I miss Maine. Summers we had the run of Ogunquit. I didn't care about birds then, but it was a time of freedom little kids rarely enjoy anymore. The last time we were there I did care about birds, and the rocky shore was full of Common Eiders. Must get back.
Good luck this migration! I'm a fall migration guy myself, if I had to choose :) But I'm looking forward to April and May and hoping to get to Magee Marsh for the first time
Ogunquit is a uniquely special place! Common Eider are magnificent ducks, with that distinct profile they have. Definitely worth a trip back!
What makes you a fall migration guy? I worry I made it sound like fall is for the birds—and not in the good way, in the idiomatic (erroneous) way. It’s definitely not, I just feel different on a human level in the spring. When you get to Magee Marsh, I hope you write about it.
I almost wrote a post titled Fall Migration > Spring Migration, but that'll have to wait for this coming fall
I enjoy how fall migration is more spread out. How the birds are more numerous. I love the challenge of fall warblers. I love that the falling leaves give the birds fewer places to hide. It also just seems some canopy dwellers are more willing to come down low in the fall, like Blackburnian and Black-throated Green. I love the phases--warblers/vireos then sparrows then waterfowl--that lead into winter. And I love birding in winter, so fall doesn't really have the same edge of sadness it used to
And don't get me wrong--spring migration is spectacular and exhilarating. Spring migration gets an A. Fall an A+
We had a grand time birding in Maine last summer. Boothbay for puffins, Kennebunk Plains for rare sparrows, and the Maine Birding Trail guide is an incredible resource! Have the most fun ever!
Monhegan Island and Acadia are such lovely places to have rambled and explored in my youth. If I weren't so old, I would go back in a heartbeat and ( knowing what I know now ) this time take binoculars and field guide! Thanks for a lovely post, James.
Thank you Sharron. I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never been to Acadia. I need to asap! I hear such wonderful things. Thank you for reading and for your comment.
I visited Staffa Island / Fingal’s Cave, Scotland - driven primarily to see Puffins. It was such an amazing experience - dolphins and minke whales accompanied our boat and so many seabirds, too and then the flocks of Puffins everywhere. Magical. Acadia is on my list for sure - thanks for this info!
This is first I've heard the term "seaglunking," though growing up near the beach on Long Island I had a fairly extensive childhood collection of sea glass. Seaglunking alone is reason enough to add Monhegan Island to my (surprisingly fast) growing list of things to do on a future trip to Maine! Thanks for putting it on my radar!
Those who actually “seaglunk” often don’t know the term—when I learned it and told a seaglunker what I’d learned, it was new information for them; I realized my reading and googling of sea glass was no match for lived experience! It’s one thing to know what it’s called, it’s another to do it. Sounds like you’ve had great years of glunking, and Monhegan is definitely a good spot for it! The state as a whole has great beaches for it.
Thank you for this excellent article, James. It’s a wonderful field guide to parts of the Atlantic ecosystem and I learned a lot from your writing and photos, esp. based as I am on the West Coast. Really looking forward to your 2025 explorations.:)
Thank you, Heidi! There are pros and cons to feeling wed to a region, as I feel with coastal New England; a pro is I always want to learn about it and share what I do. Glad you find my writing educational.
James, I didn't know that puffins were on Monhegan. That is so much closer than Seal Island off Machais. You really have a great birding intererary set up. No doubt you will enjoy and have many wonderful photos to share this year. Thanks so much for the mention!
That sounds like an awesome birding adventure planned James. I had not heard of Monegan Island before and had to google map it - should be amazing for returning migrant birds! That'd be a nice bonus if the Stellar's Sea Eagle is in the area as well.
Thank you Neil! I’d lose it if a Steller’s Sea Eagle came down from Newfoundland. Might be the bird i want to see most in the world. One was in Maine a few years ago so never say never
Glad you enjoyed it, Jesse! I wish I could take credit, that’s a Creative Commons photo from animalia.bio—when I want to include a photo of a bird i haven’t had the privilege of seeing, I find ones that are available for use.
I miss Maine. Summers we had the run of Ogunquit. I didn't care about birds then, but it was a time of freedom little kids rarely enjoy anymore. The last time we were there I did care about birds, and the rocky shore was full of Common Eiders. Must get back.
Good luck this migration! I'm a fall migration guy myself, if I had to choose :) But I'm looking forward to April and May and hoping to get to Magee Marsh for the first time
Ogunquit is a uniquely special place! Common Eider are magnificent ducks, with that distinct profile they have. Definitely worth a trip back!
What makes you a fall migration guy? I worry I made it sound like fall is for the birds—and not in the good way, in the idiomatic (erroneous) way. It’s definitely not, I just feel different on a human level in the spring. When you get to Magee Marsh, I hope you write about it.
I almost wrote a post titled Fall Migration > Spring Migration, but that'll have to wait for this coming fall
I enjoy how fall migration is more spread out. How the birds are more numerous. I love the challenge of fall warblers. I love that the falling leaves give the birds fewer places to hide. It also just seems some canopy dwellers are more willing to come down low in the fall, like Blackburnian and Black-throated Green. I love the phases--warblers/vireos then sparrows then waterfowl--that lead into winter. And I love birding in winter, so fall doesn't really have the same edge of sadness it used to
And don't get me wrong--spring migration is spectacular and exhilarating. Spring migration gets an A. Fall an A+
We had a grand time birding in Maine last summer. Boothbay for puffins, Kennebunk Plains for rare sparrows, and the Maine Birding Trail guide is an incredible resource! Have the most fun ever!
Thank you, Scot! It sounds like you had some productive Maine birding, it's a special state
Monhegan Island and Acadia are such lovely places to have rambled and explored in my youth. If I weren't so old, I would go back in a heartbeat and ( knowing what I know now ) this time take binoculars and field guide! Thanks for a lovely post, James.
Thank you Sharron. I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never been to Acadia. I need to asap! I hear such wonderful things. Thank you for reading and for your comment.
Main is such a lovely state! Though I would not like to live in the snow, I have always loved their state motto “Live Slow”. Just suits me.
It is a great motto!
Monhegan is beautiful
That sounds like a fantastic place to visit in the spring. I'm looking forward to reading about your adventures there, James!
Thank you, Kelly! I am excited to have some good warbler sightings to write about.
I visited Staffa Island / Fingal’s Cave, Scotland - driven primarily to see Puffins. It was such an amazing experience - dolphins and minke whales accompanied our boat and so many seabirds, too and then the flocks of Puffins everywhere. Magical. Acadia is on my list for sure - thanks for this info!
Glad you enjoyed, Amy. That sounds like a magical Puffin-driven trip indeed—and dolphins and whales! An incredible experience. Thank you for reading.
This is first I've heard the term "seaglunking," though growing up near the beach on Long Island I had a fairly extensive childhood collection of sea glass. Seaglunking alone is reason enough to add Monhegan Island to my (surprisingly fast) growing list of things to do on a future trip to Maine! Thanks for putting it on my radar!
Those who actually “seaglunk” often don’t know the term—when I learned it and told a seaglunker what I’d learned, it was new information for them; I realized my reading and googling of sea glass was no match for lived experience! It’s one thing to know what it’s called, it’s another to do it. Sounds like you’ve had great years of glunking, and Monhegan is definitely a good spot for it! The state as a whole has great beaches for it.
Thank you for this excellent article, James. It’s a wonderful field guide to parts of the Atlantic ecosystem and I learned a lot from your writing and photos, esp. based as I am on the West Coast. Really looking forward to your 2025 explorations.:)
Thank you, Heidi! There are pros and cons to feeling wed to a region, as I feel with coastal New England; a pro is I always want to learn about it and share what I do. Glad you find my writing educational.
I'm headed to the shoreline to look for waterfowl this weekend.
Best of luck! Any target species?
James, I didn't know that puffins were on Monhegan. That is so much closer than Seal Island off Machais. You really have a great birding intererary set up. No doubt you will enjoy and have many wonderful photos to share this year. Thanks so much for the mention!
Thank you Pamela. I was surprised to see puffins listed as a possibility as well. Happy to mention your piece, too!
Thank you for including my post James. Your bird knowledge continues to amaze me!
Thank you, Susie!
Beautiful photos James, and a wave of thanks for the person who snapped one of you as well!
Monhegan Island looks wonderful
Thank you very much, Teyani. I'm hoping Monhegan yields more photos to share here!
That sounds like an awesome birding adventure planned James. I had not heard of Monegan Island before and had to google map it - should be amazing for returning migrant birds! That'd be a nice bonus if the Stellar's Sea Eagle is in the area as well.
Thank you Neil! I’d lose it if a Steller’s Sea Eagle came down from Newfoundland. Might be the bird i want to see most in the world. One was in Maine a few years ago so never say never
Stellar's Sea Eagle looks fantastic- what an excellent photo, James!
Glad you enjoyed it, Jesse! I wish I could take credit, that’s a Creative Commons photo from animalia.bio—when I want to include a photo of a bird i haven’t had the privilege of seeing, I find ones that are available for use.
I should have read the caption more closely- my bad. My second favorite is the American redstart- equally as remarkable.😊
No worries at all Jesse! I’m glad you like the redstart too, I love how it looks with that shower head.