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. Nonbreeding hen Eiders often participate in chick protection and it is common for a mom and young to join up with one or more families to form a “creche”.

Also, while wandering the Willow Brook Trail (connector trail to Gull Crest Trail running back behind Cape Memory Care) a Chestnut-sided Warbler was spotted feeding a juvenile. This warbler is very sensitive to habitat loss, preferring swaths of edge habitat and bushy pasture otherwise known as early successional forest. It’s always a thrill to discover a new species of bird nesting in Cape Elizabeth.

On the same day along Shore Road I spotted a juvenile Cedar Waxing begging its parent for food.

On June 15 a Brown Thrasher appeared in our yard for all of ten seconds. The following day I got another glimpse of a Thrasher along Wells Road / Cross Hill up past Jordan Farm. Brown thrashers are of the mimic-thrush family and they breed in Cape Elizabeth. This extremely secretive bird’s song is remembered by keeping in mind that its vocal repertoire is always sung twice.

Other Cape breeding mimic-thrush relatives include the Gray Catbird and the Northern Mockingbird. The male Catbird’s rufous rump is easily noticed at this time of year and, similar to the Thrasher, they are masterful songsters with squeaks, whistles, gurgles and whin-ey squeals continuing for minutes on end, interspersed with imitations of other birds and even creatures like frogs. The Catbird never repeats the same long song either.

Other noteworthy mentionings - Wood warblers seen and heard on June 16 across Cape include many Black throated Greens and American Yellows, more than a few Ovenbirds, and tons of American Redstarts and Common Yellowthroats. Song Sparrows were singing too.

June 20 brought the return of our resident Eastern Bluebirds to our yard after being absent for the first time in a couple of weeks.

Interestingly this Bluebird pair decided to nest in a Downy woodpecker cavity... in the side of our house. Speaking of which, I have noticed a solid uptick in crisp white and black Downy woodpecker youngsters – five or more will line up to wait their turn on the suet. One juvenile Red bellied Woodpecker also is a regular and a handful of first year Hairy Woodpeckers as well.

On June 21 my wife pointed out an adult American Bald Eagle giving chase to an Osprey over and along the Spurwink River.

Baltimore Orioles and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (male) continue to visit our feeders daily. Also, around June 23 the Eastern Phoebe’s brood above our front door left the nest.

Lastly, on June 25, sometime before dusk where the Pond Cove wetlands meets Shore Road, two Black-crowned Night Herons and a trio of Glossy Ibis’ flew overhead (probably headed to a nearby island to roost for the night), while at the same moment, a Great Blue Heron stood rather majestically atop the rocky bluffs and a Yellow Warbler made a dash for its secret nighttime nook.