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 their nesting habitats. Many local woodland species have been singing across Cape Elizabeth such as Tufted Titmice, Black-capped Chickadees, House Finches, Song Sparrows, Northern Cardinals and even Carolina Wrens. I have also heard territorial calls from Red-bellied, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers.

Overall the winter of 2020 in Cape has been quite uneventful from a birdwatch-ing perspective. On a positive note, the less than severe winter has allowed some birds like the Carolina Wren to further its toehold across their northernmost breeding latitudes. One noteworthy bird that did show up (yet I missed catching a glimpse of on several occasions) was the fearless Northern Shrike. Hailing from the taiga and tundra of the far north, this predatory songbird appears in more southerly climates like Cape during the winter months. Shrikes feed on other small birds and mammals, sometimes impaling them on rusty nails or barbed wire fences in order to save their meal for later. Judging from the volume of reports across Maine this winter it looks like this was a mild “invasion winter” for the Northern Shrike. A solitary creature, the shrike is most likely spied perched atop of a lone tree, in an open field watching for prey. I believe all of the reported sightings from this winter have been on the Jordan Farm property.

On the 26th of February my wife reported hearing the first of the season Red-winged Blackbird in Pond Cove.

On the last day of February while exploring the magnificent new CELT property Pollock Brook reserve, my wife, son and I came across a few large owl pellets from either a Great-horned Owl or a Barred Owl. Looking for owl pellets (and the combination of pellets and droppings) around the base of conifers is a great way to narrow down one’s chances of finding where an owl may be roosting. It is certainly tricky to disseminate between which two owl species left these undigested bone and fur pellets however the typical rule of thumb is the larger the owl the larger the pellet. Great-horned Owls can produce pellets that are up to four inches long and one inch wide. The exterior of the pellet can vary quite significantly due to the vast array of creatures that the Great Horned consumes, slightly less so with the Barred. Additionally, the average Barred owl pellet is closer to 2.5 inches long and one inch wide.

On the first day of March along Salt Spray Lane a lone first of season Common Grackle was making its presence known. Later that same sunny, cold afternoon a flock of 25 or more Cedar Waxwings appeared in an Oak tree on our property. These sleek beauties were most likely curious as to what was going on around the feeders below. Waxings are erratic visitors to Cape Elizabeth during the winter months, with some migrating further south during the cold months and others flocking together to form roaming nomadic flocks. These winter wanderer’s irregular movements depend on the availability and quality of sugary berry-laden trees and shrubs.