ABA: Tuesday

The Schoodic Peninsula field trip first stopped at Acadia National Park’s Fraser Point, where we saw Black Guillemot, Common Eider and Common Loon. We watched one guillemot take an extended bath, saw both male and female eider, and heard a loon call while flying almost directly overhead. It was awesome. (Click on an image to see a larger version.)


On our next stop, the group of 29 birders and four leaders split into three groups, and our group of six walked up a hill to enjoy the woods. We enjoyed views of Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Black-throated Green Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Black-capped Chickadee, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. The woods looked beautiful in the morning light.


At the Schoodic research and education center, a small group of us – aided by leaders Jeff Gordon and John Coons -- hung out in the parking lot and enjoyed great looks at another Black-throated Green as well as a Black-and-white Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco and Magnolia Warbler.


Then we walked down the Sundew trail to the coast and watched the waves and the lobster boats for a while. Great Black-backed Gulls, Laughing Gulls, Common Eider, Herring Gulls and others passed our location.


When we stopped at Corea Bog, we had great looks at American Redstart and Alder Flycatcher before seeing an Osprey and a Northern Harrier harass a Bald Eagle. After lunch, we stopped at an old airport decorated with blueberry plants and enjoyed the sounds and sights of Killdeer and Upland Sandpiper.

This is Hilary Cosper; this was her first field trip and the beginning of her life list. She ended the day with 15 lifers. Woo hoo!


We ended the trip with close views of two Uppies near the bus as it exited the runways. It was very cool to see the inconspicuous critters.

Next field trip on Thursday: the boreal forest. Hot-diggity!