Cape Elizabeth birding report

May has been slow to evolve in large part due to upper-level low pressure systems in the mid-Atlantic states producing unfavorable winds and below normal temperatures. Despite the obstacles and dangers, the northward push of birds showed no signs of slowing down through the last week of May.

On May 15 we had a White-crowned Sparrow below our feeders. Upon first impressions this bird’s largely plain gray appearance can be rather deceiving. Best described by Edward Forbush, “It is a red-letter day for the novice in New England ornithology when he or she meets this bird of distinguished appearance. Its gray vesture, black and white crown and elegant form give it an aristocratic appearance as if it were above the common herd of sparrows and in a class by itself.” This sparrow is a somewhat uncommon migrant in Cape Elizabeth and most years one or two are seen here and there around the middle of May. Other birds of note spotted this day were a Least Flycatcher, and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

On May 18 a Solitary Sandpiper was seen foraging along freshwater stream running into the ocean along Pond Cove. Amazingly out of seventy-five species of Sandpiper worldwide, the Solitary is one of only two that lays its eggs in tree nests (versus the ground). By June this bird is well on its way to its far north breeding haunts.

Additional mentionables for the last two weeks of the month include - a kaleidoscopic array of wood warblers including Common Yellowthroats, American Yellow, Nashville, Wilsons, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, American Redstart, Black-throated Green, Bay-breasted, Canada, Blackburnian, Blackpoll and Tennessee.

Of special note, this spring has brought more Black-throated Blue Warblers to Cape Elizabeth than the previous four seasons. This warbler is a dandy with colors unlike that of any other warbler. The male in particular is easy to identify. The Black-throated Blue is a versatile singer as well, with at least four main songs of which it seems to forever be playing notable variations.

Another warbler on the extra special list for me is the Bay-breasted, primarily because I don’t often see them during the spring migration. This bird is rather big and from afar apt to look quite dark. It is clouded heavily with deep brown and gray, relieved by conspicuously bright, big, white-buff spots on each side of the its neck.

Some female wood warblers can be a bit trickier to identify. For example, a Canada warbler threw me for a bit of a loop. The female’s onyx colored necklace is far less noticeable than that of the male. Fortunately, a stunning male popped into view and I knew right then and there it was a female!

On May 26 my wife, son and I silently spied on a female Blackburnian Warbler taking a bath in a slow moving brook along the fringes of our property. Of the “deep-wood” Warblers, Blackburnians rarely come down from the upper branches of the oldest conifers and mixed growth trees. And, although not quite as striking as the male, the female shows more than a hint of the flame orange coloration across its face and throat contrasted by a unique, blackish triangular facial pattern.

I have also seen and heard many Veery’s calling consistently right now across the Green belt system and Robinson Woods II & III. Of the Thrush family, these birds are not terribly difficult to identify if you learn their characteristics and downward spiraling song. Other Thrushes passing through our forests right now, include the Swainson’s Thrush, Bicknell’s Thrush and the ever-elusive Gray-Cheeked Thrush.

Lastly, on the 27th of May an adult Bald eagle flew over Green Spark Farm while American Yellow Warblers danced and sang along the tangled fringes.