Linnell cleaning up the Basin

Welcome to the Vinalhaven Sightings Report

April 1^st – April 30^th, 2026

Thanks to Maine Coast Heritage Trust

for their continued support!

 

‘Oh My!’

 

Highlights – Glossy Ibis, Northern Harrier, Snowshoe Hare, Owl Pellets, Vernal Pools featuring Spotted Salamander egg masses, Grackles, Robins, Snowshoe Hare, Mourning Cloak butterfly, Woodcocks! Featuring a woodcock nest!, Peepers!, and so much more!

 

Email address – vinalhavensightings@gmail.com . The place to send sightings, email addresses, concerns and comments. And other things.

 

want to see this bigger?
Click on the photo - Tiit Trick!

Couple o’ plugs – Now is the time to sign up for Boat Rides on ‘The Skua!’ with Captain John Drury. The Skua is in and ready to take you on a visit to a seabird nesting island. Puffins, Razorbills, Terns, pelagic species to and fro Seal Island/Matinicus Rock - and there’s always the potential for so much more. Contact John at Johnbdrury@gmail.com to book your trip today! He knows how to lead a great trip.

 

Osprey Adventures - Boat Charters - Experience the islands by water! Join a licensed captain (Oakley Jackson) for a tour around the Fox Islands and beyond! Vessel can accommodate up to six adults. Offering memorable experiences including bird and marine mammal watching, scenic cruises along beautiful, rugged coastlines, hauling lobster traps and learning about the industry, beach picnics and exploring secluded islands by foot.

Contact Captain Oakley Jackson for inquiries and bookings. ospreyadventuresme@gmail.com or      (207) 701 -1815

 

Lanes Island Deer
using the trail system

Lane’s Island clean up – Saturday May 9^th, 9:30am  at the lanes island parking area. Gunna widen the trails, pick up some trash, and chip away at the firebreak needed to be in place by the fall. Gloves, clothes and attitudes recommended. If you have an electric chainsaw and are interested/available please email me (Kirk) at vinalhavensightings@gmail.com. Thanks!

 

 

First off – Glossy Ibis sighting – Lanes Island Preserve – 4/29 – This Glossy Ibis was chillin’ in the flooded marsh on the West side of the driveway as you head towards the parking area. There were also two mallards in the area.

 

We’re putting this first because there is a chance with weather and conditions it might hang around for a bit. Anyway, keep an ear out and you never know what you might see when you keep yer eyes peeled. So gross.

 

This is the first Glossy Ibis I’ve seen on Vinalhaven, and John mentioned one spent some time on the Ball ground many years ago.

 

Ibis nest in southern Maine and its not unheard of to see them on the mainland at Weskeag. Fun to see on Vinalhaven – great colors and a great bill!

 

Also at lanes (and from the Ferry terminal)– lots of Turkey Vultures (4/49)

symmetrical molt

check out that symmetrical molt!  Same feathers on both wings are molting at the same time for a balanced flight - balanced for a Turkey Vulture that is. Fun! 

 

(4/8) Northern Harrier – Cay Kendrick reported a Northern Harrier hunting low over the meadows and shrubs on Lanes. Great habitat for them!

 

Cay noted the white ‘rump patch’ on the harrier, which is distinctive, along with flying low while hunting on the wing. Harriers use minimal flaps and stay close to the ground as they use hearing to find rodents and other prey – and through convergent evolution have facial disks similar to owls. Such a cool bird- cool sighting!

 

Had a nice Woodcock Walk on Lanes on April 10^th – thanks to those who could make it. A male peented and displayed its heart out from several spots around the group. And the peepers were super loud! Take a listen:

 

 

 

Woodcock Nest
photo by Elin Elisofen

And speaking of Woodcocks, Elin Elisofen sent me a text with this photo. The text read – who’s eggs are these?

 

My answer – a woodcock’s nest. Can you show me Tuesday?

 

Elin – Sure.

 

And the rest is history. The female got back on the eggs quickly from 'the initial flushing' and that Tuesday I snapped a bunch of photos of her on the eggs. She didn’t flush when Elin and I visited, but she definitely knew we were there.

 

They are the masters of patience, with that camouflage and all, and we paid attention to not get close enough to be close to be considered a threat. That’s my non-threatening interpretation at least.

 

Returned two weeks later and the eggs must have hatched the family moved on. Lots of baby woodcock (woodcockettes?) in the woods these days – and will be all summer. Crazy ain’t it?

 

Sometimes you got to sit for a bit to see one. Outpatient the patient shorebird of the woods.

 

And folks are seeing them!  – Cay Kendrick reports seeing a Woodcock doing it’s ‘head bobbing walk’ on Robert’s Cemetery Road! Watch for their ‘comical’ (woodcocks don’t think it’s funny) walk and be aware – camouflage and patience are two of their biggest survival tools – and at times they will sit in roads thinking you can’t see them. A big brain is not one of their biggest survival tools.

 

Also at Lanes – picking up trash in the parking lot and crossed paths with this Smooth Green Snake

 

first snail of the season
photo by Linnell Mather

I hope folks appreciate the Smooth Green Snake populations that are on Vinalhaven and many of the surrounding islands. To cut right to it - I hardly ever cross paths with Green snakes on the mainland, and when I do its often as roadkill (the snake, not me). Yet they are a mainstay on most visits to the island all summer. Hope you get to enjoy a green snake encounter soon! 

Elin also sent in this video of Blood Worms doing their ‘mating thing’ in the shallows. And yes, when you see gulls ‘worming’ in shallow coves at low tide these are what they are after. Cool Video!

 Thanks for sharing Elin!

evening grosbeaks
photo by Linnell Mather

Evening Grosbeaks – What a late winter/early spring for irruptive songbirds! The woods continue to be loaded with Pine Siskin and Red Crossbill – the later of which has just fledged their first broods (Basin - 4/28). George and Cay Kendrick report Purple Finches and Goldfinches at their feeder station.

 

Evening Grosbeaks #2
photo by Linnell Mather 

Evening Grosbeaks have been reported in town as ‘regular/daily’ visitors to feeder stations for stretches of the last two months (John Drury) and now Linnell Mather snapped this shot of a pair of these ‘stunners’ (judgement). Great shot as always Linnell!

 

great blue heron
in the Basin

Jim Clayter reported 9 Great Blue Herons from his view of Old Harbor Pond. The most he’s seen at one time, which is fun to note! Thanks Jim!

 

And Linnell got this video of a Great Blue Heron covering some ground in the Ball ground. Good Stuff!

 Thanks Linnell!

 

Alison Thibault sent in this video that records the Merlin – the bird not the app - vocalization connected to nesting/courtship.  Take a listen…

 

And ducks on the roof – another first for the VSR! Ducks on a roof and a merlin calling in the background – the way life should be! Thanks Alison!

 

Spotted Salamanders – This spotted Salamander triggered a trail camera I have up (well off the trail) up Barney Point Way. Mating is such an inspiration, isn’t it?

 

gunna have to take my word for now

video wouldn't upload - will get this figured out

something about the game cameras.

anyway and in the meantime  

enjoy the spotted salamander stuff below!

spotted salamander egg mass

Also visited the vernal pool at the VLT/Granite Island section of the Basin Preserve on April 15th and found some recently laid spotted salamander egg masses. 

Took some close ups, I think I prefer them in Black and White - see what you think. Gunna be fun to watch them develop!

Spotted Salamander spermatophores

also some spermatophores - from the male Spotted Salamanders associated with the egg masses. So fun to find

spotted salamander spermatophores
out of water

spotted salamander
photo by Charity Reynolds Appell

Charity Reynolds Appell sent in this photo of a Spotted Salamander that turned up in her garden!

 

live eagle, dead gull sign
photo by Charity Reynolds Appell

And Charity was also kind enough to send in this photo series documenting a Bald Eagle ‘gull processing site’. The eagle left behind some feathers, innards and the gull head! Took the rest of the carcass to continue the feast over Barney Point way. Cool series! Thanks Charity!

 

gull head in a cup
photo by Charity Reynolds Appell

Mourning Cloak butterfly – April 8^th – Barney Point way.

 

Year of the hare? - Snowshoe hare are numerous this spring, with sightings and scats being reported from just about everywhere.

 

Here’s a photo series of one on Reach Road. Survival instincts are low with this one!

 

palm warbler - watch for the tail flickin'

John Drury reports waves of Yellow-rumped (Myrtles!!!!) and Palm Warblers on Greens!

long eared owl pellet

Owl pellets – Lanes Island – Maria Jenness found this Long-eared Owl pellet under a spruce near the Lanes Island parking area. This marks at least 22 (23?) winters in a row that a Long-eared owl has spent at least enough time on Lane’s to cough up a pellet (often more). This was one of three LEO pellets seen this winter on Lanes.

 

saw whet owl pellet

Basin – Saw-whet Owl pellets – Another winter, another saw whet at the pellet spot. Found 6 fresh saw-whet owl pellets along the Platform Trail in the Basin. Very photogenic skull in one of them.

 

This spot – clump of spruce saplings that the trail cuts through – has not changed in 20 years – how can a sapling stay a sapling that long? – and for the last 8 or 9 years I’ve been finding Saw-whet owl pellets there.

 

Last year saw the actual saw whet (what were the chances!), took this photo and shared it at Northern Woodlands magazine (www.northernwoodlands.org) . Now they are using it for some annual fundraiser – a photo of a saw whet on Vinalhaven! That felt cool.

  

Really appreciate those people who shared sightings in this VSR post. Love to hear what you are seeing too! vinalhavensightings@gmail.com  

Hey - you made it to this point - just about the end - and all this has lead to letting you know about the work day at Lanes Island next Saturday - May 9th at 9:30am. 

And ha! we'll see you out there! Enjoy the May and don't forget to share!