Photo Gallery
We’ll begin with an hour and one half’s drive from Portland to Boothbay Harbor where we’ll board the morning "ferry" to Monhegan Island.
We’ll probably see winter plumaged Black Guillemots before we clear the harbor…. (ls)
…and we often encounter Northern Gannets on the crossing. (jl)
If we’re lucky, perhaps a Great Shearwater will make an appearance…although we can only hope the waters are this calm.
After about an hour at sea, we’ll round Manana Island… (br)
…and enter Monhegan Harbor.
We’ll stay at the Island Inn…
…whose simple but very comfortable rooms…
…can have lovely views over the harbor…
…and the waterfront which is shared by lobstermen, artists, and birders.
Perhaps we should add that the Island Inn has superb food; here a lobster scrambled for breakfast…
…and of course we can arrange for the something more substantial as well.
On the island, Rusty Blackbirds usually show well… (ls)
…and scarce wanderers such as Dickcissel… (ls)
…and Clay-colored Sparrow are actually expected. (ls)
Birders flock to Monhegan to see migrants…
…which can include Canada Warbler…
…or the scarce Prairie Warbler. (ls)
Many birds are tired and tame such as this Bay-breasted Warbler, which has just made it to shore…
…and Merlins seem everywhere on the prowl.
Monhegan itself is magical, from the high cliffs…
…to the rubble shores…
…and from the dark spruce forests…
…to the magnificent lichen-encrusted rocks. (br)
The village itself is utterly charming… (br)
…with its narrow lanes, yards, and gardens, the latter often attracting migrant birds. (br)
We’ll look at everything…
…and surprises await, from a Sora in a puddle…
…to the best pizza in Maine…
…and phenomenal sunsets.