Wow!! I’ve never heard of Monhegan island, for all the time I’ve spent in Maine. What a glorious tour, and I admire your ability to leave the birding gear behind. There really is more travel and adventure than the avian life. Maybe that’s the benefit of having a non-birding family. Can’t have a single focus. Great post James. Thanks for the destination advice and congrats on the lifers!
Thank you Nate! Much as there is more to life than birding, thus more to travel, it's tough not to want to bird. It helps to travel with people or family with other interests, and I work best when I remove temptation, i.e. don't bring the gear. I hope you get to Monhegan!
Incredibly GORGEOUS! I have never been to the Northeast, so will live vicariously through your post and pictures. Those Piping Plovers are most adorable! Great shots, James!
Beautiful travelogue and field guide to a special island. Thank you for sharing such an in-depth look with us, James. Most of all, I’m glad you made the trip and helped all of us get unplugged. Outstanding photography. My favorite color of glass is cobalt.
I love your photos - it felt like a personal tour of all there is to see there!
And for once, your ‘Lifers’ are birds I know well. Millions of (non-native) ring-necked pheasants are released for hunting in the UK every year. Devastating, but also devastatingly beautiful. My Grandma used to feed several of them by hand in her garden.
Wow! I felt like I was looking at pictures of Nova Scotia. I have many of those species on my property on a cove of the Atlantic ocean. I’m always drawn to the craggy rocks and the amazing species that survive between them and the water. Beautiful, thanks!
Oh I loved reading and seeing every bit of your adventure! I’m so glad you got to see an Atlantic puffin and the piping plovers. And haha, I also am never not birding. Just ask the students who worked with me on our farm during past years. My Maine kids are very loyal to specific lobster rolls, but I’ll keep your advice in mind about branching out for our next trip to visit them. Thanks again for sharing your enthusiasm for our precious and beautiful planet.
Thank you, Diana! There’s never any reason not to bird, so why not bird? Lobster rolls awaken a strong loyalty. Having been loyal to one place for a decade, no longer being so loyal, I’ve come to see that each place prepares their offering in unique ways that are rarely bad.
I love that you stepped outside your normal “being outside” adventure of birding. While I do indeed love your bird photography, I also very much enjoy the way your mind composes photos. This collection is super (of course) and my three favorites were the solitary white boat melting into the fog like a ghost ship, the solitary beached and tied row boat(?) by the cliff of rocks, and the non-blue sea glass photo with your watch. These created a mood within me that told the story of your weekend adventure. And gave me ideas for a story about that island… maybe one day.
I love the rocky Maine coast, and could easily sit for hours on the stones just being with the ocean.
The fog offered so many great opportunities for photos, as did the boats. Thank you, Teyani. The rocky Maine coast is so unique and special. You should absolutely see your idea through about a story about the island! I will pass on your message to Larissa.
So much beauty, James! The pheasant photo is my favorite-- just gorgeous how intricately patterned and colored they are. Like they've been painted by a wild artist. And I find the Azures hard to identify myself, but so lovely to see. As if a little piece of the sky can fly.
Thank you Ann! I’d never been able to appreciate pheasants like this, but they offer so much. The difficulty of Azures adds to their appeal and beauty.
We honeymooned on Monhegan ages ago. You share so many more natural wonders right there. I recall the little woodsy structures people made for fairies.
What a treat to search for sea glass in such a romantic environment. I am so happy you are expanding your travels with flowers and butterflies. Your accounts of ferry cancellations and power outages add to the drama of your saga.
Thank you, Tom. What a wonderful spot for a honeymoon. I am sure you know very well the way a ferry cancellation can throw a wrench in longstanding plans. Thank you for reading.
Wow!! I’ve never heard of Monhegan island, for all the time I’ve spent in Maine. What a glorious tour, and I admire your ability to leave the birding gear behind. There really is more travel and adventure than the avian life. Maybe that’s the benefit of having a non-birding family. Can’t have a single focus. Great post James. Thanks for the destination advice and congrats on the lifers!
Thank you Nate! Much as there is more to life than birding, thus more to travel, it's tough not to want to bird. It helps to travel with people or family with other interests, and I work best when I remove temptation, i.e. don't bring the gear. I hope you get to Monhegan!
Thanks James for taking us on this very pleasant trip.
Thank you for reading, Kathleen.
You’re welcome, James
Incredibly GORGEOUS! I have never been to the Northeast, so will live vicariously through your post and pictures. Those Piping Plovers are most adorable! Great shots, James!
Many blessings and MUCH LOVE,
~Wendy💜
Thank you Wendy! Piping Plovers are so cute it doesn’t feel fair.
I greatly enjoyed this, a bit of living vicariously through the photos and your always thoughtful, interesting words. As always, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed, Darcy! Thank you for reading and for your comment.
Beautiful travelogue and field guide to a special island. Thank you for sharing such an in-depth look with us, James. Most of all, I’m glad you made the trip and helped all of us get unplugged. Outstanding photography. My favorite color of glass is cobalt.
Thank you Heidi. Of the glass I got on this trip the cobalt is definitely best, with another blue and a green as second and third.
I love your photos - it felt like a personal tour of all there is to see there!
And for once, your ‘Lifers’ are birds I know well. Millions of (non-native) ring-necked pheasants are released for hunting in the UK every year. Devastating, but also devastatingly beautiful. My Grandma used to feed several of them by hand in her garden.
Thank you for sharing your trip.
Thank you, Gem! Devastating but devastatingly beautiful is so apt for the introduction of pheasants in various places. I appreciate you reading.
Wow! I felt like I was looking at pictures of Nova Scotia. I have many of those species on my property on a cove of the Atlantic ocean. I’m always drawn to the craggy rocks and the amazing species that survive between them and the water. Beautiful, thanks!
Thank you Tara! There's something so special about ocean meeting rock and all the life that thrives in that ecosystem. I appreciate you reading.
I, too, have never been to Monhegan Island. Your photos make it so intriguing. Thank you.
Definitely go if you get a chance! Thank you for reading.
What a lovely collection of photos! The sea marble is amazing. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for reading, Aria!
Thanks for sharing these great photos and observations from your trip!
Thank you--glad you enjoyed!
Oh I loved reading and seeing every bit of your adventure! I’m so glad you got to see an Atlantic puffin and the piping plovers. And haha, I also am never not birding. Just ask the students who worked with me on our farm during past years. My Maine kids are very loyal to specific lobster rolls, but I’ll keep your advice in mind about branching out for our next trip to visit them. Thanks again for sharing your enthusiasm for our precious and beautiful planet.
Thank you, Diana! There’s never any reason not to bird, so why not bird? Lobster rolls awaken a strong loyalty. Having been loyal to one place for a decade, no longer being so loyal, I’ve come to see that each place prepares their offering in unique ways that are rarely bad.
What a gorgeous island! I love a foggy landscape so those lower visibility photos make me want to plan a trip there!
You absolutely should!
I love that you stepped outside your normal “being outside” adventure of birding. While I do indeed love your bird photography, I also very much enjoy the way your mind composes photos. This collection is super (of course) and my three favorites were the solitary white boat melting into the fog like a ghost ship, the solitary beached and tied row boat(?) by the cliff of rocks, and the non-blue sea glass photo with your watch. These created a mood within me that told the story of your weekend adventure. And gave me ideas for a story about that island… maybe one day.
I love the rocky Maine coast, and could easily sit for hours on the stones just being with the ocean.
Thank Larissa for the sweet photo of you!
The fog offered so many great opportunities for photos, as did the boats. Thank you, Teyani. The rocky Maine coast is so unique and special. You should absolutely see your idea through about a story about the island! I will pass on your message to Larissa.
So much beauty, James! The pheasant photo is my favorite-- just gorgeous how intricately patterned and colored they are. Like they've been painted by a wild artist. And I find the Azures hard to identify myself, but so lovely to see. As if a little piece of the sky can fly.
Thank you Ann! I’d never been able to appreciate pheasants like this, but they offer so much. The difficulty of Azures adds to their appeal and beauty.
Gorgeous photos and an excellent adventure!
Thank you Erik, that means a lot coming from you!
Great piece, James.
We honeymooned on Monhegan ages ago. You share so many more natural wonders right there. I recall the little woodsy structures people made for fairies.
What a treat to search for sea glass in such a romantic environment. I am so happy you are expanding your travels with flowers and butterflies. Your accounts of ferry cancellations and power outages add to the drama of your saga.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you, Tom. What a wonderful spot for a honeymoon. I am sure you know very well the way a ferry cancellation can throw a wrench in longstanding plans. Thank you for reading.