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Historic Pittston Farm Tour
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This year's Maine
Birding Trail tour to Historic Pittston Farm deep in Maine's
working forest started off with a bang. Just after lunch on
the first day, we already had one of our chief targets. A
cooperative pair of Black-backed Woodpeckers became ABA bird
#600 for Larry Meade, shortly after Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
and Boreal Chickadee became #598 and #599.
Of course, such birds don't just happen. They must be earned! As it happens,
everyone was able to meet earlier than scheduled this year -
giving us nearly a whole extra day to bird. On the ride from
Bangor to Pittston Farm, we had plenty of time for extra stops.
These stops included a try for Virginia Rails (which answered,
but didn't deign to appear), a logging road where Black-backed
Woodpeckers turned up last year, and the East Outlet of the
Kennebec River. It was here that the woodpeckers appeared.
Altogether, the tour tallied 110 species, including 20 warblers. The Bay-breasted Warblers (left) and Wilson's Warblers (right) were among the highlights. Reclusive Blackpolls and Canada Warblers also made the list. When we finally arrived at Pittston Farm, the Wilson's Snipe were already flying around the meadows, calling and winnowing. This time of year, they never shut up, but they do seem to get more boisterous at dinner time. Meanwhile, Sora added to the after dinner din. At least three were calling from the wet pasture, and we managed to lure one of them out of cover and right up to our feet. Meanwhile, Tree, Bank, and Cliff Swallows cavorted directly overhead. Of course, the main reason to explore the north woods of Maine is for the boreal species typically found there. Boreal Chickadees (left) had just fledged their youngsters and were in the process of shaking off their June nesting silence. Juvenile Gray Jays are all dark and quite curious. In one small pond, we turned up a Common Goldeneye hen followed by eight tiny chicks. Wednesday morning was supposed to be the morning to find Spruce Grouse, but heavy showers before breakfast hampered the search. We had to content ourselves with multiple Ruffed Grouse (right) wandering into the road for dust baths and to eat the wild strawberries that were perfectly in season. Yellow-bellied Flycatchers (left) were present at just about every stop of the tour, and and at least two Olive-sided Flycatchers (right) offered themselves up for good views. As usual, the timing was just right to annoy Lincoln's Sparrows. They are shy and secretive when not breeding, but once they've got a nest or fledglings, expect to be scolded whenever you wander too close! Singing Fox Sparrows kept a more respectful distance. Meanwhile, abundant White-throated Sparrows excelled at singing AND scolding. Although Maine has more black bears than any state east of the Mississippi, you don't expect to see one. We saw two. And two moose. And dozens of snowshoe hares. Wildlife abounds in the Maine forest. Unquestionably, one of the birding highlights came on the first full morning as we noticed the soft calling of a Black-billed Cuckoo (left) in the bushes adjacent to the Dole Pond outlet dam. At this same spot moments later, we watched with amusement as two tiny Spotted Sandpiper chicks foraged along the dirt road for insects while mama circled with appropriate agitation. Guess what? Even when just out of the nest, the chicks teeter. Cute. The feeder behind the inn is notorious for attracting finches. We almost missed the Evening Grosbeaks that arrived while we were at breakfast. Fortunately, they are loud and easily detectable when present and we did grab a quick look. Most of the time, the feeder belonged to the American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, and Purple Finches that frequented it. This year's total was very impressive but when counting up the 110 species seen, there's always the temptation to count up those missed. Any trip this good is bound to repeat in 2012, so one week later scouting began for next year...turning up new secrets and locations, and snagging some of the birds missed just a week earlier. These included a female Spruce Grouse (left) and a bunch of Rusty Blackbirds (right) in two locations. And while we dipped on Tennessee Warbler (below left) during the tour, SEVEN turned up a week later during the scouting. And, naturally, a Mourning Warbler (below right) was discovered in a bramble patch just beyond where we had given up and turned around to head back for breakfast the week before. That's birding. Plan to join us next year. |
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