I'm going to New England!

[XemaSab]

Mostly Maine, but I'm not averse to checking out Vermont and New Hampshire while I'm there.

So the question is: where do I go to see some awesome birds in late August?

What bird finding books do I *have* to have for this trip?

I want me some shorebirds and alcids!

Hudwit, here I come!

(Also, as an aside, San Jose to Manchester was 300 bucks on Southwest! Score!)

[amazona]

1. links

Looks they have a big website:

http://www.mainebirding.net/

Uh oh, it looks like the Boat Trips they have listed stop running in mid-August. Maybe you could email with your specific dates since they have email addresses listed for the puffin trips.

http://www.mainebirding.net/puffin/trips.htm

[XemaSab]

2. What's up with the chickadee

in the top left?

Thanks for the links. I will see what can be arranged. The machias seal island trips go until sept 1st, so I'm in the clear.

Have you been there?

On edit: there's a tropicbird on machias seal island. good stuff...

[amazona]

5. No I visited the area before I was a birder

We're thinking about going back and maybe visiting a friend there but it won't be that soon. I saw my first moose in Maine but didn't keep a bird list.

[semillama]

3. Pick up National Geographic's guide to Eastern Bird sites

Lists all the big hotspots.

It's my current bathroom reading. I'm on the Texas section and it's lit a fire in my ass to head there sometime for at least a week of solid birding (sadly, not going to happen soon).

[XemaSab]

4. I went to texas in january

and had 39 lifers in a week. And I have a decent-sized bird list too (500+).

It was unreal. If you go, you have to go to the DeWind's. It's up near Salineno or Chapeno...in that area.

They have feeders... BOY do they have feeders.

Brown Jays, Green Jays, Kiskadees, Altamera, Audubon's, Hooded Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Clay-colored Robin, Golden-Fronted, Cardinals, Olive Sparrows....ALL AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!! It was unreal!!!!!

[amazona]

6. and don't forget the chachalacas NT

.

[blindpig]

7. chachalacas!

I'm going to El Fuerte, Sinaloa next month. Supposed to be a hot spot for those suckers. A must for anyone's lifelist! One photograph and I am made.

Do you remember when National Wildlife had a "bigfoot" as it's cover story? Late 60's.

[XemaSab]

9. Bentsen's pretty good for them

(named for lloyd's family)

[XemaSab]

8. No chachalacas at the dewinds' feeder

at least not the day I was there.

I'm talking ALL those birds AT ONCE within 15 feet of each other.

[semillama]

10. I'm going to hit the Mass. coast the 2nd week in August

I'll let folks know how that goes, although I don't know if that will be close at all to where you are going.

[XemaSab]

11. even if it's not close

I'll be happy to hear a report!

:hi:

[mopinko]

12. take a boat ride

i was there last year, and took one of the whale watching boats out of bar harbor. the guide was a good naturalist. there was also a nice poster on the boat of the maine area seabirds. it was definitely worth the time and money. course, the whales and dolphins were great, also.

[semillama]

13. I may, depends on our schedule.

I'm allowed a day for birding, but i may be able to convince my non-birdwatching girlfriend to go whale watching...

our local Avid birders group is planning a pelagi trip from New Jersey the first week of December, and I'm there!

[XemaSab]

14. which boat company?

do you need reservations, or can you just show up?

[mopinko]

15. don't remember the name, but

they were the main one out of bar harbor. you can't miss them. you probably need to get your tickets the day before.