I’ve decided to change the format of my latest trip report. As with any list building the law of diminishing returns eventually applies…alas! Therefore it won’t be a day by day account, but more an overview of your chances of finding certain species at this time of year. There will obviously be a concentration on my target birds, and hopefully they will be of interest to anyone visiting this (vast) area in summer. A lot of miles were covered!
All birds listed below were ABA ticks for me.
Mute Swan – Only seen once from the car in Michigan (August 6th) although not looked for subsequently
Black Duck - seen at Pine Point near Scarborough Marsh, Maine
Ruffed Grouse – only seen once in Baxter State Park, Maine early am at Nesowadnehunk Campground on July 29th…just made it!
Alder Flycatcher – Seen north-west of Portland, Maine with the help of Luke Seitz on 2nd August. Take exit 53 of I95 and head north on rte 26/100 for c3.2 miles. Turn left on Hurricane rd, pass over I95 then turn left on first dirt track. Bird was seen in woodland on right past first field.
Least Flycatcher - seen well in Baxter State Park at Roaring Brook Campground early am on July 30th
Bicknell’s Thrush – seen well on rim trail at summit of Cannon Mnt in Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire on 26th July. Access by Aerial Tramway
Philadelphia Vireo – seen well in Baxter State Park at Roaring Brook Campground early am on July 30th
Prairie Warbler - Seen north-west of Portland, Maine with the help of Luke Seitz on 2nd August. Take exit 53 of I95 and head north on rte 26/100 for c3.2 miles. Turn left on Hurricane rd, pass over I95 then turn left on first dirt track. Bird was seen further down track by stream near bridge.
Mourning Warbler - only seen once in Baxter State Park, Maine early am at Nesowadnehunk Campground on July 29th
Kirtland’s Warbler – Seen well just south of Grayling, Michigan. “From I-75 take the 4-mile road exit just south of Grayling. Head east on 4-mile until you come to a t-intersection. At the stop sign
head north (left) on Stephan's Bridge Road. From that intersection, you will have Kirtland's warbler habitat all along the right side of the road. Park along Stephan's Bridge Road and hopefully you will be able to hear/see some Kirtland's in that stand”. Information from Chris Mensing (see below)
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow – Scarborough Marsh, Maine
Great Cormorant – c30 on Seal Island, Maine on July 31st
Razorbill – c20 on Seal Island, Maine on July 31st
Atlantic Puffin – hundreds on Seal Island, Maine on July 31st
Roseate Tern – c5 at Pine Point Scarborough, Maine
Cory’s Shearwater - c5 seen well on whale watch trip (usually about 4 hours) out of Point Judith, Rhode Island on Aug 10th
Great Shearwater - seen on boat trips to Seal Island and Portland Maine. Also out of Port Judith, Rhode Island
Manx Shearwater – one bird seen well on whale watch trip out of Point Judith, Rhode Island on Aug 10th
Wilson’s Petrel - Seal Island, Portland, Maine (100’s) and Rhode Island boat trips
Targets not seen
*Red-billed Tropicbird - a bird has summered in Maine for several years but unfortunately was not seen on my boat trip (10am – 2pm). There’s no access to the island where it was most active early mornings and evenings!
American Woodcock – had a good lead through an e-mail of a bird “roding” on Maguire rd by the power lines at Kennebunk Plains, Maine…but no luck
Leach’s Petrel - couldn’t turn any of the Wilson’s into one!
Cape May Warbler – no luck
Bay-breasted Warbler – no luck
White-winged/Red Crossbill - ‘reliable’ sites in Maine failed to produce the goods on both these species. Tried hard on Mount Desert Island, Maine at Ship Harbour to no avail.
Boat trips
Seal Island, Maine www.oldquarry.com
Mohegan Island Ferry, Maine www.monheganboat.com
Portland Whale Watch, Maine www.odysseywhalewatch.com
Point Judith, Rhode Island www.francesfleet.com
Contacts
Maine
Luke Seitz (Falmouth) birdfreak007@yahoo.com
Bob Duchesne (Old Town) duchesne@midmaine.com
Michigan
Chris Mensing Chris_Mensing@fws.gov
Alan Whitehead, York, England
ABA 641
alanwhitehead56@yahoo.co.uk
http://duffbirder.blogspot.com/