Southern Maine Birding Trails

[Atlantic Birches Inn - Ray Deleo]

You can feel, hear, see and smell it as soon as you walk outside, the warm air, the chirping of the birds, the crocus, day lilies and daffodils pushing up through the ground, the mounds of snow melting you finally realize spring has sprung.

The busiest birding season begins in April, when blackbirds, waterfowl, sparrows, and the first warblers return. The Migrants start arriving in Southern Maine and Portland about a week ahead of Acadia and Bangor. April 1st Robins and Song Sparrows have returned and begun singing and by the third weekend of April, Tree Swallows and the earliest warbler species of Yellow-rumped, Pine, and Palm Warblers begin to show up. Calls of the first Eastern Phoebes and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers liven up quiet mornings in late April. Hawks also begin to return around this time.


Below we have provided a Maine Birding Trails Map of some of our favorite walking and Birding trail locations near and around the Alantic Birches Inn an Old Orchard Beach ME Bed and Breakfastand hope you enjoy visiting and photographing these Maine Birding Trails as much as we have.

The Old Orchard Beach Maine area enjoys abundant seabirds in Spring, see some Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, and Common Eiders on the beach, and the day is full of other surprises. Although the entire Maine coastline is full of birds, there are two land features (half-moon bays and rocky capes that make for some of the best places to visit for Birding.

Rocky capes that extend into the ocean are the places where Harlequin Ducks, Common Eiders, and Wandering Alcids are more likely to be found. They are good vantage spots for the passing Northern Gannets and Great Cormorants. The good sites to see these birds on the Southern Maine Coast from south to north are Fort Foster in Kittery, Nubble Light at Sohier Park in York, Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Biddeford Pool, and Dyer Point in Cape Elizabeth. Noteworthy Major land extensions into the sea in the Mid-coast area are at Ocean Point in Boothbay, Pemaquid Point and Lands End on Orr’s\Bailey Island.

Half-moon bays and sheltered harbors are more apt to contain any of the scoter species. Grebes and Long-tailed Ducks appreciate the respite from surf.

Wells Beach in Wells, Fortunes Rocks Beach next to Biddeford Pool, Old Orchard Beach and Scarborough Marsh (Pine Point and Higgins), Crescent Beach and Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth, Eastern Promenade in Portland, and Sandy Point Beach in Yarmouth are good spots to check in the spring Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg and Reid State Park in Georgetown are two of the best sites in Maine year round. Bird anywhere along the coast for sea ducks. Snow Geese and sometimes Horned Larks frequent beaches, particularly at Reid State Park, Pine Point, Ferry Beach State Park.

Listed below are some Spring Birding Events that you might want to attend.

Wings Waves & Woods May 20-22, 2011 is Deer Isle’s Stonington Migratory Birding Weekend. Local birders lead conservancy and beach walks plus boat rides to see puffins, sea birds and eagles. Island artisans and artists offer birding and nature-related originals. The puffin trip to Seal Island is outstanding! Good chance for Purple Sandpipers, Great Cormorants, and pelagic specialties.

The 8th Annual Downeast Spring Birding Festival in Cobscook Bay, Whiting is May 27-30, 2011. Hikes, Puffin trips, Sightseeing Boat Trips, Sunset Cruises, Expert Lectures. Join us in the Cobscook Bay area of Down East Maine for a special birding experience during spring migration and the breeding season. You’ll have a wealth of opportunities to see many bird species in their special habitats. The Annual Down East Spring Birding Festival provides a unique experience in “the real Maine” where birders can get out on their own and observe a great variety of birds in diverse natural environments. The festival offers birders various self-guided explorations as well as guided hikes, boat tours, and presentations led by area experts.

13th Acadia Birding Festival: Bar Harbor, Mt Desert Island, Acadia National Park is June 2-5, 2011 The Acadia Birding Festival is Maine’s 1st bird watching festival, established in 1998. Featured speakers: Pete Dunn and Kevin Karlson. Participate for a special and educational birding experience during spring migration and the breeding season, with a wealth of opportunities to see many bird species in their unique habitats. The festival offers birders various self-guided explorations as well as guided hikes, boat tours, and presentations led by area experts. Enjoy a diversity of habitats: northern hardwood forests, bogs, fresh- and salt-water marshes, grassy and shrubby fields, streams and lakes, steep rugged headlands and maybe you will get to see an ugly moose.

 

 

View Maine Birding Trails in a larger map