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 first seen on April 18 (Pond Cove tangles and coastline) along with an unexpected Red-eyed Vireo, and good numbers of Pine Warblers. Pond Cove’s pocket beach foreshore with giant rafts of seaweed is a honeypot for wary travelers, especially in the early spring when insects are harder to come by.

Barred owls have been seen and heard in Robinson Woods. I had our first Eastern Towhee (male) at our feeders on the morning of April 23. Thrushes, primarily the Hermit but also the Wood and close cousin Veery are passing through en route to their breeding grounds.

On the last days of April the following birds were seen and heard – Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped / Myrtle Warbler, Pine Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blue- gray Gnatcatcher and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Barn swallows were a welcome sight, with their fluid wingbeats, dips and dives. I also was very pleased to observe an Osprey sitting quietly, high upon a snag in Pond Cove, intently watching a male wood duck that showed up with a splash. Pine Warblers quick trill melodies echoing throughout groves of ancient pine trees.