donnahde Loc: Newark, DE

Hi folks,

My s/o and I are planning a trip to Acadia National Park this August. We know it's not the ideal time of year for birding but we must go when our jobs allow. We've immersed ourselves in a wonderful site, acadiamagic.com, which has been very helpful for landscape, sunrise-sunset, etc shots. We, however, are avid bird photographers and this site does not inform us at all about the best areas for birding.

Is anyone here from that area who could give us some tips for the best mid-August birding?

We'd also both LOVE to capture some Puffin shots but we also know that must be done via boat. Any suggestions would be most welcome there, too. We'll be staying in a motel (last room!) in Bar Harbor but may also camp for a few days elsewhere.

Any and all BIRDING suggestions would be most welcome. And yes, I have searched UHH for anything related to Acadia.

Thanks!!
Donna

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Donna, I am fascinated by your idea of Puffin shots. After your trip, please post some details about your success, shooting equipment and techniques. Also, do you expect any shots of loons? Thanks. Bill

daldds Loc: NYC

This has nothing to do with photography. Years ago there was a ranger walk and lecture "From the Forest to the Sea." The title might not be exactly that, nor might the tour even exist now, but if it does, it will cover the life of the flora and fauna that exist in the area covered and exposed by the tide, which ranges about 12 feet, I think. You can also walk and photograph on the ubiquitous bar of Bar Harbor, which is exposed for almost four hours at low tide.
Don't forget the great seafood, either. Enjoy!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

There are only two tours offering puffins. Both are very hard to get into, and even if you do, there is a 50/50 chance you will actually go ashore to the islands where the puffins are. At this late date, it is not likely you can get in. Photographers often book two tours, just in case conditions don't allow shooting.

There are several "tours" that are just boat rides and you may see puffins from a distance in the water, but they don't go ashore to the islands where they breed and roost where you can shoot from a blind. Both tour operators go to Machias Seal Island, One - Sea Watch Tours - is out of New Brunswick from Grand Manan Island, The other - Bold Coast Charter Company - ships out Cutler ME, which is a 2 hour drive from Mt. Desert Island.

https://www.nyip.edu/photo-articles/nature-and-landscape/photographing-puffins-in-the-wild


It may be a moot point - BCCC starts accepting reservations in January and according to their website they are fully booked for 2017. There is a waiting list.

It is ideal time for birding - nesting bird counts are:

5000 Atlantic puffins
4000 Razorbills
800 Common murres
300 Arctic terns
200 Common Eiders

There are other birds but I'll have to ask my friend who just came back last week from the BCCC tour what she saw.

You may also see whales, porpoises, seals, and other critters along the way.

This may help if you are ok shooting birds from a boat, or if you don't want to risk transferring from a large boat to a smaller landing craft then going ashore onto wetm slippery, seaweed-covered rocks and wooden boardwalks to get to spend an hour in a crowded blind.

http://www.mainebirdingtrail.com/Puffins.html

Good luck and enjoy the Lighthouse and Maine's rocky coastline. Always opportunities for some outstanding shots there.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

Several decades ago I was there kayak camping; If you're comfortable in rough water, the puffins and a great deal of other wildlife including much more than just birds, is available. I wasn't equip for serious photography on that trip - though I have some film somewhere of the little time I spent shooting. I don't recall puffins on the mainland, but the variety of birds, landscape, and picturesque towns and buildings is memorable.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

Several decades ago I was there kayak camping; If you're comfortable in rough water, the puffins and a great deal of other wildlife including much more than just birds, is available. I wasn't equip for serious photography on that trip - though I have some film somewhere of the little time I spent shooting. I don't recall puffins on the mainland, but the variety of birds, landscape, and picturesque towns and buildings is memorable.

donnahde Loc: Newark, DE

Thanks, BHC. Not sure about loons but did see an article that said we'd likely see a LOT of Grand Cormorants.

donnahde Loc: Newark, DE

Thanks, daldds. Sound interesting.

donnahde Loc: Newark, DE

Wow, Gene. Just the info we were looking for. I'd read that NO TOURS went ashore to Seal Island. Apparently that was not true. That said, the trek across slippery rocks with camera equipment might be beyond our capabilities at this point so maybe it's best the tours are full. I did find two tours that do NOT go ashore that are not full yet so it's good that we both have Tamron 150-600 with cropped sensor cameras. I'd be very interested in your friend's recent experience when you find out. Thanks again for the links and the info. And yes, I'm most definitely looking forward to all the photographic opportunities - NOT just birding.

ruwohe

Donna, I don't know anything about birding, but I highly recommend going to the Schoodic Point portion of Acadia. Most people do not know about this area, but it is almost indescribably beautiful. It has far fewer visitors, and Winter Harbor has a great seafood restaurant in Chase's. I was stationed at the Naval Station in Winter Harbor in 68-69 which has since been deactivated, but I have returned to this area several times. Have a great trip!

billpilot Loc: Baltimore County, MD

Puffins are a fascinating bird but a real challenge to get a decent shot. We took at trip on a boat out of Boothbay Harbor to an island where volunteers spent several weeks at a time observing and documenting the Puffins. We even adopted a Puffin. I did manage to get a few shots but it is a real challenge shooting a 500+ mm from a bouncing boat. I believe that the Puffins usually leave the coast of Maine in August so your best bet is to make arrangements for next year.

Bmarsh Loc: Bellaire, MI

Waxhouse Loc: Tampa Via Philadelphia

Don't miss Schoodic Point via the one way road. Some of the best coast line in ME.

https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/maps.htm

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I'm not a birder but I'll sure take a picture of a bird if I run into one, and there's lots to run into in Acadia itself. I've seen more birds on the Schoodic side than the Mt Desert side. Schoodic is my favorite part of the park, it's wilder, more "authentic" Maine and less crowded/touristy. The puffins are worth boating to see, so explore all options to get to them. I've only been out on the one that departs Grand Manan NB and goes to Machias, and a wonderful if somewhat scary adventure. There's an outfit that goes out of Pt Clyde, too (Hardy Boats?), to Egg Island I believe. I've seen them in dock and in ads when ferrying from Pt Clyde to Monhegan Island. If you're at loose ends a few days, that area is worth considering, including Monhegan, which has always been full of birders, bird photographers and Audubon tours when I visit, so it is apparently a birders favored spot. There's no camping (or vehicles) over there, though, so either secure lodging in advance or do a day trip. There's other Maine Islands you might explore too.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

I recommend you go to the Bar Harbor airport and get a plane ride around the park for some spectacular scenery of the natural fiords.