This column is the second of three, reviewing highlights of Maine Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs), sponsored by the National Audubon Society. Each count was conducted on a day between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5 within a 15-mile diameter circle.

It’s interesting to compare CBCs located close together. The Bangor-Bucksport CBC produced a list of 49 species on Jan. 1. Five species of waterfowl were headlined by 448 mallards, while red-bellied woodpeckers continued to show a push northward in Maine with three found this year. A merlin was a nice find.

Bohemian waxwings have been scarce so far this winter, so the 23 in Bangor-Bucksport were notable. Lingering birds included a winter wren, five Carolina wrens, 14 eastern bluebirds, four northern mockingbirds and a chipping sparrow. The only northern finches were three pine grosbeaks.

The Orono-Old Town CBC is just a few miles north where 50 species were found on Dec. 18 with the best of the six species of waterfowl being six Barrow’s goldeneyes. Lingering migratory species included a Carolina wren, 10 eastern bluebirds, three northern mockingbirds and a pine warbler.

In striking contrast to the Bangor-Bucksport CBC, northern finches put on a great show in Orono-Old Town – five pine grosbeaks, 10 purple finches, five red crossbills, two white-winged crossbills, 140 common redpolls and 68 pine siskins.

On Dec. 18 in Unity, a bit south and west, CBC participants tallied 50 species. Seven species of waterfowl included two surprises, a ring-necked duck and two lesser scaups. With white-winged gulls seemingly scarce so far this winter, a glaucous gull was a nice find. Five species of woodpeckers included five red-bellied woodpeckers and a lingering northern flicker. Lingering half-hardy birds included 11 eastern bluebirds and a northern mockingbird. The only irruptive finches were six purple finches and a pine siskin.

On Jan. 2 at the Waterville CBC, about 15 miles southwest, 50 species were noted. Waterfowl diversity was excellent with 10 species including an American wigeon, a lesser scaup and two Barrow’s goldeneyes. Lingering land birds included four northern flickers, two Carolina wrens, a northern mockingbird, two brown-headed cowbirds and a red-winged blackbird. Six common redpolls and a purple finch were the only northern finches this year.

Off to Hartland we go, about 30 miles north of Waterville, which yielded 50 species on Dec. 26. Waterfowl were particularly good with a green-winged teal and five greater scaup in addition to five common species. A great blue heron and a belted kingfisher were toughing it out, surely long gone now. Few northern shrikes have pushed into the state so far this winter, so the one in Hartland was notable as were the 17 horned larks and 53 snow buntings.

Lingering birds from the fall included an eastern bluebird, a brown thrasher and a Savannah sparrow. The only irruptive finches were one purple finch, one common redpoll and five pine siskins.

The Bunker Hill CBC on Dec. 20 yielded a count of 54 species. This area includes the towns of Alna, Whitefield, Nobleboro and Damariscotta Mills. Nine species of waterfowl included two red-breasted mergansers. The four species of diurnal raptors included a northern harrier and a nice count of 21 bald eagles. Lingering land birds included a yellow-bellied sapsucker, a northern flicker, 53 eastern bluebirds, a Savannah sparrow and a Lincoln’s sparrow. The highlight of the count was a Bullock’s oriole, a western species hanging out at a feeder with a Baltimore oriole. Finches included 14 pine grosbeaks and 14 evening grosbeaks.

Finally, the CBC at Grand Lake Stream in interior Washington County is quite challenging with the winter weather and produced an expected low number of species. Those 25 species included a spruce grouse, a gray jay and a surprising white-crowned sparrow. Northern finches included a purple finch, 10 red crossbills, 20 white-winged crossbills, a common redpoll and 70 pine siskins.

Herb Wilson taught ornithology and other biology courses at Colby College. He welcomes reader comments and questions at whwilson@colby.edu