2 of one of the best Down East birding sizzling spots are on these Canadian islands
I’ve been providing Good Birding recommendation on these pages for greater than a dozen years. For extra good birding, right here’s some additional steering: go away the nation.
I recommend a two-nation trip. I refer to 2 Canadian islands which might be nearer to Maine than Canada. Heeding my very own recommendation, I’ve spent a giant chunk of time on Campobello and Grand Manan within the final three weeks.
If these islands are nearer to Maine than the remainder of New Brunswick, why are they a part of Canada? As a result of that’s what the British and American diplomats determined, greater than 200 years in the past.
Because the Warfare of 1812 ended, either side agreed on the St. Croix River because the worldwide border, extending the road out the channel via Passamaquoddy Bay — with Lubec and Eastport on one aspect, Campobello and Grand Manan on the opposite.
Sadly, they didn’t draw the road out so far as the large Atlantic puffin colony on Machias Seal Island. Each international locations nonetheless declare that island, 209 years later.
From a birder’s perspective, all of the birds on Campobello and Grand Manan are additionally in Down East Maine. It’s merely totally different surroundings. Actually good surroundings. Worldwide surroundings.
Campobello is simple to achieve. From Lubec, it’s only a 60-second drive throughout the Worldwide Bridge. Produce your passport or a superb excuse on the customs gate, and the island is yours to discover.
Begin at Roosevelt-Campobello Worldwide Park. It was as soon as a summer season retreat for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s household. Spend a couple of minutes touring Roosevelt Cottage. Spend a number of hours in the remainder of the park. There are such a lot of good birding spots, I don’t know the place to start.
Sure, I do. Begin at Eagle Hill Bathroom. The boardwalk via this bathroom is extraordinary. It has interpretive signage, uncommon vegetation and copious birds. It’s just like the Orono Bathroom Boardwalk, however with a plant combine extra akin to Newfoundland. I’ve visited so many instances, I’ve misplaced depend.
Different sizzling spots embrace Herring Cove, Decrease Duck Pond, Liberty Level, Cranberry Level, Higher Duck Pond and Friar’s Head. You would lookup all these locations on-line and get extra data on the Roosevelt Customer Heart. Or you can simply go straight there, and never spoil the shock. All the roads connecting all these landmarks are simple to stroll and energetic to hen.
Head Harbor Passage runs between Campobello and the mainland. The tidal turbulence stirs up a lot meals that whales, porpoises and seals crowd into it. The abundance of seals has even attracted the eye of nice white sharks recently. Seabirds collect by the 1000’s.
For beauty into Head Harbor Passage, I like to recommend the piers in Welshpool and Wilson’s Seashore. For nice appears, nothing beats the expansive view from East Quoddy Head on the north tip of the island. It’s an “Oh, Wow” type of place. I’d describe all this extra, however then I wouldn’t have time to reward — Grand Manan!
This quiet island is eight miles throughout the channel from Lubec, nevertheless it’s solely reachable by ferry from Black’s Harbour in New Brunswick. Even the 90-minute ferry trip is superior for birding.
It’s refreshing to know you may “get away from all of it” with out having to go far. Grand Manan hasn’t modified a lot within the 30 years I’ve been birding there. Calling the island “quaint” is an injustice. The mountaineering, biking and boating alternatives make it a a lot livelier place than its quiet look would recommend.
On the eBird record of the highest 100 birding sizzling spots in New Brunswick, the highest 4 spots are all on Grand Manan. Castalia Marsh tops the record. Extra birds, together with extra uncommon birds, have been seen right here than anyplace else within the province.
Sit for some time subsequent to the 2 lighthouses on the north finish of the island, Swallowtail and The Whistle. Birds usually discovered at sea typically are available shut right here. So do whales.
I all the time examine Darkish Harbor, particularly on gloomy days when it appears darker. I spend hours birding the seashore, ponds and nature trails at Anchorage Provincial Park. Inevitably, I take a minimum of one whale journey with Sea Watch Excursions.
I trip the free ferry to White Head Island for a day. I save one of the best climate for the spectacular cliff-side hike alongside Southwest Head. There are such a lot of extraordinary locations to go to and hen, a full week shouldn’t be sufficient.
On second thought, overlook I discussed it. Possibly these two islands ought to stay my little secret. Who wants a crowd?
