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Greater Portland
Greater Portland
is blessed with wonderful birding year round. There are a variety of
habitats: sand beaches, rocky beaches, granite cliffs, estuaries, fresh
and saltwater marshes, deciduous and pine forests, urban, suburban, and
rural parkland. Because the bulk of Maine’s population lives within 45
minutes of Portland, the preponderance of birders is here as well. Unusual
birds do not remain unobserved for long. Furthermore, Portland marks a
transition point for many species. This is the northern edge for southern
warblers such as Blue-winged and Prairie. It is where Nelson’s and
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows overlap and hybridize. Brown Thrashers,
Eastern Towhees, and Grasshopper Sparrows become scarce north of Portland.
Portland is Maine’s largest community and boasts many tourist
amenities. Most of the
area’s best birding spots are less than 30 minutes from downtown hotels
and the airport, so birding while on a business trip is exceptionally
easy. Maine Audubon headquarters is located in nearby Falmouth and two
other Maine Audubon sanctuaries are located within Cumberland County. The
metropolitan area includes several communities. The City of Portland
itself is known
for hot spots like Back Cove, Eastern Promenade,
Evergreen Cemetery, Capisic Pond, The Dragon Fields,
and Portland Harbor. South Portland is home to Hinckley Park.
Cape Elizabeth encompasses Dyer Point, Two Lights State Park, Kettle Cove, and
Crescent Beach. Scarborough Marsh dominates the city of
Scarborough where birders also spend time at Pine Point, Prout’s
Neck, and Fuller Farm. Falmouth lies just north of Portland,
boasting of Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm and
Mackworth Island.
It is a strong-willed visitor who can resist the lure of the world
famous LL Bean store just twenty minutes north of Portland. It’s
just a stone’s throw away from Freeport area sites like Maine Audubon’s
Mast Landing Preserve, Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, Winslow Park,
and South Freeport Town Landing. Yarmouth lies between Falmouth and
Freeport, where Sandy Point Beach can be incredible in late summer
and fall. |
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