Birds Flock to MCHT Preserves
This May, during the heart of migration, MCHT hosted six separate bird watching field trips on preserves from Castine to Cutler. With intimate views of dozens of different species on each adventure, the excursion to Great Cranberry Island showcased the most diversity - 51 unique species observed! Despite the foggy, unpredictable spring weather, more than 40 hearty souls participated in the six scheduled tours.
The month's first event took place on the morning of May 7 as an eager group of participants entered MCHT's Witherle Woods Preserve in Castine. Welcomed by boisterous white-throated sparrows, common yellowthroats, and goldfinches, the onlookers soon encountered a pair of black-capped chick-a-dees excavating a potential nest cavity in the dead limb of a nearby tree. Continuing along the path, tour leader and MCHT Steward Douglas McMullin spotted a black-backed woodpecker searching for food. An uncommon, but year round resident of Maine, this woodpecker was an unexpected treat that many avid birdwatchers have difficulty finding. The morning's walk continued. As the group circled around the preserve, a number of warblers were spotted: the most visible being the diminutive, northern parula.
On May 20, a small group of excited birdwatchers gathered early at the Bass Harbor Ferry terminal for a one-hour voyage to Frenchboro. Despite low visibility and occasional drizzle, the day's walk on the island's trails offered close up views of more than 40 species of birds. Highlights included stunning views of an indigo bunting and rose-breasted grosbeaks. Trip attendees also marveled at the voracious appetites of returning songbirds, as they feasted on insects in the seaweed. Capping off the day's adventure where excellent shots of many sparrows, including the white-throated, swamp, song, and white-crowned. As usual, MCHT Steward Terry Towne added to the bird-focused itinerary, by providing many insights regarding the history of the year-round community that calls this scenic island its home.
The next day, MCHT-led walks occurred on Great Cranberry Island off Mount Desert and at the Hamilton Cove Preserve in Lubec. Both tours showcased the great variety of colors associated with the many migratory birds that rely upon Maine's coast as a critical feeding area on their northward journeys to breeding grounds. At Hamilton Cove in particular, persistent foggy and damp conditions seemed to heighten the intensity of colors as MCHT volunteer trip leader Jennifer Multhopp led the spirited group through the preserve. At the same time, the boisterous calls of less visible birds announced through the mist that spring had indeed arrived in Washington County.
The Great Cranberry bird walk was active even before feet landed on the island! Several species of warblers were heard from the dock and the group got excellent spotting scope views of eastern kingbird, bobolink, and yellow warblers right at the landing. Overall 51 species of birds were found as MCHT Stewards Terry Towne and Kirk Gentalen took the group on a meander both through the town of Great Cranberry and MCHT preserve land. The songbirds were dripping from the trees and the hummingbirds were fighting over the feeders, just another great day on the coast of Maine.
On Memorial Day weekend, MCHT organized two last treks in search of avian life. The month's most popular walk began on May 28, as 16 people headed south into the Western Head Preserve in Cutler. While searching for an eagle's nest on a nearby island, the group, which included bird enthusiasts of all ages, was treated to numerous bird sightings along the way. At the trail's first beach, a lone willet welcomed the visitors, as surf scoters, loons, and eiders scanned the waves for food. Unfortunately, the eagle nest remained bare - the only sign a piercing call from the dense fog. The walk continued around the point, where razorbill auks were spotted on the move. While returning to the trailhead, the group continued to enjoy the sights and sounds of numerous warblers, thrushes, and flycatchers.
Concluding the month's bird-focused trips on May 29, MCHT Steward Kirk Gentalen once again organized an early morning event associated with Washington County's annual Downeast Birding Festival. This year, the walk took place at MCHT's Bog Brook Cove Preserve. The small group met early, put on their boots, grabbed binoculars, and quickly began spotting songbirds flitting in all directions. The birdwatchers moved slowly toward Norse Pond and Bog Brook Cove Beach, scanning the forest canopy carefully throughout, looking for flashes of color. In one fern-draped area in particular, as many as five different warbler species were identified on a single tree. Nearby, a pair of yellow-bellied sapsuckers exhibited vivid expressions of their courtship behavior.
As the last trip ended, the sun began to peek through the clouds - a rare occurrence in May. Perhaps a sign that better weather is on the horizon and one more reason to mark your calendars for upcoming MCHT adventures on the Maine Coast this summer.
