Local birding report

Considered one of the most widespread breeding warblers in Maine, the Black-throated Green Warbler is an agile upper canopy dweller with a delightfully persistent song. Slightly smaller than a Tufted Titmouse, the Black-throated Green is more often heard than seen, especially at this time of year given its preference for sunlit tops of White Pine and other conifers. Fortunately, like most wood warblers, the Black-throated Green is fond of bathing.

On one occasion during the first week of July I had stopped to quickly scan the little brook that runs through the fringes of my property, when my eyes fell upon a dapper male. His bright greenish olive back, yellow cheeks and black throat gleamed in the late afternoon sun. Disregarding my presence, the warbler hopped down into the streamlet and proceeded to bathe, throwing off sparkling drops in little showers.

In the first two weeks of July, Robinson Woods, Gull Crest, Winnick Woods and along the Cross Hill Trail/Marsh Trail property teemed with Black-throated Greens.

Fortunately, these warblers sing a lot later into the summer than most other warblers do. Pioneering Maine ornithologist Cordelia J. Standwood adeptly captured the experience of being in the woods and hearing this bird singing when she wrote “his voice is suggestive of drowsy summer days, the languor of the breeze dreamily swaying the pines, spruce, firs and hemlocks. It recalls the incense of evergreens, the fragrance of the wild strawberry, the delicate perfume of the Linnaea. No other bird voice is so potent to evoke that particular spell of the northern woods.”

Other noteworthy mentionings from the yard and field include - on the first day of July, three young, Red-breasted Nuthatches that had been regulars on our suet for the last two months moved on. And on July 2, my son and I came across an adult Willet with three fledglings crossing the Sawyer Road section of the Spurwink Marsh as dozens of Barn Swallows darted and dove above us. I am also thankful for the Wood Thrush that continues to sing past dusk somewhere in the woods behind our house.

Lastly, on the evening of July 7 I was travelling along Scott-Dyer Road when a small owl flew across the road. Immediately recognizing that this was not a Barred or Great Horned Owl I slowed down and hoped to see or hear something that would confirm my suspicions.

As I fought off mosquitos, three more little owls flew to a nearby power line perch. With a waning crescent moon in the background a fifth owl flew across the road and disappeared into the depths of an Oak Tree. The three little owls perched on the power line started making a racket. This included various trilling whines and hissing sounds. Shortly thereafter the other two nearby owls joined in the strange chorus.

This was the first time I have seen or heard Megascops asio in Cape Elizabeth since moving here almost a decade ago. Reports of Eastern Screech Owls breeding anywhere in Maine are rare. Interestingly, over the last decade Cornell’s eBird data revealed only a small handful of (single bird) confirmed sightings each year in Southern Maine and islands. The two most recent reports being in June on Long Island and a continuing owl in the Canco Woods section of Portland. Perhaps these offspring screech owls are part of a larger movement to extend this species’ regular breeding range northward!