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!
Matt and Tricia’s wedding trip to Maine also includes a trip to see the Atlantic Puffins. So in honor of their wedding, I am sharing the Tufted Puffins that I saw in Washington State. I hope this posts brings them luck in their quest to see Puffins and all the best for a happy marriage.
These birds seemed to appear on the water out of the morning fog. I decided to keep the fog in some of the pictures just because it’s reminiscent of it rolling across the bay in a way that was almost eerie. The first Puffin caught a small fish for breakfast These birds were definitely the highlight of the day!
Tomorrow morning I am going on a two week vacation to Maine, where Tricia and I will get married! I’m not entirely sure if I will be posting while I’m gone, but it’s not likely. In the meantime, KAREN MILLER will be doing some guest posts. Right now she is on a birding trip in Seattle, so I look forward to seeing what birds she had while she was out there. Huge thanks to Karen – can’t wait to see your posts!
This Solitary Sandpiper was the only shorebird close enough for decent photos. Liberty Loop, 7/24/14.
QUICK POST: I made a brief stop at the Liberty Loop after work – shorebird numbers were slightly down but still considerable. The big news was the addition of a Pectoral Sandpiper, my FOS. Here’s my list for the day, more guesstimates than counting as I did not have tons of time:
A distant shot, but I have these birds as (from left to right): Killdeer, Pectoral Sandpiper, and (2) Least Sandpipers. Liberty Loop at Wallkill River NWR, 7/24/14.I came and went via Owens Station Road in hopes of finding these Virginia Rails (with chick!). Another distant photo, but great to see – this was my best look at Virginia Rail yet. Thanks to Linda Scrima and Maria Loukeris for giving me the heads up.
One of 48 (!) Least Sandpipers at Wallkill River NWR, Liberty Loop, 7/23/14.I have these as three Least Sandpipers with one Semipalmated Sandpiper (closest to front center). Liberty Loop, 7/23/14.
