MAINE BIG YEAR 2021 GALLERY (Backup)

177 Species to Date

While Big Year rules only require a Birder to identify a species by sight or sound (the good old fashion honor system), I’m endeavoring to photograph or record as many species as possible during the year.  This can be difficult as birds are seen for fleeting moments; deep in a tangle of tree branches; while driving or at a great distance through a spotting scope.  In other cases, one is seeing several new species at a time and only one can be photographed.

On this page you’ll see every bird on my Maine Big Year list along with the date and location I found it and the date and location of the "best" validation photograph or recording.

Read about my Big Year on my Blog.

Alcids (6)

Atlantic Puffin

Feb 21 - Dyer Point, Cape Elizabeth

Black Guillemot

Jan 1 - Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Photo: Jan 13 - Ferry, Monhegan 

Common Murre

Jan 13 - Ferry, Monhegan

Dovekie

Jan 13 - Ferry, Monhegan

Thick-billed Murre

Jan 15 - Peaks Island Ferry
Photo: Jan 31 - Pond Cove

 

Not Photographed

Razorbill - Jan 4 - Cape Neddick Light

 

Bitterns (0)

Blackbirds (4)

Brown-headed Cowbird

Jan 28 - 1784 Clarry Hill Rd Union
Photo: Mar 18 - Village Crossing

Common Grackle

Mar 8 - Freeport Wild Bird Supplies
Photo: Buffalo Ranch - Mar 12 Buffalo Ranch

 

Red-winged Blackbird


Feb 22 - Nubble Light, York

Rusty Blackbirds

Jan 7 - 185–187 Varney Mill Rd Bath

Buntings (1)

Snow Bunting

Jan 6 - Ferry Beach, Scarborough
Photo: Jan 17 - Brunswick Executive Airport

Cardinals and Allies (2)

Dickcissel

Jan 2 - Thomaston
Photo: Jan 23 - Capisic Park

Northern Cardinal

Jan 2 - Thomaston
Photo: Jan 6 - Cumberland/Foreside

Chickadees (1)

Black-capped Chickadee

Jan 1 - Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Photo: Jan 6 - Cumberland/Foreside

Crows and Ravens (3)

American Crow

Jan 1 - 120 Evans St South Portland
Photo: Jan 23 - Not Posted to eBird

Common Raven


Jan 1 - I-195 W Saco
Photo: Jan 30 - Wiscasset

Fish Crow

Mar 14 - 57 Portland Rd Kennebunk ME

Cuckoos (0)

Doves and Pigeons (2)

Mourning Dove

Jan 1 - I-195 W Saco
Photo: Jan 30 - 
Not Posted to eBird

Rock Pigeon

Jan 1 - 120 Evans St South Portland
Photo: Mar 9 - Freeport Wild Bird Supply

Ducks (25)

American Black Duck

Jan 1 - Biddeford Pool
Photo: Jan 25 - Not Posted to eBird

American Wigeon

Jan 7 - Rockland Harbor--Breakwater
Photo: Mar 28 - Messalonskee Lake--boat ramp

Barrow's Goldeneye

Jan 8 - Brunswick
Photo: Jan 28 - Damariscotta Town Landing

Black Scoter


Jan 1 - Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Photo: Jan 24 - 
Not Posted to eBird

Blue-winged Teal

Apr 1 - Bisson's Farm, Topsham
Apr 3 - 219 Eddy Rd, Edgecomb 

Bufflehead

Jan 1 - Perkins Cove
Photo: Feb 27 - Fort Foster Park

Common Eider


Jan 1 - Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Photo: Jan 25 - Not Posted to eBird

Common Goldeneye


Jan 2 - Rockland Harbor--Breakwater
Photo: Jan 25 - River Point Conservation Area, Falmouth

Common Merganser

Jan 5 - Kettle Cove
Photo: Mar 7 - Not Posted to eBird

Greater Scaup

Jan 7 - Rockland--Chickawaukie Pond

Green-winged Teal

Jan 4 - Duck Pond
Photo: Feb 22 - Not entered on eBird

Harlequin Duck

Jan 1 - Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Photo: Feb 21 - Dyer Point

Hooded Merganser

Jan 1 - Biddeford Pool
Photo: Mar 1 - Not Posted to eBird

Lesser Scaup

Jan 5 - Grondin Pond, Scarborough
Mar 30 - Sanford Lagoon

Long-tailed Duck


1st Seen: Jan 1 (I-195 W Saco)
Photo: Jan 30 (Wiscasset)

Mallard


Jan 1  - Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Photo: Feb 23 - Not Posted to eBird

Northern Pintail

Jan 4 - Duck Pond, York
Photo: Mar 7 - Gardiner Waterfront

Northern Shoveler

Feb 6 - Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick
Photo: Feb 20 - Cove Rd, Freeport

 

Red-breasted Merganser


Jan 1 - Biddeford Pool
Photo: Feb 6 - Not Posted to eBird

Ruddy Duck

Jan 25 - Simpson's Pt. Landing
Mar 30 - Sanford Lagoons

Surf Scoter

Jan 2 - Rockland Harbor--Breakwater
Photo: Feb 22 - Fort Foster, Kittery

White-winged Scoter

Jan 1  - Biddeford Pool
Photo: Jan 3 - Ferry Beach

Not Photographed

King Eider: Feb 14 - Nubble Light

Eagles (1)

Bald Eagle

Jan 4 - Messalonskee Lake--boat ramp
Photo: Feb 4 - Not Posted to eBird

Falcons (3)

Not Photographed

Merlin: Jan 3 - 129 Evans St South Portland
Peregrine Falcon: Jan 21  - SR-26 N Portland

 

Finches and Allies (8)

American Goldfinch

Jan 1 - Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Photo: Feb 2 - Not Posted to eBird

Common Redpoll

Jan 12 - Rachel Carson NWR--Batson River Marsh/Tidal Flats
Photo: Feb 14 - Not Posted to eBird

Hoary Redpoll

Feb 1 - River Rd, Clinton

 

House Finch

Photo: Jan 23 - Capisic Park

Red Crossbill

Jan 12 - Arundel Cemetery 

Photo: Mar 12 - Arundel Cemetery 

White-winged Crossbill

Jan 12 - Arundel Cemetery

Not Photographed

Purple Finch: Jan 11 - University of Maine--Orono campus (general area)

Flycatchers (1)

Eastern Phoebe


Mar 23 - Rustlewood Land Trust
Photo: Mar 31 - Florida Lake

Gannets and Cormorants (3)

Double-crested Cormorant

Jan 4 - Cape Neddick Light
Photo: Apr 5 - Scarborough Marsh

Great Cormorant

Jan 1 - Biddeford Pool
Photo: Jan 4 - Cape Neddick Light

Northern Gannet

Jan 13 - Ferry, Monhegan

Geese (3)

Brant

Jan 5 - Kettle Cove

Canada Goose

Jan 1 - 180 Evans St South Portland
Photo: Jan 5  - Not Posted to eBird

Snow Goose

Jan 18 - Deptula Lane, Wells Marsh

Gnatcatchers and Kinglets (2)

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Jan 6 - Reid SP, Georgetown
Photo: Apr 2 - Trout Brook Nature Preserve

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Apr 2 - Trout Brook Nature Preserve, South Portland
Photo: Apr 2 - Florida Lake

Grosbeaks (3)

Black-headed Grosbeak

Feb 3 - Capisic Pond Park

Evening Grosbeak

Jan 17 - Evening Grosbeak Stakeout
Photo: Feb 10 - 46 N Main Ave Orono ME 

Pine Grosbeak

Jan 2 - 220 Warrenton St Rockport

Gulls (9)

Bonaparte's Gull

Jan 7 - Rockland--Chickawaukie Pond

 

Glaucous Gull

Jan 19 - 497 Marginal Way Portland

 

Great Black-backed Gull

Jan 2 - Rockland Harbor--Breakwater
Photo: Feb 3 - Ferry Beach

Herring Gull

Jan 1 - 120 Evans St South Portland
Photo: Feb 3 - Ferry Beach 

Iceland Gull

Jan 12 - Mill Creek Cove
Photo: Jan 13 - Monhegan Island

 

Laughing Gull

Apr 6 - Pemaquid Harbor

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Jan 2 - Rockland Harbor--Fales St

 

Ring-billed Gull

Jan 2 - 359 Atlantic Hwy Waldoboro ME
Photo: Jan 30 - Not Posted to eBird

Not Photographed

Black-legged Kittiwake - Jan 5 -Dyer Point

Hawks (8)

Cooper's Hawk

Jan 1 -Biddeford Pool
Feb 3 - Capisic Pond Park

Northern Harrier

Northern Harrier - Jan 11 (South Thomaston)
Photo: Mar 30 - Pelreco Building

Osprey

Mar 28 - Brunswick
Photo: Apr 1 - Cobbosseecontee Lake, causeway

 

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Jan 1 - 480 Shore Rd Ogunquit
Photo: Mar 11 - Rustlewood Land Trust (Johnson Farm)

Rough-legged Hawk

Jan 8 - 264–298 River Rd Windham

 

Not Photographed

Broad-winged Hawk - Mar 23  -Biddeford
Northern Goshawk - Jan 13 (148 Winslow Hill Rd Nobleboro)

Herons, Egrets and Spoonbills (5)

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Mar 3 -Trout Brook Nature Preserve, South Portland

Cattle Egret

Mar 6 - 139 Moosehead Trail Newport 

Great Blue Heron

Jan 5 - Scarborough Marsh--Dunstan Landing
Photo: Feb 8 - Not Posted to eBird

 

Hummingbirds (0)

Ibises (1)

Jays (1)

Blue Jay

Kingfishers (1)

Belted Kingfisher

Jan 1 - Spurwink Rd Scarborough ME
Photo: Apr 1 - Cobbosseecontee Lake, causeway

Longspurs and Larks (3)

Eastern Meadowlark

 Mar 25 - Brunswick Executive Airport
Apr 14 - Kennebunk Plains

Horned Lark

Jan 7 - 601–695 Beedle Rd, Richmond
Photo: Feb 19 - Flood Brothers Dairy

Lapland Longspur

Feb 1 - Flood Brothers Dairy

Loons and Grebes (5)

Common Loon

Jan 1 - Biddeford Pool
Photo: Feb 3 - Ferry Beach

Horned Grebe

Jan 1 - Biddeford Pool
Photo: Jan 20 - Ferry Beach

Red-necked Grebe

Jan 4 - Cape Neddick Light
Jan 6 - Not Posted to eBird

 

Red-throated Loon

Jan 11 - Sears Island

 

Peid-billed Grebe

Reid-billed Grebe - Mar 15 - Dunstan Landing

Mimics, Starlings and Pipits (4)

American Pipit

Apr 13 - Biddeford Pool--East Point Sanctuary

European Starling

Jan 1 - 1108 Post Rd Wells
Photo: Jan 27 - Not Posted to eBird

Northern Mockingbird

Jan 1 - Biddeford Pool
Photo: Mar 11 - Fort Foster

No Photograph

Brown Thrasher - Apr 18 - 158–250 McNeil Rd, Fryeburg

Nuthatches and Creepers (3)

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Jan 2 - Cushman Point/Back River
Jan 6 - Cumberland/Falmouth Foreside

White-breasted Nuthatch

Jan 1 - Cushman Point/Back River
Feb 2 - 1008 Dutchneck Rd Waldoboro

Orioles (0)

Owls, Nightjars, and Swifts (6)

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl - Jan 7 - Messalonskee Lake--boat ramp
Photo: Mar 24 - Brunswick Sand Plains

Snowy Owl

Jan 1 - Biddeford Pool

Audio Only

Eastern Screech Owl - Feb 15 - Peaks Island

 

No Photograph

Northern Saw-whet Owl - Jan 4 - Crescent Beach SP

Partridges, Grouse, and Turkeys (2)

Wild Turkey

Jan 1 - 1063–1079 Sawyer Rd Cape Elizabeth
Feb 15 - Not Posted to eBird

 

No Photograph

Ruffed Grouse - Jan 17 - 68–198 Jefferson Rd Whitefield

Pelicans (0)

Rails, Gallinules, Coots, and Cranes (2)

American Coot

Jan 2 - Meadow Brook on Thompson Street

 

Sandhill Crane

Mar 28 - Messalonskee Lake--boat ramp

 

Shearwaters and Storm-Petrels (0)

Shorebirds (10)

Dunlin

Jan 20 - Wells Beach Jetty

 

Greater Yellowlegs

Apr 13 - Scarborough Marsh -- Pelecro Building

 

Killdeer

Mar 8 - Kate Furbish Preserve 
Mar 12 - Buffalo Ranch

 

Sanderling

Jan 6 - Reid SP

 

Piping Plover

Mar 30 - Wells Beach

Purple Sandpiper

Jan 3 - Perkins Cove, Ogunquit 
Feb 21 - Dyer Point

 

Wilson's Snipe

Mar 24 - Rustlewood Land Trust 

 

Audio Only

American Woodcock - Apr 11 - Zak Preserve
Virginia Rail - April 17 - Lobster Cove Meadow Preserve, Boothbay Harbor

No Photograph

Lesser Yellowlegs - Apr 2  - Sanford Lagoons

Shrikes and Vireos (1)

Northern Shrike

Jan 4 - Messalonskee Lake--boat ramp

Skuas and Jaegers (0)

Sparrows (11)

American Tree Sparrow

Jan 1 - Cannon Towel Outlet feeders

 

Dark-eyed Junco

Jan 2 - Cushman Point/Back River
Photo: Jan 6 - Cumberland/Falmouth Foreside

Field Sparrow

Mar 24 - University of New England
Apr 8 - Sanford Lagoon

Fox Sparrow

Jan 17 - The 20 Acre Wood
Photo: Mar 15 - River Point Conservation Area, Falmouth

House Sparrow

Jan 1 - Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Photo: Jan 1 - Cannon Towel Outlet feeders

Savannah Sparrow

Feb 1 - Flood Brothers Dairy
Photo: Feb 19 - Flood Brothers Dairy

Song Sparrow

Jan 4 - Fort Foster Park, Kittery
Photo: Jan 31 - Capisic Pond Park

Swamp Sparrow

Apr 5 - Fort Foster
Photo: Apr 10 - Florida Lake

White-throated Sparrow

Jan 5 - Gilsland Farm Audubon Center 
Photo: Jan 6 - Cumberland/Falmouth Foreside

Vesper Sparrow

Apr 4 - Great Salt Bay Farm Wildlife Preserve

No Photograph

Chipping Sparrow - Apr 4 - Cushman Point/Back River

 

Swallows (3)

Tree Swallow

Mar 28 - Messalonskee Lake--boat ramp
Apr 8 - Florida Lake

 

No Photograph

Barn Swallow - Apr 8 - Pleasant Hill Preserve
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Apr 13 - Fortunes Rock -- Beach & Pond

Swans (0)

Tanagers (1)

Western Tanager

Jan 1 - Cliff House, York

 

Terns and Skimmers (0)

Thrushes (4)

American Robin

Jan 5 - 10 Stornoway Rd Cumberland Foreside

Eastern Bluebird

Jan 1 - 734–768 Shore Rd Cape Neddick
Photo: Feb 21 - Pleasant Hill Preserve

 

Hermit Thrush

Mar 11 - Eliot

 

Redwing

Jan 29 - Capisic Pond Park

Tits and Titmice (1)

Tufted Titmouse

Jan 1 - Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Photo: Jan 23 - Not Posted to eBird

 

Towhees (0)

Vultures (2)

Turkey Vulture

Jan 8 - 150 Leeman Hwy Bath
Photo: Mar 3 - Windham

 

Black Vulture

Mar 3 - Windham

 

Warblers and Chats (8)

Louisiana Waterthrush

Mar 18 - Outlet Rd, Poland

Orange-crowned Warbler

Jan 6 - Cumberland/Falmouth Foreside

 

Palm Warbler

Apr 8 - Florida Lake
Photo: Apr 10 - Florida Lake

 

 

Pine Warbler

Mar 11 - Kennebunkport

Yellow-breasted Chat

Jan 2 - Thomaston

 

Yellow-throated Warbler

Feb 7 - Waldoboro

 

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Jan 6 - Reid SP, Georgetown

 

No Photograph

Prairie Warbler - Apr 11 - Captain Fitzgerald, Brunswick

 

Waxwings (2)

Bohemian Waxwing

Jan 11 - University of Maine--Orono campus
Photo: Apr 8 - Butler Head

Cedar Waxwing

Jan 7 - Waldoboro Town Landing

Woodpeckers (6)

Downy Woodpecker

Jan 1 - Biddeford Pool
Photo: Jan 11 - Not Posted to eBird

 

Northern Flicker

Jan 5 - 63 Pine Point Rd Scarborough
Photo: Mar 24 - Gilsland Farm Audubon Center

 

Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker - Jan 6 (Reid SP, Georgetown)
Photo:  Apr 2 - Sanford Lagoons

 

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Jan 2 - Cushman Point/Back River
Photo:  Jan 25 - River Point Conservation Area, Falmouth

 

No Photograph

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Jan 31 (Capisic Pond Park)

Wrens (4)

Carolina Wren

Jan 1 - Cliff House, York
Photo: Jan 31 - Capisic Park Pond

 

Marsh Wren

Apr 2  - Sanford Lagoons

Rock Wren

Jan 4 - Perkins Cove, Ogunquit

 

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