Lobster rolls?!?

Yes, Mickey D's serves LR

Maine, what a state to visit and bird in. We had a great time in the short time there, with lots of driving. This blog post, I wanted to share places visited and trip details.

We arrived late Sunday night in Portland, ME and got a free upgrade rental car. What to choose from?? Camaro, Mustang, BMW 3series, Camry . . . Hmm it's going to be gorogeous weather, and we are driving up the coast via Route 1 . . . let take . .

Mustang Convertible V6

#T4P

After waking up early for the 5:30am sunrise, we birded Scarbough Marsh and Jones Creek pointe for two life birds. Back for the continental breakfast and check out. This is great, the day has just begun. Time to hit the road, top down, Pandora radio and the scenery. Maine is beautiful. Up I295 North to Brunswick, then old school US RT 1 to the coast, small towns like Bath, Waldoboro, and Rockland for lunch. But looking at the navigation, I see Owl's Head. Let's stop there, we're birders and this is a bird town. Turns out there is a state park and old Coast Guard lighthouse. Bam, Black Guillimot, lifer.

Birder welcome

Gulf of Maine

Lunch!!

We stopped in Rockland and ate lunch at a locally owned shop. So I got some Lobster Roll, Clam chowder, slaw and pickle. It was very good and I like how they reuse all the plates, silverware and cups. Now back on US 1 North to Bangor for the night, but we have time to kill, so we stop at Camden Hills State Park. It's just north of Rockport and Camden, ME.

Mount Battie view

If you are get the chance, stop by the park and drive up to the top of the park. Views of Penobscot Bay and Mount Megunticook, the highest mainland mountain on the Atlantic Coast are spectacluar. But again, not a lot of bird activity. We did hear a Least Flycatcher up here and that's it.  So on through Belfast, then Bangor for the night.  Tues is going to be epic!!


Tuesday its 5:30am, the sun is coming up. Time to hit the road. The Puffin boat trip is later at 2pm so we have the morning to head to Acadia National Park. The first place to stop is a marsh for a reported Ruffed Grouse. After several minutes of little activity producing juvenile Common YellowThroat and RubyThroated Hummingbird, JK spots the grouse moving off the road. Bam-another lifter!!

Beautiful

Mount Desert Island

We take Route 3 out of Ellsworth, McD's breakfast in belly, and make the loop down and around the isle up to Bar Harbor, Maine. The place everyone's heard of. There are cruise boats and birding palagics out of the harbor and it is touristy place to visit.

Agamont Park

DT Bar Harbor

Expensive yachts

4 mast sail boat

After BH was done, we decided to head back down to Stonington for the Puffin trip at 2pm.  The morning was gorgeous, but there was a storm a coming my friends, this might be a bumpy ride on the seas today fellas. That blog post will be the next and final one of the trip.

Yea

 Trip Stats:
63 hours in Maine
508 miles driven in a Stang
25.7 MPG
75 total species
18  FOYs--Notables
(BlackScoter,GreaterShearwater,Wilson'sStormPetral,NorthernGannet,GreatCommorant,RuddyTurnstone,Red-neckPhalarope,GBBG,RedbreastedNuthatch,
  6 LIFERS, now at ABA#570


Next up:  Does anybody have a bucket?? Pass up the bucket . . .