Maine: Coastal Maine by Land and Sea June 2020/2021

This trip will begin by exploring the boreal forests of Acadia National Park, Cadillac Mountain. Here we might expect to see Western Osprey and Bald Eagle as well as smaller boreal species such as Grey Jay and Black-backed Woodpecker. Then we will travel along the coast to Bar Harbor, where we will depart on an exciting whale watching boat trip to Petit Manan Island. On our second boat ride, this one out of Cutler Harbor, we’ll visit Machias Seal Island to search for nesting Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, Common Murres, Arctic Terns, other pelagic species, and more whales! Our pelagic trips may produce Ocean Sunfish, Grey Seal, and Humpback, Fin, and Common Minke Whales. On land we will look for American Beaver and North American Porcupine, and perhaps we’ll see an American Black Bear or a Moose or two. After our pelagics we will head to Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, Machias, and Quoddy Head State Park for their rugged coastlines, boreal forests, and abundance of breeding species.

Some of our additional targets on this boreal and pelagic tour include Northern Fulmar, Great Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Leach’s Storm Petrel, Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Northern Gannet, American Bittern, Common Eider, Spruce Grouse, Sora, Upland Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Arctic Tern, Black Guillemot, Pileated Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, Vesper Sparrow, Pine Siskin, Red Crossbill, and Evening Grosbeak.

Itinerary (7 days/6 nights)

Day 1. Bangor to Bar Harbor

The tour begins in Bangor, Maine. From here we’ll drive toward the coast for our first taste of down-east birding in Acadia National Park. This is a good time to search for cliff-nesting Peregrine Falcon and scan for Common Loon, Western Osprey, and Bald Eagle. We will overnight in a motel near Bar Harbor; here we may encounter singing warblers and the occasional flock of Red Crossbills.

Overnight: Bar Harbor

Day 2. Bar Harbor area

Today we’ll have the whole day to explore Mount Desert Island. The spruce/fir forests should hopefully yield Black-backed Woodpecker, Grey Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Magnolia and Blackpoll Warblers, and with a bit of luck Spruce Grouse. We will bird the coastline, looking for Common Eider, Black Guillemot, Great Cormorant, and lots of gulls, terns, and ducks. King Eider is a possibility, albeit a rarity. A great day of birding deserves a great Maine seafood dinner.

Overnight: Bar Harbor

Day 3. Acadia National Park and Petit Manan Island trip

We’ll have another morning to bird Acadia National Park, where we can explore some new areas and return to a few from the day before yesterday. Around lunchtime we’ll head for the dock at Bar Harbor and prepare for a half-day whale watching trip to Petit Manan Island. Humpback Whale is likely; one year we had two breaching for nearly an hour very close to the boat! Several other species of whales and porpoises are possible. There will also be pelagic birds to observe, including various shearwaters, storm petrels, and alcid species. Perhaps an ocean-going Eastern Kingbird will come and visit us again, 15 miles at sea!

Overnight: Bar Harbor

Day 4. Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge

We’ll begin working our way north and arrive at Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge on the New Brunswick border. Here we will look out for American Bittern, Sora, Northern Goshawk, Spruce and Ruffed Grouse, Bay-breasted and Cape May Warblers, and Winter Wren. There are nesting Bald Eagles and Western Ospreys and families of Ring-necked Ducks, as well as another good chance for Black-backed Woodpecker. We’ll overnight in Machias, and just as in Bar Harbor there may be nesting warblers behind the motel or Bobolink across the road.

Overnight: Bluebird Motel, Machias

Day 5. Machias Seal Island trip

We depart Cutler Harbor at 7:00 a.m. for Machias Seal Island, where we should see nesting Atlantic Puffin, Razorbill, Common Murre, and Arctic Tern, all at point-blank range; this makes for great photographic opportunities. Grey Seals are likely at North Rock, while Harbor Seals are common. During the morning boat ride we will look for pelagic species such as Northern Fulmar, Great Shearwater, and Wilson’s Storm Petrel. After lunch we’ll drive to Quoddy Head State Park that juts out into the Grand Manan Channel, which offers great opportunities for seabirds and shorebirds. Boreal species may include Lincoln’s Sparrow and Palm Warbler.

Overnight: Bluebird Motel, Machias

Day 6. Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge

Today we will probably return to the scenic Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge to explore more of its extensive trails and roads. We will also visit the Meddybemps blueberry barrens to look for breeding Upland Sandpiper and Vesper Sparrow.

Overnight: Bluebird Motel, Machias

Day 7. Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge to Bangor

Our final morning will be spent exploring some new areas, attempting to fill in our list of boreal birds and breeding warblers. One year we found our only Two-barred Crossbill, Evening Grosbeak, and Pine Siskin on the very last day! The tour will end at Bangor airport for our afternoon flights home.

Please note that the itinerary cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides and other factors.