While we were in Harpswell, Maine, we kept seeing seals from the deck of “The Osprey’s Nest”. It was exciting to see them, but the looks were distant and usually brief. We rented a double kayak for the final three days we were there and after a trial run to test the waters, we ventured out – this time with the camera. We talked to another kayaker who was spending the summer there; he knew the lay of the land and told us where we would likely find the seals. Well, we found the seals, and they found us too. They seemed very curious about us and one came in quite close for a look. After looking around on the internet a little, I am thinking that these are Harbor Seals. If anyone knows differently, please let me know!
As of Saturday morning, the three GLOSSY IBIS continue in the back pond of the Liberty Loop at Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge. The light was much better and the birds a touch closer which made for some decent photo ops. Other highlights of my walk around the loop this morning included an adult Bald Eagle, 40+ Bobolinks, and a Peregrine Falcon that whizzed through and caused all the shorebirds to pick up. Here’s my photos from the morning:
One of at least 40 Bobolink at the Liberty Loop, 8/16/14.I haven’t posted an Indigo Bunting shot in a while – really I haven’t taken any, but I couldn’t resist this one. Liberty Loop, 8/16/14.
Great Blue Heron, flying and making noise. Cundy’s Harbor, Harpswell ME, 8/3/14.
For our second week in Maine, Tricia and I rented a place in Harpswell. It was called “The Osprey’s Nest”, and it is the top floor of a cottage right on Cundy’s Harbor. There is a large deck that overlooks the water and kayaks can be launched right from the property. Also, and most importantly, it was a super birding location. It is hard to imagine the “yard list” you would come up with if you lived there – we had over 40 species in the week that we were there. I spent most of my birding time right on the deck, taking photos of birds, relaxing,and sipping a coffee (or maybe a beer or two). We also got out in a double kayak a few times and that provided some better photos ops, especially of the seals that we had been seeing from a distance. Here’s my list for the week and photos – some taken from the deck and others from the kayak. What a super place to stay!
A view of “The Osprey’s Nest” from our kayak, out in Cundy’s Harbor, 8/5/14.Snowy Egret while kayaking Cundy’s Harbor in Harpswell ME, 8/7/14.
Double Crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Snowy Egret
Canada Goose
Mallard
Common Eider
Black Scoter
Semipalmated Plover
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Spotted Sandpiper
Laughing Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-Backed Gull
Common Tern
Black Guillemot
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
Mourning Dove
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Barn Swallow
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-Capped Chickadee
White-Breasted Nuthatch
Tufted Titmouse
Hermit Thrush
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow Rumped Warbler
Black-Throated Green Warbler
Pine Warbler
Song Sparrow
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Lesser Yellowlegs while kayaking Cundy’s Harbor in Harpswell, Maine. 8/7/14.I am going to do a post about the seals in Cundy’s Harbor, but I couldn’t leave them out of this post entirely.Common Eiders truly live up to their name on the coast of Maine – we saw many of these birds in the two weeks we were there. I never got tired of them. This was taken from the deck of “The Osprey’s Nest”, 8/5/14.I think this is a young Common Tern, shot while kayaking Cundy’s Harbor, 8/7/14.Double Crested Cormorants are also very numerous, but I did not have many photo ops. This one was taken while kayaking Cundy’s Harbor in Harpswell Maine, 8/7/14.This flock of Semipalmated Plovers visited us every day we were there. This was taken from the deck of “The Osprey’s Nest”, 8/8/14.
One of three GLOSSY IBIS at Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, 8/14/14.
The back pond at the Liberty Loop is certainly the local birding hotspot right now. Only one day after having a Willet there, today there were three GLOSSY IBIS present. The birds were in close, providing super looks and good photo ops. Linda Scrima joined me after a little while and we really enjoyed watching and photographing the birds as they fed nearly non-stop. Gorgeous and exciting birds! Here are some more shots:
This bird took a very thorough bath and then spent some time trying to dry off. Glossy Ibis at Wallkill River NWR – Liberty Loop, 8/14/14.The birds were feeding heavily. From what I could tell, they were eating small frogs and I think in this photo it’s a large beetle.All three Glossy Ibis at the Liberty Loop today, 8/14/14.
Willet at Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge – Liberty Loop, 8/13/14. Photo by Linda Scrima.
This morning at the back pond of the Liberty Loop, Linda Scrima located and photographed the above WILLET. By the time I got out to the loop this evening along with Maria Loukeris, the bird had relocated to very deep into the pond. It was too far for photos, but we got enjoyed good looks in the scope. The bird flew short distances a few times, showing its beautifully marked black and white underwings. Huge thanks to Linda for both locating the bird and also for the great photo.
Willet at the Liberty Loop, 8/14/14. Photo by Linda Scrima.
Before looking for the Willet, I met Linda and Maria over at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary to go for the Stilt Sandpiper (which had been relocated by a number of birders earlier in the day). We were unable to relocate the bird, but we did get nice looks at a Wilson’s Snipe, a bird that I have not gotten too many photos of:
Wilson’s Snipe at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 8/13/14.
Quick Post: Tonight after my golf match I stopped by 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary and I had what I believe was a STILT SANDPIPER. It was located at the small pond that is south of the Heritage Trail (I call it the Citgo Trail because you can access it from the Route 17M Citgo Station). Because I came straight from golf, I did not have my camera. I failed miserably at taking photos with the iPhone through my scope, but I did shoot some video of the bird (which is also pretty poor!), which can be seen HERE. Also present were approximately 20 Least Sandpipers, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, and 8 or so Killdeer. I will try for the bird again tomorrow and hopefully get some photos…
Atlantic Puffin at Eastern Egg Rock Island, Maine, 8/4/14.
First things first, I want to thank Karen Miller for helping out while I was away, she did an awesome job and it is greatly appreciated.
A foggy, distant look at an Atlantic Puffin at Petit Manan Island NWR, 8/1/14.
So, Tricia and I spent the last two weeks in Maine and while we were there we were scheduled to go to see the Atlantic Puffins on Machias Seal Island. We had reservations for the trip that allowed us onto the island and into blinds for great views of the birds. Unfortunately, this trip was cancelled due to a small craft advisory. Undeterred, we went on two other puffin boating excursions – and BOTH were plagued with heavy fog. On August 1st, we took our first trip, which left from Bar Harbor and went out to the Atlantic Puffin colony at Petit Manan Island National Wildlife Refuge. We did get to see several puffins, but they were relatively distant and the fog was extremely thick. Actually, the fog was so dense that we could barely see the island! Photos were tough and the best birding of the trip came once we left the island and went out to the open seas for the whale watching portion of the outing. Once out of the fog, conditions improved for photos, but the water was pretty rough and the boat was rocking pretty severely the entire trip, which made it a challenge to focus on the birds. I felt like we did pretty well for the day with 15 species, including 3 life birds for me. Here is my list and photos:
WHALE AND PUFFIN WATCHING TOUR – FROM BAR HARBOR MAINE 8/1/14
I have this as a Northern Fulmar, mostly because of the dark smudge around the eye. Whale Watching Tour off of Bar Harbor, 8/1/14.
Common Loon
Northern Fulmar (Life Bird)
Great Shearwater (Life Bird)
Wilson’s Storm Petrel
Northern Gannet
Double Crested Cormorant
Red Phalarope
Laughing Gull
Herring Gull
Common Tern
Arctic Tern (Life Bird)
Common Murre
Razorbill
Black Guillemot
Atlantic Puffin
A young Northern Gannet on our way out to see the whales. Whale Watching Tour off of Bar Harbor ME, 8/1/14.I was really pleased to get a shot of a Wilson’s Storm-Petrel. We saw many while we were out but they were typically distant and they move very quickly along the water. Whale Watching Tour off of Bar Harbor ME, 8/1/14.We also had many Great Shearwaters. Whale Watching Tour off of Bar Harbor ME, 8/1/14.A close up look at one of the Great Shearwaters, Whale Watching Tour off of Bar Harbor ME, 8/1/14.Likely my favorite bird of the entire trip to Maine, one of about a dozen Red Phalaropes, Whale Watching Tour off of Bar Harbor ME, 8/1/14.One more Red Phalarope,Whale Watching Tour off of Bar Harbor ME, 8/1/14.
We also did well with the whales, seeing several of both Humpback and Finback whales.
Humpback Whale, diving deep. Whale Watching Tour off of Bar Harbor ME, 8/1/14.And here’s the postcard shot. Humpback Whale, Whale Watching Tour off of Bar Harbor ME, 8/1/14.
TRIP #2
PUFFIN WATCH FROM NEW HARBOR TO EASTERN EGG ROCK ISLAND, 8/4/14
A pair of Atlantic Puffins, Eastern Egg Rock Island ME, 8/4/14.
Our second boating trip for puffins left from New Harbor and went out to Eastern Egg Rock Island. This is the southernmost nesting island for Atlantic Puffins. It was a gorgeous sunny day as we arrived and boarded the boat. As we waited for the departure, the weather began to change quickly, with a drop in the temperatures and a distant fog rolling in. By the time we reached Eastern Egg Rock, it was quite foggy, but not as foggy as when we were at Petit Manan Island NWR. Additionally, the boat was much smaller, which I believe allowed us to get much closer to the island and therefore the birds. I was much happier with my puffin photos, and I felt like we did pretty well again, with 12 species including 2 life birds for me. Here’s my list and photos:
Common Loon
Wilson’s Storm Petrel
Northern Gannet
Double Crested Cormorant
Parasitic Jaeger (Life Bird)
Laughing Gull
Herring Gull
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Roseate Tern (Life Bird)
Black Guillemot
Atlantic Puffin
On our way out to the island, we had a pair of Parasitic Jaegers chasing a Tern, presumably trying to steal a meal. I wish I had done better with photos, but at least this shot shows the diagnostic pointed feather at the center of the tail. Puffin Watch, New Harbor to Eastern Egg Rock ME, 8/4/14.Black Guillemot in flight. I got some good close-ups of BLGUs at other locations in Maine that I will be posting shortly. Puffin Watch, New Harbor to Eastern Egg Rock ME, 8/4/14.I think this is likely a Common Tern. We had all three expected terns on this trip (Common, Arctic, and Roseate), which were identified by the Audubon Naturalist that guided the tour. This particular bird was not identified, but I am thinking maybe a young COTE. Puffin Watch, New Harbor to Eastern Egg Rock ME, 8/4/14.Atlantic Puffin, Eastern Egg Rock Island ME, 8/4/14.A more foggy look at an Atlantic Puffin, Eastern Egg Rock Island ME, 8/4/14.The puffins were tough to catch in flight, and this is my best effort. Puffin Watch, New Harbor to Eastern Egg Rock ME, 8/4/14.
I think we saw four Sooty Grouses in the Pacific NW. Two were on a branch fairly high in trees. The Grouse in the bottom two pictures was a mama and was trying to shepherd her babies across the road. One cooperated; one didn’t have the nerve, apparently. We watched her try to coax it out of the brush for several minutes, but to no avail. When we left she was on one side with the timid young one and the other was across the road by itself. …. Karen C Miller
I was amazed that we drove way into the woods and our guide, Bob Sundstrum, knew right where to find an American Dipper in the stream below the road. While this is not a colorful bird, it stands out in its ability to wade and swim underwater in mountain streams to feed. Such a cute little guy!
