        |
 |
   |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Travelogue: "On Wings Of Song Weekend"
Many species were added to the weekend list without ever leaving the porch. Cedar Waxwings were just fledging their chicks in the front yard as we arrived for the weekend. Nesting American Robins were also incubating their second brood above the nearest cabin. It's not unusual to find Common Terns nesting on inland lakes in Maine, but the pair of Bonaparte's Gulls in breeding plumage proved to be one of the weekend's bigger surprises. Common Yellowthroats are abundant next to the lake and they must have been preparing for a second nesting because the males spent the weekend doing their aerial mating displays. Since the Northern Parulas ordinarily confine themselves to the treetops, it seemed a little odd to have them foraging in the low growth next to the water, but we quickly got used to it.
Not everything the guides scouted out remained on site for the weekend. A few days earlier, a Northern Goshawk, four Red Crossbills, one Olive-sided Flycatcher, and numerous Gray Jays were fixed on the map but failed to linger in place. Birds are like that. (Return to Home Page) |
What a weekend at
Of
the well-maintained trails behind the Lodge, one leads directly to Canada -
an apt place to find Canada Warblers, which were singing in abundance just a
couple hundred yards down the path. Swainson's Thrushes were so numerous
that they nearly drowned out the songs of the relatively fewer Hermit
Thrushes. Winter Wrens, Golden-crowned Kinglets, and White-throated Sparrows
were also commonplace. The trail to Canada alternates between thick spruces,
birch-maple hardwoods, and wetlands. We picked up Ovenbirds, Red-eyed Vireos
and Black-throated Blue Warblers in the hardwoods, Nashville Warblers,
Blue-headed Vireos and Magnolia Warblers in the softwoods, Northern
Waterthrushes and Swamp Sparrows in the wetlands...and Yellow-rumped and
Black-throated Green Warblers everywhere. A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher came
in for a close look and was quickly added to a life list or two. On a trail
that leads in the opposite direction to waterfowl nesting habitat, we nearly
stepped on an American Woodcock as it flushed from beneath our feet.
Flushing grouse is not unusual, especially Ruffed Grouse - Spruce Grouse are
present though less common - but woodcocks are so well camouflaged that they
are seldom seen after they've ceased their spectacular mating rituals in the
Spring. 
Mid-day
birding is lazy birding. We took a boat ride around the lake, casually
adding Broad-winged Hawk, Bald Eagle, Spotted Sandpiper, Common Goldeneye,
and Ring-necked Duck to the weekend tally, before disembarking on the far
shore. The jeep path from the boat landing to the logging road on the
hilltop turns boreal very quickly. In no time, we added more Boreal
Chickadees, a Blackpoll, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk to our sightings. Thanks
to a little advance scouting from the guides, it was not a surprise when we
reached the gate and were instantly scolded by Lincoln's Sparrows. It did
take a few more minutes of diligent searching to turn up great looks at the
Bay-breasted Warbler the guides said would be there. While Red-breasted
Nuthatches are common to Mainers, they're a novelty to birders from
Virginia, and their presence was appreciated. This was also the week that
Northern Flickers fledged their young, so family units were seen traveling
together on many occasions. 