Included:

• Guided birding for 9 days.

• Lodging for eight nights

• Meals beginning with dinner on the first night through breakfast on the final day.

• Transportation including airport pickup and drop off at Portland Airport (PWM).

• Chartered boat trip to Machias Seal Island to see Puffins and more.

• Optics – I will have a Kowa 99mm scope available throughout the tour.

NOT Included:

• Round trip flights to Portland International Jetport (PWM).

• Lodging/Meals prior to or after the tour dates: June 26 -July 4.

• Personal items such as alcohol with meals, laundry, etc.

June 26: Arrive in Portland no later than 2 PM. We’ll drive north to Conway, NH.

Night in Conway.

June 27: We’ll get an early start so that we’re on the mountain above 3,000 ft. at dawn to search for Bicknell’s Thrush. We may also find other boreal species like Boreal Chickadee, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher or even Spruce Grouse. Then we’ll make our way down for a late breakfast en route to Bangor, where we’ll spend the night.

June 28: This morning we’ll visit the Orono Bog Boardwalk to view the unique peat and bog habitat with dwarf conifers and pitcher plants.

We’ll continue to the Sunkhaze Meadows NWR in search of warbler flocks, waterfowl and maybe American Woodcock. Then we’ll continue north on a scenic drive to Millinocket. 

June 29-30:  We’ll explore Baxter State Park, searching for Boreal Chickadee, Canada Jay, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Common Loon, Black-backed Woodpecker and more. We may see moose in the ponds along the Golden Road!

July 1: After breakfast we’ll load the van and begin our journey south to the coast. We should have time to visit Quoddy Head State Park before dinner at a terrific local restaurant.

Night in Lubec.

July 2: We’ll meet our captain in the morning who will take us to Machias Seal Island, 10 miles off the coast. The island is a breeding colony for Atlantic Puffin, Razorbill, Common Murre and Arctic Tern. Depending on local conditions, we should be able to dock and make our way to the blinds that will allow us close observation of all the birds. This should be a highlight of the tour!

When we return, we may have time to visit Roque Bluffs SP, a hidden gem along the Maine coast with a secluded beach that can be great for shorebirds, seabirds and waterfowl. The nearby ponds attract up to five species of gulls along with songbirds. The tides here are 15 feet or more, and the exposed mudflats can be brimming with activity. We may walk the trails at Tide Mill Creek preserve where salt marshes and bogs attract many birds, butterflies and wildlife.

Night in Lubec.

July 3:  Today we’ll drive the coastal highways on our way to Portland. We’ll make stops for birding and find a nice restaurant for lunch.

If there’s time, we’ll visit Scarborough Marsh before dinner to look for Seaside and Nelson’s Sparrows.

Night in Portland.

July 4: Happy Independence Day! Depending on your departure times, there may be time for some local birding!

Please read through Rocky Mountain Birding terms and conditions here.