Winter in Acadia National Park - March 6-8, 2009          Winter in Acadia National Park: March 6-8, 2009. Winter in Acadia is spectacular: all the scenery but none of the crowds. Sea ducks flood the ocean, most of them wintering in Maine after breeding near the arctic. Scoters, mergansers, buffleheads, eiders, grebes, harlequin ducks, loons, black guillemots, murres, long-tailed ducks, and many other species are up for grabs. Purple Sandpipers are just plain cute. We'll be looking for winter irruptives, such as crossbills, pine grosbeaks, and bohemian waxwings. We'll also try our luck with some of the boreal specialties, such as Black-backed Woodpecker and Boreal Chickadee.         We'll stay at the Seawall Motel, opposite one of the best seabird watching sites on the entire eastern seaboard. We'll spend two days exploring Acadia National Park. (For a travelogue of the 2008 tour, CLICK HERE.) The tour begins and ends at the Seawall Motel in Manset on Mount Desert Island. Guests may check in at anytime on Friday afternoon, March 6. Dinner will be a simple affair at a local restaurant in Southwest Harbor. On Saturday and Sunday, we will tour all of the best birding spots in Acadia National Park, including the Schoodic Peninsula. The exact route and timing will depend on tide and weather conditions. Many of the weekend’s target species will be right out the door at the motel, located at Acadia’s famous Seawall.      Saturday dinner and lunches on both days will be at local restaurants. The Seawall Motel offers a continental breakfast each morning, which we will embellish with additional fruit, snacks, and warm beverages during the tour. The tour will finish at Seawall Motel by 5pm on Sunday, March 8.     Winter birding on the Maine coast is a variable experience, depending entirely on the weather. Very high winds or cold temperatures can limit comfort and enjoyment. Snowstorms can cancel activities altogether. These are routine experiences in Maine. Fortunately, harsh conditions are not the norm. The daytime temperature averages from 32 degrees in January to 42 degrees in March. Overnight lows average between 10 and 22 degrees. We will alter the itinerary to suit the weather conditions. The perimeter roads in Acadia National Park run next to the ocean and a lot of the wildlife may be viewed directly from the warm vehicle, even on abnormally cold days. We will never be far from a warm van and warm beverage. If severe weather cancels or curtails any part of the weekend, we will refund that portion of the expense.     Items to bring: Good binoculars are a necessity and this is an ideal opportunity for a spotting scope. The guide will bring a scope to share and will also bring a variety of field guides. Warm clothing is a must. This trip will not require strenuous hiking, but footwear with good traction is important in icy conditions. The scenery will be spectacular and opportunities for photography will be abundant. Winter glare off sea and snow is surprisingly strong and sunscreen is advisable on bright days. The Seawall Motel provides simple, comfortable accommodations with minimal cosmetics and toiletries. All dress, including Saturday evening dinner, is casual.     Directions: Acadia National Park is a little more than an hour away from the airport in Bangor, about three hours from Portland, and about five hours from Manchester, NH, and Boston, MA. There is also limited commercial service to Bar Harbor Airport. From southern Maine, take I-95 to exit 44 in Portland. Follow I-295 to the end, rejoining I-95 south of Augusta, and continuing on I-95 to exit 182A in Bangor. Take Route I-395, about two miles to route 1A, then follow 1A through Ellsworth and onto Mount Desert Island. Stay to the right, which is Rte 102. Follow Rte 102 about 15 minutes to Southwest Harbor. After going through the town, turn left on Rte 102A and follow exactly 2½ miles to Seawall Motel on the right.       Cancellation Policy: Maine Birding Tours is pleased to offer one of the most generous cancellation policies anywhere. Participants may cancel at any time prior to two weeks before the tour and will be entitled to a full refund. With less than two week’s notice, a $50 cancellation fee will be deducted from the refund. In the event of cancellation due to blizzard conditions, a full refund will be made immediately. Most of the registration fee covers normal expenses such as rooms and meals. If any participant is prevented by weather or travel delays from using any portion of the rooms and meals covered by the registration fee, that portion will be refunded. Maine Birding Tours is not responsible for any expenses not covered by the registration fee.      Registration: Contact Bob Duchesne at 207-827-3782 or duchesne@midmaine.com. Additional information will be sent by e-mail or snail mail. Cost is $295/person double occupancy, payable in advance. $75 Single Supplement. Includes: accommodations, all meals from Friday evening through Sunday lunch, all local transportation, and any pre-arranged transportation to and from Bangor.