The Spring Migration April I-May 31, 1977 NORTHEASTERN MARITIME REGION heavy along the Massachusettscoast with 40+ birds seen / Peter D. Vickery each day from the Cape (BN). Farther north, "large num- bers" were seen passingby Schoodic Pt., Hancock Co., The spring was generally quiet. Most reports noted the Me. (WCT) and in the Bay of Fundy four Red-throated unimpressivemigration with few, if any, days of heavy move- Loons were observed from the deck of the "Princess of ment. This was particularly true of the passerines.Readers Arcadia" between St. John, N.B. and Digby, N.S., May 20 will note, however,that the period April 6-8 broughta great (PDV). Interestingly, no unusual numbers were noted from Nova Scotia. Red-necked Grebes continued their extraor- dinary incursion off s. New England. In March 463 grebes were counted from five flocks, the largest being 183-1-at Mahomet Mar. 5 (WRP), 118+ off Scituate Apr. 2, and 152 off Manomet Apr. 7 (WRP). In New Hampshiretwo flocks totaled 52, the largest 39 birds at N. Hampton Mar. 31 (EWP, fide DJA). Combined with the totals noted in the Winter SeasonReport, no fewer than 1966Red-necked Grebes were seen in the period February-April. This figure, derived from only the major concentrations observed, was no doubt a fraction of the actual numbers present. Off Schoodic Pt., Me., Mar. 6, a bird observed at close range was almost certainly an Fared Grebe, constituting the fifth state record (WCT). TUBENOSES--The M.B.O. trip to George's Bank May 27 producedthe only N. Fulmars, 100(4 dark), the only Cory's Shearwater May 31 and two Manx Shearwaterson the same date (fide TLL-E). The consistentnumbers of Manx Shear- waters off Rhode Island continue to suggestpossible breeding in the area. An early bird was seenfrom Pt. JudithApr. 3 with two noted at the same location Apr. 24 (SSD, DLK, KK, FP, many noteworthybirds into the region.Although the warblers CW). Three Manx were seen at Cox's Ledge May 14 (NSP, slipped north in small numbers, large waders were wide- CW et al.) while three occurred off Jamestown, May 23 spread and the shorebird migration was heavier than usual; (KK) and two were studied 8 mi s.s.e. of Block I., May 25 exceptionalwas the Sharp-tailedSandpiper in Connecticut. (NH). Intriguingis a singleManx Shearwaterseen off Bailey Four White-frontedGeese were surprisingand the Scituate I., in Casco Bay, Me., Apr. 28. The bird was observed Steller's Eider was a remarkable occurrence. Other extraor- circling the outer islands. possiblyprospecting for a breeding dinary sightingswhich elude ready explanation were the site (PKD). Willow Ptarmiganin southernMaine, the Hermit Warbler in New Haven and the Golden-crowned Sparrow in Nova Scotia. The weather in April was mild across much of the region. S.Ao The most significantweather of the period was the major On May 9-10 a violent NE storm raged across s. northeastern storm that struck Massachusettsand New Hamp- New England bringing with it an extraordinary num- shire, May 9-10. Up to 8 inchesof snowfell in someinterior ber of pelagic birds into Cape Cod Bay. May 10-11 sectionsand Cape Cod experiencedheavy northeasternwinds no fewer than 10,000 Leach's and 30+ Wilson's that pulled a great many pelagicsinto the Bay. Storm-Petrels were seen from First Encounter Beach. Coverage of the region was again excellent. All provinces Eastham. On the same date 148 Red and 618+ N. and states contributed reports. for which I am grateful. The Phalaropes, single Parasitic and Pomarine Jaegers, 63 various comments,explanations and especiallydescriptions kittiwakes and 200+ Arctic Terns were observed (BN, of birds identified were of great value. Particularly interesting WRP et al.). Also clearly storm-related were the 10 was the brief note from Bruce McTavish upon his return Dovekies off Rockport and the 60 Dovekies off Plum I., from L'Anse-aux-Meadows, at the northern tip of Newfound- May 10-11 (fide RPE). A bird identified as an Audu- land. "It was like steppinginto paradise when I got off bon's Shearwater was found on Middle Congamond the ferry, I was just about overwhelmed by all the beautiful Pond in Southwick, Mass., May 10-11 (fide RPE). birds and their songs.All those Starlings, grackles, robins Unfortunately the bird was not describedand the ob- and Song Sparrows.You can't live on Ivory Gulls and Gyr- server remains unknown. falcons alone." A harsh winter diet many would like to share. PELICANS, BOOBIES, GANNETS--On Mar. 12, a LOONS, GREBES--An Arctic Loon, in breedingplumage, Brown Pelican was found dead on Cockenoe I., off Westport, was identified off Pt. Judith, R.I., May 21 (RAC, fide CW). Conn. (DM, EM, fide JS). In such poor condition that the In late May the flight of Red-throated Loons was unusually skin could not be preserved, the skeleton was taken to the 972 American Birds, September,1977 PeabodyMuseum. Apparently death was from starvationbut in fall, and preliminaryreview of photographsof the Wool- there seemsno reason to doubt that the bird managedto get wich, Me. bird appear to indicate a good example ofgambelh •tself into Connecticut waters under its own power. The two (pers. comm. R. S. Palmer). prewousConnecticut Brown Pelicanspecimens occurred in The Snow Goose migrationseemed more widespreadE-W 1902 and 1905. There is a single sight record at Penfield than is normal. In Connecticut the flight was termed excellent Reef, Fairfield in 1939. A single ad. Brown Boobyfound 8 with 185 geese at Branford Marsh Mar. 31 (NSP). Farther e mx s e. of Block I., May 25, constituted the first Rhode in Massachusetts500+ Snow Geeseoccurred at Plum I., Apr Island record(NH, fide CW). An imm. Gannetoff Milford 16 (fide RPE) and in Maine 200+ stopped at Scarborough Pt , Conn.,Mar. 27 wasa rare occurrencefor that state(NSP). Marsh (WGi). There were at least 10-15 Snow Geesein New Brunswick (DSC) and a total of 20 in Nova Scotia, a flock of HERONS, IBISES--The season was excellent for its eight noted at Brier I., Apr. 30 (ML, WL, fide CRKA) herons, as unusual numbersof 'southern' herons occurred Late-lingering birds include two adults at Sharon, Conn, throughoutthe region. At least five Little Blue Herons were May 19-20 (fide AG) and two at Plum I., May 20 (fide RPE) found in Maine this spring. The likelihood of Little Blues Gadwalls returned to Cape Jourimain, N.B. with two pairs breeding on some island other than their traditional breeding present May 8 (SIT). The only Green-winged(Eur.) Teals re- s•teon Wood Island in CascoBay, seemsquite good. A single ported were a drake at West Harwick, Mass., Mar. 19-30, •mm Little Blue was at Mary's Pt., N.B., May 12 (MM, two drakes in Lusby Marsh, N.S., Apr. 16 with a third b•rd fide DSC). Cattle Egrets swept into s. Maine this springin un- "showingboth shoulderpatch and horizontal white line" there precedented numbers. Twenty-one were seen together at later (CD). At the same locality a Eur. Wigeon was found B•ddeford Pool in April (AT, fide RC), and up to 18 were Apr. 16-24 (CD). Northern Shovelers continue to increase on Stratton I. in May (JP). Single Cattle Egrets were at their numbers in the Northeast. Fourteen N. Shovelers Seal I. (ELM et al.), Amherst Pt. (SIT et al.), and North were found in three locationsin New Hampshire,a pa•r was Sydney (fide RDL), N.S. Great Egrets wandered as far N discoveredin Perry, Me., 12 were in St. John, N.B., and 11 as New Brunswick with one at Cape Jourimain Apr. 23 were noted in McGowan Corner, N.B. (fide DSC). (BMcT, SIT) and another at MusquashMay 25 (NM et al., Four Redheads were in Dummer, N.H., May 1 (VHH, fide DSC). Great Egrets in Nova Scotia were single birds at fide DJA) while a pair was locatedin Perry, Me., May 14-20 Matthews L. and Port Maitland (fide RDL). No fewer than (GB, MLu). Although consideredrare in e. Maine six pairs 12 Snowy Egrets occurredin both New Brunswick and Nova were found farther e. at Cape Jourimain, N.B. (SIT) and two Scot•a, the earliest being a pair on Sable I., Mar. 24 (A. pairs were seenat Jemseg,N.B. (fide DSC). Two Redheads R•chard, fide IAMcL). were carefully studied at Boularderie, N.S., Apr. 20 (RBF, Louisiana Herons again made a strong showing this fide CRKA). Unusual this spring in s. Maine were small spnng.Only oneor two individualswere notedin Connecticut flocks of Canvasbacks,numbering perhaps 40 individuals(PC and Rhode Island. Farther north seven were sighted in et al.). Three late Harlequin Ducks were reported in May, Massachusetts,one in Rye, N.H., and 4-5 in s. Maine--a the latest a drake at Prout's Neck, Me., May 28 (BP ½t al ) total without precedentfor the state. A singlead. Louisiana A Barrow's Goldeneye was found inland on Turkey Pond •n Heron was easily studiedat Chance Harbor, N.B., May 23 Concord, N.H., Mar. 21 (R. Beyer, fide DJA) and a storm- (PhyllisMullin, fide DSC), the speciesbeing decidedlyrare related King Eider was discovered there May 9 (R. Beyer, •n the province.The total of 13 recordsfrom Massachusetts fide DJA). Only four other King Eiders were reported Of north suggeststhe possibility of a breeding range extension interest was the observation of 175+ 9 Com. Eiders flytng north of the region's first nests found last year on Chimon N between Newport and Bangor, Apr.