Birding Lincoln County, Maine

Great Blue Heron in pine 9-28-15

 September 28, 2015: I took a drive up through Lincoln County, Maine to count birds at as many places as I could last Fall. I had heard of a place called the Great Salt Bay in Damariscotta, so I decided to bird my way there and check it out. My first stop was just over the bridge in from Bath, Maine in Woolwich.

George Wright Puddle on the Saranosa River 9-28-15

 It is called the George Wright Puddle on eBird and it was my first time birding here. It was very windy this day and I was lucky to see any birds at all. There is a dirt pull-off and parking lot with a public boat launch, but there was also a dirt road that was gated and said no trespassing. That was a bit frustrating as I could see there were ducks and gees feeding among the grasses and reeds up in the bend, but I could not get close enough to see them all. So, I counted what I could see.

European Starlings on Utility Pole

 These starlings we just over my head in the parking lot area.

Double-crested Cormorant in George Wright Puddle

Wiscasset Waterfront 9-28-15

 I stopped briefly at the Wiscasset Waterfront to count birds as well. Mostly there were gulls and cormorants again. You can see how hard the wind was blowing from the way these flags are blowing straight out in the wind!

Bridge over the Sheepscot River in Wiscasset 9-28-15

 Farther up Route 1 I stopped at a roadside rest area known as Sherman Lake. I did not find any birds around the immediate parking lot but a walk down a bit of a dirt road towards the Sheepscot River netted me a few sparrows hiding in the low bushes and some crows and cormorants in the river.

Savannah Sparrow at Sherman Lake 9-28-15

Savannah Sparrow and Song Sparrow hiding in bush.

Cormorants in Sheepscot River

 I finally made it to the Great Salt Bay Farm Preserve around 4:30 PM. There were children and other peole there for some kind of educational and informational program, but it was almost over and I set off on the trails by myself. The sun was sinking lower as I walked the trails through fields to the woods at the edge of the bay. 

Great Salt Bay Farm 9-28-15

 The trail brought me to the waters edge where I was able to peek through and see the bay and the birds that used it. There were dozens of cormorants on the rocks drying in the sun. I only found a couple of chickadees and a downy woodpecker in the woods, but it was late in the day and the wind was still blowing. Farther along the trail I came to a spot where there were some black ducks.

Cormorants and gulls on rock in the Great Salt Bay 9-28-15

American Black Ducks in Marsh

 The biggest surprise was when I spotted a large figure balanced on top of the water. Was it a mermaid???

A seal in the Great Salt Bay

Seal and cormorant in the Great Salt Bay of the Damariscotta River

 I can only guess this seal was sunning itself on a barely submerged rock!

Great Blue Heron in pine tree at the Great Salt Bay Farm Preserve

If I hadn't scanned the trees on the far side of this cove I would never have seen this Great Blue Heron, which blended in perfectly with the silvery bark of this tall, old pine! I had a great time at the Great Salt Bay Farm Preserve and I hope to go back again this year...once the snow has all melted!

Links

• Great Salt Bay Farm Preserve
• My eBird Checklist for the Great Salt Bay on 9-28-15
• Canada Goose-my newest poem on Kathie's Poet Tree

Cormorants on rocks in the Great Salt Bay of the Damariscotta River

Raccoon in the Yard

 Raccoon in Mere Point Yard 6-3015

June 30, 2015, Mere Point Cottage: Living in Maine you never know what will show up in your yard. While the squirrels and chipmunks are pretty much expected during the summer, the rest of the wildlife can be unpredictable. I had both red and gray foxes come through the yard while I lived at Mere Point, and porcupines were sighted more than once, I never had a deer in the yard and until this summer, I never saw a raccoon. This summer one found my bird feeders before I moved away, but it never climbed the feeders. It just came and nibbled on spilled seed! It was fun to see the ‘coon, but I am sure glad it did not become a nuisance! No ‘coons here at the new house so far, and I only just saw my first chipmunk this week! With dogs and cats running free down here, I think the wildlife is very wary and very scarce.

These are all the same raccoon taken the same night. This was at 6:30 PM and the color difference is due to different setting on my camera.

• Spring Critters in the Yard

A Few Maine Critters

 Chipmunk at Bay Bridge Landing 3-24-2015

Now that the grass is green and the leaves are out so are all the critters! But even in winter and early spring I still saw a few now and then. This little chipmunk peeked out at me one day when I stopped at Bay Bridge Landing Park. Though it was technically spring the river was still frozen and the snow was still deep on the ground! It peeked out at me from this log alongside the trail. We were both hoping for sunshine and no snow I think! Now my yard is full of chipmunks scarfing up seed from beneath my feeders!

 Porcupine on Mere Point Road 2-27-15

I was on my way home late in February when I saw this black shape high in a pine tree on the side of the road. I immediately pulled over and attempted to get a shot in the dim light. This isn’t the best photo but it’s the best one I have gotten so far of a porcupine! It almost looks like a little bear!

Ring-billed Gull at Wharton Point 3-17-15

What can I say? Who doesn’t love a gull?

• There is poetry happening on Kathie’s Poet Tree

Notes From My Nest: Life continues to be busy here as I continue to heal. So many birds have returned to the yard along with some new species! The yard list is now up to 117 birds! The most species I have seen in my yard is one day is 33 and I have added 10 new species so far this year! I hope to have more updates soon.

Winter at Mere Point Boat Launch

 Buffleheads in Mere Point Bay 12-21-14

On the first day of winter I took a walk to Mere Point Boat Launch. Gray skies predominated the landscape, and though it was cold, I bundled up and enjoyed my walk.

 A tangle of bittersweet vines was visible as I started down the road. I knew that later in the season these would be frequented by robins and waxwings. However, I never would have thought I would see an Eastern Bluebird feeding here on February of this year, my first sighting of that species at this location!

 But for today, I just watched as a female Hairy Woodpecker chipped away at an insect infested tree trunk!

 Below the woodpecker a black-capped chickadee foraged in the brush.

 As I neared the boat launch I sighted a red-tailed hawk!

Though I had seen many hawks fly over my yard, this was the first time I had seen a Red-tail at the boat launch!

 Down in the bay some surf scoters paddled 12-21-14

 And while I was watching birds, the crows were watching me!

I have seen crows at the boat launch almost every time I count here!

 Today the shallow cove was filled with female buffleheads.

 While out in deeper water a Common Loon drifted.

 I heard the whistle of wings as a black duck and a mallard landed in the cove. I counted 24 species of birds here on this winter afternoon. By early January I was back again. I was not here at this time of year last year and I wanted to be sure to get a record of the species that were being seen. I wanted to add some data to the Mere Point Life List on eBird.

January 6th was a gray and dreary day.

 A distant immature bald eagle was little more than a fuzzy speck in the sky as it flew ponderously over the bay! The flat gray light made for lousy photos, but I still enjoyed seeing and counting birds.

 I spotted a couple of Common Goldeneyes paddling by.

 A few of the buffleheads were still around 1-6-15

January 11, 2015

I had barely started down the road when I saw a pair of red foxes crossing the parking lot of the boat launch. I could only get one in the frame as the other was farther ahead and behind a snow bank.

 Sunset on the icy water of Mere Point Bay at 4:27 PM.

All the boats were out of the water by now.

Soon this bay would ice over for good.

 I could see a few ducks in the water near Birch Island.

 A small flock of Greater Scaup rode the waves.

 Other flocks of ducks took to the sky and disappeared towards Simpson’s Point and Middle Bay.

I took my cue from the red fox and headed home.

• Mere Point Boat Launch—all posts on this subject
• eBird Hotspot—Mere Point Boat Launch (click this link to see a complete list of birds from this location)
• Red-tailed Hawk at Mere Point Boat Launch—additional hawk photos
• Autumn at the Boat Launch—previous post
• My eBird Checklist for December 21, 2014
• My eBird Checklist for January 6, 2015
• My eBird Checklist for January 11, 2015

  American Crow at Mere Point Bay 12-21-14

Birding Bath, ME

 Bath Riverfront Park 1-10-15

On January 10, I had Gus take me for a drive to Bath, Me to count some birds. I just needed to get out of the house and see something different. We drove to the Bath Riverfront Park to see what we could see.

Bridge over the Kennebec River 1-10-15

I always like the view of the bridge over the Kennebec from here. This bridge connects bath, Maine with Woolwich. It’s fun to drive across this bridge and see the view from up there as well.

Bridge Piers

I found a few mergansers swimming in the river by the bridge piers.

Gray or Harbor Seal in River

But I was even more surprised when this seal popped its head out of the water almost in front of me!

Standing on the little bridge

My shadow was already long even though it was only a little after 1 PM!

Someone made an ice sculpture on the bridge railing.

Next Gus drove me north to the North Boat Launch. It is officially called The North End Launch Facility on the sign and on eBird. It is an eBird Hotspot.

Looking out over a bend in the river at the North End Launch Facility in Bath.

The gulls like to gather in this spot for some reason.

I took a few photos of the gulls on an ice floe and discovered a very pale gull in the middle of the rest. I am thinking it may be an Icelandic gull or a Glaucous gull. I am thinking Icelandic. Can you see it in the very bad photo below? It is pale and has no black wing tips. It is in the center of the photo. A Glaucous Gull would be a Life Bird for me. The Icelandic would be a First of the Year and a First in Maine bird.

Is this pale gull a Glaucous or an Icelandic Gull?

 

The gulls like to gather on the ice floes at the North End Launch Facility.

 

Another view of the river’s edge from the North Boat Launch in Bath.

Next Gus drove me down to the South End Launch Facility. It is one of the first places I went birding on my own when I moved here last year. I nominated it to become an eBird Hotspot because it is close to the water and an easy public access spot. After checking the records, I can see I need to come here more. No one is counting birds here but me! All you ebirders, please come bird here!

A backwater cove at the South End Launch Facility in Bath, Maine.

 

I found Eastern Bluebirds at both the North and South Boat Launches 1-10-15

 

Ring-billed Gull at the South End Launch Facility on Washington Street.

 

Female Common Goldeneye at the South Boat Launch 1-10-15

On January 13th I had my daughter drive me back up to Bath, ME for some more birding. We visited all the same places, but the weather was much colder and the wind coming in over the water was frigid! We didn’t stay long at the Bath Riverfront Park because we had to get out and walk and the wind went right through us, so we drove up to the North Launch Facility where I could bird from inside the car. Still, when the gulls on the ice floes suddenly took wing, I stepped out of the car to photograph what was going on.

Hundreds of gulls take to the sky.

 

I am wondering Why?

 

Until the eagles fly by!

 

This pair of immature Bald Eagles just seemed to be having fun chasing gulls around!

 

Back at the south boat launch the little cove where I saw ducks last week was freezing up and full of ice chunks! Still, in amongst the ice I still saw some ducks!

 

But, when this Ring-billed Gull flew by over the Kennebec River, it took one look at that cold water and flew away! Me? I jumped back into my heated car with the heated seats and we drove away! Too cold for birds and birding!

Links:

• Bath Riverfront Park
• North End Launch Facility, Bath
• South End Launch Facility, Bath
• Maine Birds in Winter-My Birding is Fun Post for February