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This exciting birding tour hits one of the most scenic states on the Atlantic Coast near the height of fall migration for many shorebird, songbird, and seabird species. We will seek a rich diversity of birds along the coast with emphasis on the regional specialties--from beak to claw (lobsters and fantastic seafood, anyone?). The majority of the tour will be based out of just two locations to minimize hotel transfers.

As the Sanderling flies, there are just over 200 miles between the coast of New Brunswick and the coast of New Hampshire. However, the circuitous undulations of Maine's shoreline stretch out to over 3,500 miles! Rocky peninsulas, islands, rivers, and creeks draw a host of coastal migrants: sandpipers, plovers, dowitchers, yellowlegs, herons, and more. The rich waters of the Gulf of Maine attract many pelagic seabirds such as alcids, phalaropes, loons, shearwaters, storm-petrels, jaegers, and, if we are lucky, skuas. Migrant songbirds like warblers, vireos, thrushes, and sparrows pile up along the coast as well. Most notable among our coastal targets are Atlantic Puffin, Razorbill, Common Murre, Black Guillemot, Pomarine Jaeger, Black-legged Kittiwake, Great Cormorant, and the rare Great and South Polar skuas.

Our adventure together starts off with birding along the southern coast, based out of Portland. We will visit shorebirding hotspots like Biddeford Pool and Scarborough Marsh for excellent studies of sandpipers, plovers, yellowlegs, dowitchers and more. We will search Spartina marshes for Nelson's and Saltmarsh sparrows. From Portland, we will make our way out to enchanting Monhegan Island for three nights.

Monhegan is a quaint fishing village and artist enclave sitting ten miles off the mainland, and it also happens to be one of the best migration hotspots for songbirds in the Northeast. We will casually bird the small community and neighboring trails while taking life down a notch and disengaging from the rest of the world. Those fall warblers won't be so confusing by the time we take the ferry back to the mainland. Migrant raptors such as Merlin and Sharp-shinned Hawk are always swirling about and chasing passerines to keep things interesting. After Monhegan, we'll head Downeast to Bar Harbor.

We'll spend the last chapter of our amazing adventure based out of Bar Harbor--our gateway to Acadia National Park and Downeast. A boat trip on a private charter out of Eastport will cruise the calm, nutrient-rich waters Passamaquoddy Bay as far out as Head Harbor Passage. This adventure visits the mesmerizing "Old Sow," the largest whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere, and we will likely encounter Minke Whale and Harbor Porpoise. Scanning through the flocks of Bonaparte's Gulls might turn up a rarity like Little Gull or Sabine's Gull. Great Cormorants and Black-legged Kittiwakes can be found here reliably. Razorbills are typically close to the boat in good numbers, and Common Murres are a realistic possibility.

Acadia National Park is a national treasure, and the gorgeous coastal sites in the park produce good birding. A full-day pelagic trip organized by Maine Audubon will put us far out into the of the Gulf of Maine for our grand finale. We will likely see Black Guillemots, Wilson's Storm-Petrels, and Northern Gannets, and we'll remain vigilant for more uncommon encounters with species such as Atlantic Puffin, Razorbill, Red-necked Phalarope, Pomarine Jaeger, multiple shearwater species, and Northern Fulmar. Both South Polar Skua and Great Skua are possibilities as well! After Bar Harbor, it's back to Portland and departures for home.

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Client comment
"The tour couldn't have been better. Humpback Whales breaching, gannets plunging into the ocean, Monhegan Island and the warblers...the Maine coastline and small towns along the way. In the rare event that we run out of birds, guide Eric Hynes talks natural history and greatly enriches the experience. Your tour managers and office staff are first rate." J.P., MAINE IN FALL 2019