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 Warblers and Ovenbirds are making themselves known as are Veery’s. Of the thrush family, the Veery’s breezy spiraling song is enchanting as it echos across the understory.

Also, still abundant in our damp deciduous and mixed woods, the American Redstart with its pent-up bit of feathered pizzazz flutters and darts while displaying its black and flame colored plumage. Common Yellowthroats have secured their respective territories across the most of Cape as well. The male Common Yellowthroat dons a broad black mask which is contrasted with a bright yellow nape, crown and throat. Always slinking and clucking, this warbler is a particularly curious little fellow and the birds distinctive witchety-witchety-whitchety call notes often reveal its presence.

Other mentionables – I had neglected to mention this in my previous report, starting in late May, hundreds of Cedar Waxwings could be found throughout our woodlands, mother nature’s way of helping protect our treasured oak trees. Waxwings are almost always totally zeroed in on berry yielding trees – the exception being during peak spring inchworm periods where they feast on these destructive pests. The intermingled songs of both the House Wren and Carolina Wren can be heard in many of our neighborhoods, including Cranbrook, Delano Park and Winnick Woods.

On the evening of June 4 I spotted a Yellow-crowned Night Heron flying over the house and later noticed that there had been mentionings of what was probably the same bird at Pond Cove. This is one of two species of night herons found in North America. A rather secretive and generally solitary creature, this “crab eater” will feed both day and night. Miscellaneous sightings include, eight Great Egrets along the stretch of Sawyer Road that runs through the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.