Wings, Waves, and Woods: an apt name for the festival held in Deer Isle and Stonington in mid-May of every year. The festival got under way with a fine crowd for the first warbler walk at Old Settlement Quarry at 6am Saturday morning. Songbirds were in good supply, with a Swainson’s Thrush leading the dawn chorus. Black-throated Green, Northern Parula, Magnolia, Black-and-White, and Yellow-rumped Warblers chimed in. A Nashville Warbler and Blackpoll were heard but not seen, while a Yellow Warbler was seen but not heard. At last, a Hermit Thrush began to sing, giving fledgling birders an opportunity to distinguish the difference between it and the Swainson’s Thrush. But, despite the cacophony of singing birds, the highlight was a baby fox that repeatedly popped out to take a curious look at us, then melted shyly back into the woods.

The first morning walk was sunny and windless – a good omen for the puffin trip that was to follow. The marine forecast also suggested that it would be a calm voyage out to Seal Island. Wrong. The breeze began to freshen even before we boarded the Nigh Duck. Fortunately, for most of our trip to the island, we were shielded from the breeze by Isle au Haut. Only the last five miles to the island were rough, and even then, it was a cross breeze so that we rolled more gently than we might have in a headwind. As we approached Seal Island, puffin numbers increased. Soon, we were surrounded by great numbers of them, augmented by Razorbills and Black Guillemots.

 Shutterbugs took many photos, often at close range as the alcids buzzed by the boat. Then Captain Bill cruised slowly around the island so that we could get better looks at the huge flocks of Common Eiders, and a plentiful supply of Great Cormorants. (Seal and Matinicus Islands are the southernmost breeding colonies for Great Cormorants in the world.) Many Harbor Seals and a few Gray Seals eyed us as we passed. On the return trip, the winds were again off the quarter bow, so that we rolled mightily but seldom uncomfortably. We passed a few Northern Gannets – one flying, two sitting on the water. Then, once again within the lee of the islands, we noted the Purple Sandpipers that lingered on the rocky shoreline.

The rest of the day went handsomely. Back on the mainland, most festival participants took time to stroll the art galleries and shops of Main Street Stonington. I snuck over to Barred Island Preserve to search for Boreal Chickadees, but found none. The trees were dripping with Black-throated Green Warblers, but little else. The evening’s old-fashioned church supper in Deer Isle was a sellout. Volunteers prepared only locally grown produce and freshly caught seafood for the feast, and there wasn’t an extra seat to be had.