024
Local birding report
One of the things I enjoy about birding is the year-round opportunity presented to reflect on my own appreciation for nature’s power to remind and reframe my mood - in…
February 21, 2024
Local birding report
On the last day of January a Chipping Sparrow showed up amongst the other sparrows in our backyard. Slightly bigger than a chickadee, the bird stood out from its cousins…
March 27, 2024
Local birding report
With a change of season upon us my mind often drifts to birds I hope to come across this spring in Cape Elizabeth such as the Blue-winged and Golden- Winged Warbler, the…
April 10, 2024
Local birding report
Before lawns green up, and before fields and meadows come to life, many of the first signs of spring across Cape Elizabeth can be found in our tidal and inland salt…
May 8, 2024
Local birding report
The last few nights of April saw a huge influx of northbound traffic in the night skies across the U.S. Cornell Labs BirdCast predicted upwards of 300 million birds in…
May 22, 2024
Local birding report
Inspirational nature quotes can impact our motivations and shape our mindset. One of my favorite bits of well-expressed birding wisdom comes from Maine’s pioneering…
June 5, 2024
Local birding report
Up until recently I have always associated seeing Pine Siskins with the cold months of the year. On occasion my mind would wander to the cool coniferous forests on high…
June 19, 2024
Local birding report
By mid-to-late June the lisping cries from flocks of Cedar Waxwings have begun to wane across the upper canopies of our woodlands and our summer resident songbirds are…
July 17, 2024
Local birding report
Considered one of the most widespread breeding warblers in Maine, the Black-throated Green Warbler is an agile upper canopy dweller with a delightfully persistent song.…
August 21, 2024
Local birding report
Cygnus the Swan constellation of stars flies high along the Milky Way in August and somewhere between the treetops and the cloud bottoms a buzzy tseep call drips down out…
September 18, 2024
Local birding report
Every two to four years the tin hornlike notes of a particular little creature fill our forests. Less common of the two nuthatches that breed in Cape, the exceedingly…
October 2, 2024
Local birding report
The dry warm weather during the second and third week of September accompanied many southbound migrants secretly slipping through our landscapes by day and overhead by…
October 23, 2024
Local birding report
In early October, our woodlands are filled with the chatter of Tufted Titmice, Black-capped Chickadees and nuthatches busying themselves for the coming winter months.…
November 27, 2024
Local birding report
Although the loss of daylight and unpredictable weather pose challenges for birders in late fall, the season also provides the opportunity to reflect, hone-in and enhance…
December 18, 2024
Local birding report
As December rolls through, the daily rhythm of the backyard revolves around Dark-eyed Juncos flitting. White-throated Sparrows scratching, Cardinals glowing, Goldfinches…
2025 18 columns
January 15, 2025
Local birding report
In early January, I am thankful for many things, including but not limited to, the fine sweet trill of a Red-breasted Nuthatch, the thin, silvery calls of Golden-crowned…
February 19, 2025
Local birding report
In the fall of 2019, the journal “Science” published a startling study that showed North America has lost an estimated three billion migratory birds in the last 50 years.…
March 12, 2025
Local birding report
Although March can be unpredictable and unpleasant, for me this late winter month also brings a unique anticipation along with a re kindled sense of hope and possibility…
April 9, 2025
Local birding report
Despite the lingering snow of late March, spring migration is well underway. Certain birds mark the changing of the seasons for me and there is something special about…
April 23, 2025
Local birding report
Spring is here and the northbound migration of birds has just begun. During the first week of April there was a profusion of sparrow activity across Cape. Chipping…
May 7, 2025
Local birding report
Migrating at night is a risky business. One way to increase chances of success is for birds to travel in small flocks, constructively working as a team. Many songbirds…
May 21, 2025
Local birding report
Over the last couple of weeks there has been a steady progression of spring migrants crossing into and passing through Cape.
June 4, 2025
Local birding report
Despite this spring being the rainiest on record over the last twenty-five years, during the second and third weeks of May Cape witnessed an awe-inspiring migration…
June 18, 2025
Local birding report
With the waning of peak migration and summertime close at hand, breeding season is well underway across Cape with birds singing mightily as they establish territories and…
July 16, 2025
Local birding report
As the lazy, hazy days of birding settle over Cape, moments of wonder remain – often found by chance, just by being present in a field or garden where the day unfolds.
August 6, 2025
Birding in late July: Cape Elizabeth’s quiet abundance
Late July in Cape Elizabeth hums with quiet abundance. Birdsong drifts through marshes and shorelines—not the exuberant chorus of spring, but a more contemplative music.…
August 20, 2025
Local birding report
Cygnus the Swan constellation flies high along the Milky Way in August, and somewhere between the treetops and the cloud bottoms, a buzzy tseep call drips from the…
September 17, 2025
Local birding report
As summer wanes and the forest begins its slow exhalation into autumn, the tinny, hornlike notes of a diminutive forest dweller ring through our trees—a sound both…
October 1, 2025
Local birding report
Many of my most memorable bird sightings in Cape have taken place along the old stretch of Sawyer Road that crosses the Spurwink Marsh. There’s a certain magic to these…
October 22, 2025
Local birding report
Each year around this time, I eagerly await the Finch Research Network’s special forecast predicting which boreal birds—known as “winter finches”—might grace our…
November 12, 2025
Local birding report
As November deepens, Cygnus, the celestial swan, drifts slowly westward, its wings dimming in the early dusk. Once radiant and high in the summer sky, it now echoes the…
November 26, 2025
Local birding report
As daylight wanes and the weather turns unpredictable, late fall can feel like a challenge for birders. Yet this season offers something rare—a chance to slow down…
December 17, 2025
Local birding report
As December settles in with snow and below average temperatures my backyard ebbs and flows with familiar winter activity: Dark-eyed Juncos chasing, White-throated…
2026 11 columns
February 4, 2026
Local birding report
On the coldest weekend of January, I set out in search of Horned Larks, Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs. These open country species, wandering winter visitors from…
February 18, 2026
Local birding report
This winter, as the frigid Arctic air continues to dip south and snow sweeps across Maine, one of the far north’s most iconic raptors has drifted silently into our…
March 11, 2026
Local birding report
After a long easterly winter storm—when the dark blue seas are still heaving and the wind swings briskly into the northeast—you may find the hardy Razorbill riding calmly…
May 6, 2026
Local birding report
Returning from a family trip to a barrier island in South Carolina, I found myself still hearing the place days after we’d left it: the bright, rolling sequence of notes…
May 20, 2026
Local birding report
Over the past two weeks, as new birds have filtered into my yard, I’ve been thinking about how birders learn to recognize not just species, but individuals—the particular…
June 3, 2026
Local birding report
The second and third weeks of May in Cape Elizabeth saw an awe-inspiring surge of migration, with vast numbers of songbirds and shorebirds passing through. Analysis from…
July 1, 2026
Local birding report
With the electricity of spring migration behind us, late June into July across Cape Elizabeth becomes a quieter but equally rewarding season, one defined by new…
August 5, 2026
Local birding report
July in Cape Elizabeth hums with quiet abundance. Birdsong drifts through marshes and shorelines—not the exuberant chorus of spring, but a more contemplative music.…
September 2, 2026
Local birding report
In August, as summer lingers across the northern sky, Cygnus the Swan reaches its peak brilliance, gliding through the star rich Milky Way. Far below this celestial swan…
September 16, 2026
Local birding report
Across Cape Elizabeth, the tin horn notes of a particular little creature ring through our forests. It has been an exceptional year for the less common of our two…
September 30, 2026
Local birding report
The dry, warm weather during the second and third week of September accompanied many southbound migrants quietly slipping through our landscapes by day and overhead by…