 Sandy
Point Wildlife Management Area
June 27, 2009
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In a waterlogged state with lots of wetlands, many are
good and some are great. That aptly describes the
Sandy Point Wildlife Management Area at the
northern tip of the Mid-coast area in Stockton Springs.
This gem is right on the edge of busy Route 1, and yet
is hidden away even from most Mainers. It is one of the
best places to scare up an uncommon Least Bittern
(playing peekaboo at right). Marsh Wrens are abundant,
and the many nest boxes erected by Maine Department of
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife make it ideal breeding
habitat for Ring-necked Ducks and other cavity nesters.
Pied-billed Grebes, American Bitterns, Swamp Sparrows,
and Common Yellowthroats are easy pickings around the
reeds and cattails. Green Herons, Wood Ducks, and Hooded
Mergansers are just a little more reclusive. Parents
tending young are a common sight, including this Common
Yellowthroat chick (right).
Birds can and should be located without resorting to
tapes or artificial encouragement. Both Least Bitterns
encountered on this morning paddle were heard calling -
the first within minutes of launching the canoe. Indeed,
with such an abundance of life within the marsh, good
birding etiquette is a must here. On a late June
morning, it is hard to paddle anywhere without worrying
avian parents. Give them a wide berth.
There is
limited, distant viewing from the dam, but the only real
access to the full marsh is by hand-launched watercraft.
The entire marsh is surrounded by mud and thick
vegetation. As described in the
Maine Birding Trail guidebook on
74, access is from Muskrat Farm Road, just a short
distance off Route 1 in Stockton Springs.
Another interesting happenstance is
that Bank Swallows swarm over the marsh in summer. These
nest in a nearby sand/gravel pit and often hawk for
insects just overhead, intermingled with Tree, Barn, and
perhaps a few Rough-winged Swallows. On this particular
morning, a Least Tern (left) was a truly surprising
sight, since there is no known nesting habitat nearby.
Sandy Point Marsh is strictly
freshwater but, not far away, Frankfort Marsh is a tidal
saltmarsh. It's a good place to pick up an easy Nelson's
Sparrow. So I did (right). The handiest
location is at the bridge on Route 174 in Frankfort, as
described on page 75 of the
Maine Birding Trail guidebook.
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