Birdwalk Highlights for 4/5: Wharton to Simpson's Points, Brunswick.

In the calm before (yet another) storm today, we had an extremely productive outing. Roadsides were crowded with flocks of SONG SPARROWS and DARK-EYED JUNCOS, likely migrants from the night before. Stopping for an AMERICAN KESTREL along Highland Road, we watched her fly into a tree and sit nearby to a MERLIN (that somehow didn't chase it!) offering a nice comparison.

Arriving at Wharton Point, some folks saw the overwintering BROWN THRASHER in the parking lot, while additional feeder watching produced 2 SWAMP SPARROWS (plus a 3rd singing nearby), alongside some SONG SPARROWS, about 9 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, and 1 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. Later, they were joined by a single SAVANNAH SPARROW that we first encountered near the boat launch that was obligingly feeding next to a single Song and American Tree for another nice juxtaposition.

Out in the bay, the raft of ducks continues, with conservatively estimated counts of about 450 GREATER SCAUP (with at least a few LESSER SCAUP mixed in) and 350 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. Sometimes within the flock, or just about the bay included about 20 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, 10 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 6 BUFFLEHEADS, and 3 SURF SCOTERS.

One the rapidly exposing mudflats, about 10 MALLARDS joined about 150 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS. One BALD EAGLES glided by before landing, and a TURKEY VULTURE was teetering overhead. Two migrant TREE SWALLOWS winged northward.

Over at Simpson's Point, we tallied about 200 more Buffleheads, about 40 COMMON EIDERS,18 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, and 3 COMMON LOONS. As we were departing, an EASTERN PHOEBE dropped in to visit.

And finally, our check of wet farm fields continued, with a nice group of a dozen more KILLDEER at Crystal Spring Farm.