birdpotter
Well-known member
So, at the end of May, my husband, son, mother-in-law and her two sisters took a ten day trip to Mt Desert Island Maine. It was two days after I had my gall bladder taken out...kind of an emergency sort of thing.
It rained 8 out of the 10 days. All sorts of rain, mists, showers, down pours, sleet. Apparently, it was a rare event called a "May Nor'easter". It didn't stop us from taking a few hikes through the Acadia National Park. I, of course, had to take it a little easy, seeing how I just got rid of a small organ.
We rented a house on this little cove on the north side of the island. It was quiet with thick woods surrounding the house.
At one point we saw between 50-75 Common Eiders in a cove with a sand beach, called appropriately, yet not very imaginatively, Sand Beach. It was spectacular to see one, a bird I didn't have on my list, let alone such a mass grouping of them. Perhaps the storm holed them up all together like that. The water was very rough for at least 5 days while we were there. I never got a chance to see very many waders, shorebirds or pelagic birds.
The house we rented was situated about a half a mile away from a Bald Eagle nesting site. The second day I found the nest, but it wasn't until the fourth day I spotted one of the eagles way off in the distance near the nest and became really familiar with the calls it was making.
I believe it was the fifth day, I was taking a nap with my 2 1/2 year old son. We had the Master bedroom which was upstairs with a private balcony. The bed was positioned to face the view from the balcony. I woke, and sat staring out through the trees at the water, enjoying the view, wondering if I needed to take any more pain pills, when I noticed a large mass of something that wasn't there before in the trees. It was the Bald Eagle no more than 15 yards from the head of the bed, where I was sitting. Wow, it was amazing and I had no one to share it with, but, wow. I never had a clear sense of the size of these birds before. Massive.
Eventually, I made some accidental noise trying to get the camera out and it flew off.
The next day, both eagles were sitting just beyond our visual abilities, but very very close, to the west of the house. I heard them all day calling back and forth to each other, but only saw them as they took flight (unbelievable) and returned to the nest. The following day, my husband had a bit of better luck. The pair was in the same spot the next day and my husband carefully sought them out during low tide, when he was able to move about and around the area where they were. He got a number of pictures without disturbing them, which I will post at the end. He did a good job, I think. The eagles our last full day there, did a fantastic aerial display--swooping in and out of the trees right by the house, calling out to each other, and just making an amazing spectacle of themselves. I only cursed them once for making us wait for so long to see such beauty.
I had other lovely experiences spotting warblers. Quiet spots with no sound and then tremendous chirping, chipping and calling all of a sudden with three or four different warblers and at least two other birds, like nuthatches or robins or chickadees.
Here is my list of birds that I saw. I have attached one photo of a bird I spotted for the first time that was just gorgeous. Unfortunately the photo didn't come out, I was wondering if anyone would like to take a guess at it.
If I don't get any responses, I will post the picture in the quiz part. I am not going to list the bird because it would give it away immediately.
American Robin
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Junco
Swainson's Thrush
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Black-and-white Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Bald Eagle
Laughing Gulls
Herring Gull--really surprised I didn't see any other gulls or terns.
Common Loon
Common Eider
Double-crested Commorant
I know, it isn't super impressive, but for someone who couldn't do a whole lot of anything per doctor's orders, pain, and/or pain pills, I was very pleased with the outcome of this trip and wanted to share my pleasure with everyone.
And would it have been possible for me to have seen a Norhter Fulmar close to the shore?--I was thinking possibly due to the harsh weather, but I really don't know enough to make a call.
I also saw a bird with a grey body, pale yellow breast and a definite white eye ring--flycatcher shape--it was with the warblers, but a bit bigger and singing(couldn't tell you the song) at the top of the trees. I won't claim it, but if I am missing a very obvious bird, I would love to know--just haven't found it yet.
Here are a few pictures( I have a lot more, but these are my favorites) and one of the mystery bird.
Best
Elizabeth
It rained 8 out of the 10 days. All sorts of rain, mists, showers, down pours, sleet. Apparently, it was a rare event called a "May Nor'easter". It didn't stop us from taking a few hikes through the Acadia National Park. I, of course, had to take it a little easy, seeing how I just got rid of a small organ.
We rented a house on this little cove on the north side of the island. It was quiet with thick woods surrounding the house.
At one point we saw between 50-75 Common Eiders in a cove with a sand beach, called appropriately, yet not very imaginatively, Sand Beach. It was spectacular to see one, a bird I didn't have on my list, let alone such a mass grouping of them. Perhaps the storm holed them up all together like that. The water was very rough for at least 5 days while we were there. I never got a chance to see very many waders, shorebirds or pelagic birds.
The house we rented was situated about a half a mile away from a Bald Eagle nesting site. The second day I found the nest, but it wasn't until the fourth day I spotted one of the eagles way off in the distance near the nest and became really familiar with the calls it was making.
I believe it was the fifth day, I was taking a nap with my 2 1/2 year old son. We had the Master bedroom which was upstairs with a private balcony. The bed was positioned to face the view from the balcony. I woke, and sat staring out through the trees at the water, enjoying the view, wondering if I needed to take any more pain pills, when I noticed a large mass of something that wasn't there before in the trees. It was the Bald Eagle no more than 15 yards from the head of the bed, where I was sitting. Wow, it was amazing and I had no one to share it with, but, wow. I never had a clear sense of the size of these birds before. Massive.
Eventually, I made some accidental noise trying to get the camera out and it flew off.
The next day, both eagles were sitting just beyond our visual abilities, but very very close, to the west of the house. I heard them all day calling back and forth to each other, but only saw them as they took flight (unbelievable) and returned to the nest. The following day, my husband had a bit of better luck. The pair was in the same spot the next day and my husband carefully sought them out during low tide, when he was able to move about and around the area where they were. He got a number of pictures without disturbing them, which I will post at the end. He did a good job, I think. The eagles our last full day there, did a fantastic aerial display--swooping in and out of the trees right by the house, calling out to each other, and just making an amazing spectacle of themselves. I only cursed them once for making us wait for so long to see such beauty.
I had other lovely experiences spotting warblers. Quiet spots with no sound and then tremendous chirping, chipping and calling all of a sudden with three or four different warblers and at least two other birds, like nuthatches or robins or chickadees.
Here is my list of birds that I saw. I have attached one photo of a bird I spotted for the first time that was just gorgeous. Unfortunately the photo didn't come out, I was wondering if anyone would like to take a guess at it.
If I don't get any responses, I will post the picture in the quiz part. I am not going to list the bird because it would give it away immediately.
American Robin
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Junco
Swainson's Thrush
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Black-and-white Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Bald Eagle
Laughing Gulls
Herring Gull--really surprised I didn't see any other gulls or terns.
Common Loon
Common Eider
Double-crested Commorant
I know, it isn't super impressive, but for someone who couldn't do a whole lot of anything per doctor's orders, pain, and/or pain pills, I was very pleased with the outcome of this trip and wanted to share my pleasure with everyone.
And would it have been possible for me to have seen a Norhter Fulmar close to the shore?--I was thinking possibly due to the harsh weather, but I really don't know enough to make a call.
I also saw a bird with a grey body, pale yellow breast and a definite white eye ring--flycatcher shape--it was with the warblers, but a bit bigger and singing(couldn't tell you the song) at the top of the trees. I won't claim it, but if I am missing a very obvious bird, I would love to know--just haven't found it yet.
Here are a few pictures( I have a lot more, but these are my favorites) and one of the mystery bird.
Best
Elizabeth
