Overview
On this summer tour, we’ll travel “downeast”,
that is, down the Maine coast to Mount Desert Island, where Acadia
National Park’s beauty attracts many visitors every year, and even
farther north to Machias, Lubec, and the mouth of Passamaquoddy Bay. The
goal of our tour will be to take in the rich coastal beauty, enjoy some of
the special birds, flowers and wildlife of the region, and experience the
Downeast culture, including seafood meals, brisk morning air, coastal fog,
and “working” fishing boats.
Each day will have a major destination and some minor
stops, as we visit birding sites in the area. There will be time allowed
for stopping at any points of interest that catch your eye, and we'll be
sure to stop as needed for food, and rest-stops. I will have a
spotting scope, allowing for close views, whenever possible.
Logistics
This is a 6-day, 5-night tour in "Downeast" Maine on July
8-13, 2007, with arrival and departure from Concord, NH. The tour is limited to
6 participants. Cost is $1,095.00 per
person for 2-3 participants, which drops to $995.00 per person if there
are at least 4 participants, all based on double occupancy. Cost includes:
full-sized car or van rental and all fuel and tolls, meals, lodging, and
guiding for birds and natural history. On some days we will have picnic
lunches. Dinners will be at local restaurants, and lobster will be on the
menu for at least one night!
Itinerary
Day 1
We’ll leave Concord at 6:30 am and head down the
Maine coast past Portland, and reach Ellsworth in time for lunch. From
there we will visit the Schoodic Peninsula portion of Acadia National
Park. Schoodic’s dramatic rocky shore juts into Frenchman’s Bay and is
full of small coves and inlets that shelter foraging terns, gulls and
ducks. From there, we’ll continue north to Machias, a quaint New England
town that has many terrific birding spots in and around it, including a
tidal river area where Bald Eagles often are seen. Overnight in Machias.
*Airport pickup can be
arranged from the Manchester, NH airport if you are coming from out of the area,
but you would probably want to arrive in town the day before and overnight in Concord.
Day 2-3
During the next two days, we’ll explore the local
birding areas in search of boreal forest birds such as wood warblers,
vireos, and thrushes. Our travels will take us along the “Bold Coast”
and up to Quoddy Head State Park, one of the most beautiful portions of
the shoreline in Maine. Here we’ll look for Boreal Chickadee and
Northern Parulas, and if we get lucky we may even find a White-winged
Crossbill. A raised bog near the park contains Pitcher Plants and Sundews
– fascinating carnivorous plants. On one morning we’ll take a boat to
Machias Seal Island to get close looks at Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills,
and possible Common Murres. Arctic Terns also nest on the island, and
several other tern species may be seen. On the boat trip, we often see
Black Guillemots and Bald Eagles, and a few pelagic birds such as Greater
Shearwaters and Wilson’s Storm Petrels are possible. And while it is
only July, we’ll keep an eye out for southbound migrating shorebirds.
Nights in Machias.
Day 4-5
On the morning of our forth day, we’ll head south
to Mount Desert Island. After driving over the bridges to the island,
we’ll begin our exploring in earnest. Over the next two days, we’ll
see Somes Sound, a true fjord, drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain
overlooking scenic Frenchman’s Bay and its Porcupine Islands, have
popovers and tea on the tea-lawn at the Jordan Pond House, and take in the
salt air at the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. We’ll scan for nesting Peregrine
Falcons on the Precipice, scope Black Guillemots near Bar Harbor, and
listen and look for Palm Warblers in the Great Heath. A variety of wood
warblers nest here and we’ll take several nature walks, for example to
Ship Harbor and Wonderland, in search of these beauties. You’ll quickly
find out why Acadia National Park is one of the jewels in our park system!
Nights in Bar Harbor.
Day 6
After a short morning walk, perhaps at Indian Point,
we’ll head south down the coast and back to New Hampshire.
