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.

Witnessing this predator-prey relationship firsthand, on the evening of January 1 a young Barred owl was perched on a crab apple tree branch not but a couple feet from our kitchen window.

The owl looked to have been pursuing a flying squirrel. Additionally, I have received reports from my mother-in-law out on Two Lights Road of a Barred owl that she sees sitting on a nearby telephone wire somewhat frequently around dawn. Despite the fact that Barred owls are most often heard well after dark, they are crepuscular, meaning they hunt primarily at dawn and dusk.

Throughout early January we have been fortunate enough to be host to two Carolina wrens. Although very hardy little birds, Carolina wrens are sensitive to cold weather, especially prolonged deep snow.

I know that one of the two birds is female because of her unique tattle call. These wrens will sing at just about any time of the year and the male and female sing different parts, commonly interweaving their songs such that they sound like a single voice. A pair bond between a female and male can occur at any time of the year (not just breeding season) and the pair will stay together for life.

Other noteworthy observations: a flock of up to 18 Pine Siskin’s continuing to feed daily on our Nyjer tube. I’ve noticed that the American Goldfinches get to the tube earlier (before sunrise) than the Pine Siskin’s do. This is most likely due to the fact that they are less aggressive and confrontational then their northern cousins.

Our resident foursome of bluebirds disappeared for a couple days during the end of 2018 but re-appeared just as the snow started to come down on January 3. Phew! As for woodpeckers, I counted six Hairy woodpeckers, nine Downey woodpeckers, two Red-bellied Woodpeckers and one Pileated Woodpecker in our yard on the same day.

On January 4 a significant raft (must have been 30-50 birds) of American Turkeys were seen hanging around out by Alewives Brook Farm.

On January 6, a nomadic flock of 100 or more American Robins cascaded through our backyard. Of the Thrush family, Robins will stay put in Cape Elizabeth as long as they can find food (sumac trees on our property).

Also on January 6 an American Raven was spotted over the Pond Cove area being mobbed by a gang of crows. Interestingly, crows are almost always the instigators despite being roughly half the size of a raven.

Lastly, I am curious to know what my fellow neighbors are seeing and hearing specific to Winter Finches and owls in Cape Elizabeth. Please feel free to email me at [email address withheld].