Warblers, moose, and many unusual boreal birds share the spotlight on this weekend adventure into Maine’s working forest. Moosehead Lake is located in the transition zone between the southern hardwood and northern boreal forests, which explains the extraordinary variety of wildlife that can be found here. We’ll spend two days in the field dodging moose and looking for over 20 species of warblers. Difficult target birds include Spruce Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, Gray Jay, Boreal Chickadee, and Lincoln’s Sparrow. Possible warblers include Mourning, Bay-breasted, Cape May, and Blackpoll. Olive-sided and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers are probable.  

For a travelogue of the 2009 tour: Click here.
       For a travelogue of the 2008 tour: Click here.

    This tour is offered through The Evergreen Lodge. Guests may book the adventure directly with the inn. The package includes two night's lodging, all meals from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon, two full days of guided birding into many of the area's secret hot spots, led by the founder of the Maine Birding Trail, Bob Duchesne, and local transportation by 15-passenger van. The tour begins at the inn with a Friday evening social and birding-by-ear workshop. It ends Sunday afternoon around 5pm. 

This tour is not strenuous. Hikes will be short, slow, and on level ground. Each morning starts with an optional warbler walk before breakfast, followed by a day-long adventure that emphasizes the unusual habitat and species to be found in the area. Picnic lunches and copious snacks are provided. Binoculars are a necessity. The guide will provide a spotting scope and guidebooks. This is a good tour for personal spotting scopes and photography. Birds of the Maine forest are in full song during this time of year and guests will enjoy abundant opportunities to improve birding-by-ear skills. The guide follows the ABA Code of Ethics. Tapes will be used on a limited basis with the consent of the group. Mosquitoes and Black Flies are prevalent this time of year. Good clothing and optional repellent are recommended.