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Travelogue: Katahdin's Splendor
This July has been abnormally cool and damp, making the
birds a little reluctant to show themselves. The joke bird of the weekend
was a Tennessee Warbler, which guide
Bob Duchesne had located by its singing the previous Tuesday. On that
occasion, it never showed itself. On return visits Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday, it continued to sing from just back in the dense foliage, coming
out for only the briefest of glimpses. That set
Despite Saturday visits to some of the moosiest ponds in
Baxter State Park, the beasts remained hidden until after dinner. But a
quick jaunt to a deadwater of the Penobscot River turned up ten for the
day, and four more were tallied on Sunday. Sunday's weather started
dreary, and showers dampened a walk to Sandy Stream Pond,
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Mt.
Katahdin, 20 warblers, 14 moose, plus White-winged Crossbills, Evening
Grosbeaks and Gray Jays, all packed into a Baxter State Park weekend. Not
bad. Birders from Maine, Georgia, New Jersey, and Hawaii enjoyed the
hospitality of the
the
pattern. Several Blackpolls, Bay-breasted Warblers, and another Tennessee
Warbler were also heard singing in fine fashion, but never presented
themselves for viewing. No matter. There were plenty of other great birds
to enjoy, including the Philadelphia Vireo, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and
Northern Goshawk that were life birds for most. Least Flycatchers tending
voracious nestlings made for a cute sighting.
which
is normally alive with birds. The big mountain makes its own weather, and
when Katahdin was satisfied that we would not be deterred, a beautifully
sunny day returned for the afternoon excursion up the west branch of the
Penobscot River to the falls at Big Eddy. Along the way, the Cliff and
Barn Swallows under Abol Bridge put on a show with their aerial
acrobatics. The day ended with with another swallow performance. There is
an inordinate number of Bank Swallows nesting is a sand pit behind the
post office in Medway. As we were watching the swarm, a Merlin tried his
luck, narrowly missing one swallow. He regrouped and tried again, but the
swallow dodged. Then the swallow took a swipe at the Merlin, and within
moments, scores of swallows chased the Merlin to the horizon.
