NEW ENGLAND 
Figure 1 . Weather maps depicting surface conditions can be very useful for analyzing migration, but the mid-altitude maps 
that show the steering currents up higher in the atmosphere can be even more illuminating. The SOOmb maps in Figures 1-4 
paint pictures that are worth a thousand words. Figure 1 depicts relatively strong westerly and southwesterly airflows in 
early (here 6) March 2009 that must have been associated with the appearance of 1 7 Greater White-fronted Geese of the sub- 
species frontalis in Saugus, Massachusetts 7 March. Maps presented in Figures 1-4 all courtesy of and © the National Centers for 
Environmental Prediction, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
Figure 2. Continuing southwesterly airflow in mid- (here 1 3) March 2009 brought about 1 5 Ross's Geese to Massachusetts 1 5 
March, on the heels of the high count of frontalis Greater White-fronted Geese a week earlier. The spring season of 2009 had 
a strong western flavor, with Swainson's Hawk, Hudsonian Godwit, hendersoni Short-billed Dowitcher, Scissor-tailed Flycatch- 
ers, Townsend's Warbler, and Golden-crowned Sparrows. At least some of these could have been displaced eastward during 
their northbound migration. 
(3) and Massachusetts (one). As it did last year, 
the mouth of the Abbagadassett R. in Bowdoin- 
ham, ME hosted big numbers of waterfowl im- 
mediately after ice-out. Totals 11 Apr included 
7000-1- American Black Ducks, 3500 -h Mallards, 
50+ Northern Pintails, 500+ Green-winged Teal, 
and 500+ Ring-necked Ducks (PV). A Regional 
total of 4 Tufted Ducks included a drake and a 
hen together in L. Champlain (S. Hero, VT) 21 
Mar (JM et al), only the male seen thereafter, 
22-25 Mar; a male in Portland, ME that contin- 
ued from the winter season at least until 14 Mar 
(T. Duddy); and a male on the Sudbury R., Sud- 
bury-Concord, MA 12-14 Mar Q. Hines et al., 
ph.). A pair of Redheads at L. Josephine in Eas- 
ton, Aroostook, ME late Apr+ (BS) was proba- 
bly the same pair that established the hrst Re- 
gional breeding record there last year. Four 
King Eiders in Westerly, RI 3 Mar (C. Raithel) 
represented a high count for the Ocean State. 
Very rare anywhere inland, a Common Eider 
was on the Aroostook R., Caribou, Aroostook, 
ME 26 Apr (ph. BS), and 14 were on Christina 
Res, Fort Fairheld, Aroostook, ME 22 May (BS). 
Numbers of staging Common Mergansers 
peaked at 6000 at L. Waramaug, New Preston, 
CT 25 Mar (R. Belding). 
LOONS THROUGH IBISES 
A single Pacihc Loon was found off Rockport, 
MA 5 May (RH), and multiple Pacifies at 
Block I., Rl 28 Apr-8 May possibly numbered 
8 on 4 May (T. Magarian). The Region’s only 
Eared Grebe was in Sanford, ME 26 May+ 
(ph. DL et al.). A written report of a Black- 
browed Albatross observed at close range 
from a fishing vessel as it sat on the water eat- 
ing offal at Cashes Ledge, Gulf of Maine 29 
Mar (tj. Wright) included a description of the 
black-to-white ratio on the underwing as be- 
ing roughly 50/50 and the bill as being dull 
yellow with a gray tip. Both these features 
rule out Yellow-nosed, and the bill color indi- 
cates that the bird was probably a subad. bird. 
An early Cory’s Shearwater was reported from 
Stellwagen Bank, n. of Provincetown, MA 30 
May (E Wasti), and other early shearwaters 
included a Sooty off Provincetown 8 Mar 
(BN) and a Manx off Point Judith, Narra- 
gansett, RI 4 Apr (Ml). 
Three American White Pelicans made a 
brief showing in Westport, MA 15 Apr (D. 
Eastman), and 2 more made a pass through 
Rowayton, CT 27 May (M. Moore). Two Great 
Cormorants in St. Agatha, Aroostook, ME 17 
May (BS) were far inland, and an Anhinga 
must have caused quite a stir for two birders 
when it passed overhead in Carolina, RI 24 Apr 
(DF et al). Leading off the list of species that 
arrived early on the late Apr heat wave were 
single Least Bitterns at Plum 1. 28 Apr (RH) 
392 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
