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Andrea pointed out perhaps THE bonus bird of the tour: Spruce Grouse. This gorgeous female stepped right out in the open for us on Mount Washington just after we finished high-fiving over the outstanding view of Bicknell's Thrush. (Photo by guide Eric Hynes)
I am comfortable declaring our maiden voyage of the "Maine: Birding Downeast" tour a smashing success. Any tour where the voting for three favorite birds of the tour is so wide-reaching that the top vote-getter only received three votes is special. There was a lot to like and get excited about during our week of birding together. In fact there were five species tied for runner-up. The weather gods were merciful, and the only wet weather we saw was on a travel day, so no complaints there. Even our day on the water was met with comfortable seas and clear skies.
We got to know each other the first night while enjoying lobster rolls and a seawatch at Dyer Point in Cape Elizabeth. Our first full day together covered the coast from Scarborough Marsh down to Biddeford Pool and Kennebunkport. Day Two began at Kennebunk Plains predawn, but it was so worth it. After picking up a few species in Portland parks, we made our way "downeast" to Bar Harbor. A morning birdwalk at Sieur de Monts Spring in Acadia National Park started Day Three, then we spent the remainder of the day on the waters of the Gulf of Maine scoring many seabirds at Petit Manan.
Day Four's birding covered another section of Acadia National Park (Park Loop to Otter Point) before we made the long haul up to Rangeley via Belgrade and Messalonskee Lake. Once nestled in the western mountains, we spent Day Five exploring boreal habitat and racking up a whole host of new species. Our penultimate day started in Rangeley cleaning up species in the northern forest as we tracked west into New Hampshire. And our finale began on the impressive Auto Road up Mount Washington. We picked up a few more species at Brownfield Bog en route back to Portland. My friend Jason prepared some serious culinary delights at his special restaurant (The Well at Jordan's Farm) to end the tour.
Some of the more memorable experiences on our adventure have to be: the mouselike sparrows of Scarborough Marsh, the chorus of Eastern Whip-poor-wills plus the great looks at two predawn at Kennebunk Plains; being surrounded by Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, and Arctic Terns on our boat trip; the sublime coastal views of Acadia National Park; Grays Jays on hand (literally); glowing Blackburnian Warblers and all their relatives; Common Loons serenading us a stone's toss away from our picnic lunch in the western mountains; Bicknell's Thrush popping into plain sight in the sea of spruce on Mt. Washington; the female Spruce Grouse who came to us; and the displaying Wilson's Snipe winnowing overhead!
It was truly a pleasure sharing a place near and dear to my heart with all of you. I hope you had as much fun as I did on this tour. I look forward to sharing more birding adventures with all of you.
Sincerely,
Eric
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis)
WOOD DUCK (Aix sponsa)
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (Anas rubripes)
The three Common Loons diving and calling just beyond the dock at our lunch stop in the western mountains were something special. (Photo by guide Eric Hynes)
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos) COMMON EIDER (ATLANTIC) (Somateria mollissima dresseri)
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (NORTH AMERICAN) (Melanitta fusca deglandi)
BLACK SCOTER (Melanitta americana)
HOODED MERGANSER (Lophodytes cucullatus)
COMMON MERGANSER (Mergus merganser)
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
RUFFED GROUSE (Bonasa umbellus) [*]
SPRUCE GROUSE (Falcipennis canadensis)
WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo)
Gaviidae (Loons)
RED-THROATED LOON (Gavia stellata)
COMMON LOON (Gavia immer)
Sulidae (Boobies and Gannets)
NORTHERN GANNET (Morus bassanus)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
To describe the Gray Jays we encountered outside of Rangeley as cooperative would be a significant understatement. (Photo by guide Eric Hynes)
AMERICAN BITTERN (Botaurus lentiginosus) [*] GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea)
TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor)
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (Buteo platypterus)
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (Charadrius semipalmatus)
PIPING PLOVER (Charadrius melodus)
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
We had some wonderful views of the "Eastern" Willets breeding in the coastal saltmarshes. It was a great chance to study their more compact structure and heavy markings. (Photo by guide Eric Hynes)
WILLET (EASTERN) (Tringa semipalmata semipalmata) UPLAND SANDPIPER (Bartramia longicauda)
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres)
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (Calidris pusilla)
WILSON'S SNIPE (Gallinago delicata)
AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Scolopax minor) [*]
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus lobatus)
Stercorariidae (Skuas and Jaegers)
PARASITIC JAEGER (Stercorarius parasiticus)
Alcidae (Auks, Murres, and Puffins)
COMMON MURRE (Uria aalge)
RAZORBILL (Alca torda)
BLACK GUILLEMOT (Cepphus grylle)
ATLANTIC PUFFIN (Fratercula arctica)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
Participant Bob Reed shared this lovely image of the lighthouse on Wood Island off Maine Audubon's East Point Sanctuary in Biddeford.
BONAPARTE'S GULL (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) LAUGHING GULL (Leucophaeus atricilla)
RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis)
HERRING GULL (AMERICAN) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus)
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus marinus)
BLACK TERN (Chlidonias niger)
ROSEATE TERN (Sterna dougallii)
COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo)
ARCTIC TERN (Sterna paradisaea)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL (Antrostomus vociferus)
Apodidae (Swifts)
CHIMNEY SWIFT (Chaetura pelagica)
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
Remember how obliging this male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was along South Shore Road in Rangeley? (Photo by guide Eric Hynes)
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus colubris) Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
BELTED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle alcyon)
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus varius)
DOWNY WOODPECKER (Picoides pubescens)
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Picoides villosus)
BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER (Picoides arcticus)
NORTHERN FLICKER (YELLOW-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus luteus)
PILEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus pileatus)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Contopus cooperi)
EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus virens)
YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax flaviventris)
ALDER FLYCATCHER (Empidonax alnorum)
WILLOW FLYCATCHER (Empidonax traillii)
LEAST FLYCATCHER (Empidonax minimus)
EASTERN PHOEBE (Sayornis phoebe)
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus crinitus)
We couldn't have asked for a better performance than we received from this remarkably accommodating Philadelphia Vireo. (Photo by guide Eric Hynes)
EASTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus tyrannus) Vireonidae (Vireos)
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO (Vireo flavifrons)
BLUE-HEADED VIREO (Vireo solitarius)
WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus)
PHILADELPHIA VIREO (Vireo philadelphicus)
RED-EYED VIREO (Vireo olivaceus)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
GRAY JAY (Perisoreus canadensis)
BLUE JAY (Cyanocitta cristata)
AMERICAN CROW (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
FISH CROW (Corvus ossifragus)
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
PURPLE MARTIN (Progne subis)
TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor)
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
Paridae (Chickadees and Tits)
What a treat to hear "quick - Free Beer" over and over again from an Olive-sided Flycatcher at the end of the Boy Scout Road. (Photo by guide Eric Hynes)
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE (Poecile atricapillus) BOREAL CHICKADEE (Poecile hudsonicus)
TUFTED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus bicolor)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta canadensis)
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta carolinensis)
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
BROWN CREEPER (Certhia americana)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
WINTER WREN (Troglodytes hiemalis hiemalis)
MARSH WREN (Cistothorus palustris)
Regulidae (Kinglets)
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus satrapa)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
In a rare moment of verticality, this Atlantic Puffin "stood up" to stretch its wings. (Photo by guide Eric Hynes)
EASTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia sialis) VEERY (Catharus fuscescens)
BICKNELL'S THRUSH (Catharus bicknelli)
SWAINSON'S THRUSH (Catharus ustulatus)
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus)
WOOD THRUSH (Hylocichla mustelina)
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis)
BROWN THRASHER (Toxostoma rufum)
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
CEDAR WAXWING (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
Canada Warbler was voted the favorite bird of the trip. The fact that we had to work so hard to get a good look made this view that much more rewarding. (Photo by guide Eric Hynes)
OVENBIRD (Seiurus aurocapilla) NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Parkesia noveboracensis)
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia)
NASHVILLE WARBLER (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)
MOURNING WARBLER (Geothlypis philadelphia)
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)
AMERICAN REDSTART (Setophaga ruticilla)
NORTHERN PARULA (Setophaga americana)
MAGNOLIA WARBLER (Setophaga magnolia)
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (Setophaga fusca)
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (Setophaga pensylvanica)
BLACKPOLL WARBLER (Setophaga striata)
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (Setophaga caerulescens)
PALM WARBLER (YELLOW) (Setophaga palmarum hypochrysea)
PINE WARBLER (Setophaga pinus)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (MYRTLE) (Setophaga coronata coronata)
This sharp male Blackpoll Warbler was one of many sharing the montane forest on Mount Washington with Bicknell's Thrushes. (Photo by guide Eric Hynes)
PRAIRIE WARBLER (Setophaga discolor) BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (Setophaga virens)
CANADA WARBLER (Cardellina canadensis)
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
EASTERN TOWHEE (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)
FIELD SPARROW (Spizella pusilla)
VESPER SPARROW (Pooecetes gramineus)
SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis)
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (Ammodramus savannarum)
NELSON'S SPARROW (ATLANTIC COAST) (Ammodramus nelsoni subvirgatus)
SALTMARSH SPARROW (Ammodramus caudacutus caudacutus)
Saltmarsh Sparrows, like this individual, greatly outnumbered Nelson's Sparrow at Scarborough Marsh, but we got to study them both carefully. (Photo by guide Eric Hynes)
SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia) SWAMP SPARROW (Melospiza georgiana)
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (Zonotrichia albicollis)
DARK-EYED JUNCO (SLATE-COLORED) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis)
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
INDIGO BUNTING (Passerina cyanea)
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
BOBOLINK (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
COMMON GRACKLE (Quiscalus quiscula)
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
ORCHARD ORIOLE (Icterus spurius)
Several large flocks of Red-necked Phalaropes around Mount Desert Rock were an unexpected bonus to our boat trip out of Bar Harbor. (Photo by guide Eric Hynes)
BALTIMORE ORIOLE (Icterus galbula) Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
PURPLE FINCH (Haemorhous purpureus)
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus)
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (Spinus tristis)
EVENING GROSBEAK (Coccothraustes vespertinus)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
SNOWSHOE HARE (Lepus americanus)
PLAIN EASTERN CHIPMUNK (Tamias striatus)
WOODCHUCK (Marmota monax)
EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus carolinensis)
RED SQUIRREL (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
HARBOR PORPOISE (Phocoena phocoena)
RED FOX (Vulpes vulpes)
HARBOR SEAL (Phoca vitulina)
GRAY SEAL (Halichoerus grypus)
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)
A delicious farewell meal at The Well at Jordan's Farm after a week of fantastic birding left us all in smiles. (Photo by guide Eric Hynes)
MOOSE (Alces alces)
For those interested in herps, we pointed out Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta), Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon), Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans), Wood Frog (Lithobates slyvaticus), and Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer).
Canada Warbler was voted favorite bird of the tour by a narrow margin. Runner-up was a five way tie between: Spruce Grouse, Atlantic Puffin, Bicknell's Thrush, Black Guillemot, and Blackpoll Warbler. Other species receiving votes were: Northern Gannet, Philadelphia Vireo, Blackburnian Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Black Tern, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Common Loon, Boreal Chickadee, and Red-necked Phalarope.
Totals for the tour: 164 bird taxa and 11 mammal taxa