More Maine

Wednesday I followed the advice of my Maine "mentor" Jeff Cherry who does a lot of birding in the area I was staying. "You don't have to go all the way to Kennebunk for the Upland Sandpiper" - he sent me to the Brunswick Airport (about 40 minutes away) and bingo -- but only heard it. Foggy but a fun place to car-bird!

Northern Mockingbird

Killdeer

Osprey

Northern Mockingbird

The off to Wharton Point, just a little bit south of the Airport. I will mention that I had my second experience of people pulling in to either Eat a meal or just blast music from their cars. Not a very soulful experience. Its a nice spot, but too much riff raff.

Cooper's Hawk

Great Blue Heron (Flushed by the loud music!)

Bald Eagle

Thursday was interesting. I went north to bird a dirt road -- very productive. Decided to go back a little early because we had the Puffin boat in the afternoon. I was pumping gas when I got the notice that the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (a life bird for me) that was posted on Facebook the day before had been located. I finished pumping gas and headed north, hoping I could find the bird in @20 minutes because that is when I needed to start back to make the boat. Success -- and only @10 birders actually saw the bird. Turns out it had been there for 5 days --

Some Flora from my early bird...

And now for the superstar -- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - this was from about 500 feet away

As I was leaving -- it was on the fence just across from my car!

The Puffin boat was very rough and foggy -- I was lucky to get these.

We saw Gray Seals, Harbor Seals & Harbor Porpoises... lots of Mammals

Gray Seal

Atlantic Puffins

Wilson's Storm-Petrel

When I got home I found out there was a Tufted Puffin (Very RARE) sighted on the island that morning -- unfortunately we could barely see the island through the fog.

Friday it was back to the Brunswick Airport -- heard the "Uppie" again, but still no visual.

Killdeer

Common Raven

Also went to Carl's Pond as swampy pond in Bristol ME

Tree Swallow

American Kestral

Barn Swallow

Great Blue Heron

Double-crested Coromant

So to wrap up the trip -- two life birds -- Upland Sandpiper & Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. I started the week with 97 birds on my Maine list and ended with 146 - 49 new Maine birds. A very productive trip despite the fact I missed the Loggerhead Shrike on Sunday and it was foggy most of the time.