Southern Maine Beaches June 2017

The rocky coast of Maine is always awesome. And so were the donuts at Congdon's--rated the nations best donut shop as featured on TV--next door to our condo in Wells, Maine. And Scoop Deck's 30+ flavors of ice cream helped add a total of 5 pounds for the week.

Here's some of our best photos:

This is only the second King Rail we have ever seen. It was bringing in a lot of birders from around the state. You have to be patient to see any rail, and put up with sometimes a lot of mosquitoes. But it was worth it for this one.

Cedar Waxwings were plentiful--often selected for Christmas cards.

Common Eiders were abundant off any stretch of coast, and they apparently had a very successful breeding season, as we often saw mother eiders with a line of 10 or 12 young ones in tow.

We're generally not into flowers, but a lady was so excited to see these Lady Slippers that she personally led us back to see them. They are a neat flower.

Its hard to get warbler pictures--they only spend a few seconds in any given spot, and the spot is often behind leaves and other branches. So getting an open shot close to being in focus is tough. Yellow Warblers were common, but we were nonetheless thrilled to get such a good photo of one.

Kennebunkport is proud of George H. W. Bush--they put up a plaque along the road next to an anchor plush with compliments. This telephoto shot was taken from the anchor across a small cove. Nice little cottage the Bush's have there in Maine, isn't it.

Baltimore Orioles are always a crowd pleaser on bird walks. We are always excited to see one free in the wild.

We're always thrilled to see a Pileated Woodpecker. This female was out in the open just long enough for us to get a decent picture.

I think the Saco Heath Preserve is the first heath we've ever been on. A 2 mile out-and-back lollipop trail--most on a boardwalk across the heath--was really neat.

This Prairie Warbler was one of many we saw or heard at the heath.

We came upon this lighthouse by surprise on a trail around East Point Sanctuary in Biddeford Pool. Sorry but we don't know its name.

Here's our complete list of birds seen:

Species	Date	Location	County
1. Alder Flycatcher	6-22-17	Saco Heath Preserve	York
2. American Black Duck	6-17-17	Harbor Rd--Wells ME	York
3. American Crow	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
4. American Goldfinch	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
5. American Kestrel	6-22-17	Saco Heath Preserve	York
6. American Robin	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
7. Bald Eagle	6-21-17	Seapoint Beach	York
8. Baltimore Oriole	6-18-17	Mercy Hospital Pond	Cumberland
9. Barn Swallow	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
10. Black Guillemot	6-17-17	Webhannet Dr--Wells ME	York
11. Black-capped Chickadee	6-18-17	Western Promenade	Cumberland
12. Blue Jay	6-18-17	Eastern Promenade	Cumberland
13. Blue-headed Vireo	6-22-17	Saco Heath Preserve	York
14. Bonaparte's Gull	6-18-17	Eastern Promenade	Cumberland
15. Brant	6-17-17	Harbor Rd--Wells ME	York
16. Canada Goose	6-17-17	Harbor Rd--Wells ME	York
17. Cedar Waxwing	6-18-17	Eastern Promenade	Cumberland
18. Chimney Swift	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
19. Chipping Sparrow	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
20. Common Eider	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
21. Common Grackle	6-17-17	Eldridge Rd--Wells ME	York
22. Common Tern	6-18-17	Eastern Promenade	Cumberland
23. Common Yellowthroat	6-18-17	Eastern Promenade	Cumberland
24. Double-crested Cormorant	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
25. Downy Woodpecker	6-22-17	Saco Heath Preserve	York
26. Eastern Bluebird	6-19-17	RCNWR--Timber Point Tr	York
27. Eastern Phoebe	6-19-17	RCNWR--Carson Tr	York
28. Eastern Towhee	6-22-17	Saco Heath Preserve	York
29. European Starling	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
30. Glossy Ibis	6-20-17	Scarborough Marsh	Cumberland
31. Gray Catbird	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
32. Great Black-backed Gull	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
33. Great Blue Heron	6-17-17	Eldridge Rd--Wells ME	York
34. Great Crested Flycatcher	6-21-17	Mt. Agamenticus	York
35. Great Egret	6-17-17	Eldridge Rd--Wells ME	York
36. Green Heron	6-17-17	Harbor Rd--Wells ME	York
37. Herring Gull	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
38. House Finch	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
39. House Sparrow	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
40. Indigo Bunting	6-21-17	Mt. Agamenticus	York
41. King Rail	6-17-17	Eldridge Rd--Wells ME	York
42. Least Tern	6-17-17	Webhannet Dr--Wells ME	York
43. Little Blue Heron	6-20-17	Scarborough Marsh	Cumberland
44. Mallard	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
45. Mourning Dove	6-17-17	Eldridge Rd--Wells ME	York
46. Mute Swan	6-20-17	Scarborough Marsh	Cumberland
47. Northern Cardinal	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
48. Northern Mockingbird	6-18-17	Eastern Promenade	Cumberland
49. Osprey	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
50. Ovenbird	6-21-17	RCNWR--Cutts Island Tr	York
51. Pileated Woodpecker	6-21-17	RCNWR--Cutts Island Tr	York
52. Prairie Warbler	6-22-17	Saco Heath Preserve	York
53. Red-bellied Woodpecker	6-21-17	RCNWR--Cutts Island Tr	York
54. Red-eyed Vireo	6-18-17	Western Promenade	Cumberland
55. Red-throated Loon	6-17-17	Webhannet Dr--Wells ME	York
56. Red-winged Blackbird	6-17-17	Eldridge Rd--Wells ME	York
57. Ring-billed Gull	6-19-17	RCNWR--Timber Point Tr	York
58. Rock Pigeon	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
59. Snowy Egret	6-17-17	Eldridge Rd--Wells ME	York
60. Song Sparrow	6-17-17	Marginal Way	York
61. Tree Swallow	6-17-17	Eldridge Rd--Wells ME	York
62. Tufted Titmouse	6-19-17	RCNWR--Timber Point Tr	York
63. Turkey Vulture	6-21-17	Mt. Agamenticus	York
64. White-breasted Nuthatch	6-19-17	RCNWR--Carson Tr	York
65. White-throated Sparrow	6-22-17	Saco Heath Preserve	York
66. Wild Turkey	6-22-17	I-95 near Wells ME exit	York
67. Willet	6-17-17	Eldridge Rd--Wells ME	York
68. Willow Flycatcher	6-18-17	Mercy Hospital Pond	Cumberland
69. Yellow Warbler	6-17-17	Eldridge Rd--Wells ME	York