New England in Spring

This tour visits one of the most beautiful areas in North America at the time of near-peak breeding bird activity. The beautiful White Mountains and Connecticut Lakes of New Hampshire are famous for their rich variety of breeding species including Spruce Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, the very local Bicknell's Thrush, and over 20 species of warblers. This is an excellent time to enjoy the nesting seabirds found on several small islands off the coast of Maine, where colonies of Arctic, Common, and Roseate Terns, Razorbills, and Atlantic Puffins may be seen at very close range. Shearwaters and storm-petrels may be numerous in the offshore waters and several species of whale are possible.

The coastline from northern Massachusetts to eastern Maine is home to a number of sought-after coastal breeders, such as Black Guillemot, and Saltmarsh and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows. Add to the avian spectacle a beautiful, rugged, rocky coastline, with cliffs, headlands, and islets dotted with picturesque lighthouses; quaint fishing towns; large marshes, mudflats, and beaches; classic interior New England villages; the tallest mountains in the northeastern U.S.; northern boreal and mixed hardwood forests; and excellent cuisine (especially seafood).

Wednesday 11 June to Monday 23 June

with Paul Lehman as leader.

New England bird list
return to North American introduction
return to Calendar

Day 1: The tour begins in London with a flight to Boston, where we'll spend the night.

Day 2: This morning we'll drive north to Newburyport and Plum Island, famous birding locales that are rich in freshwater and coastal species, including Least Bittern, American Black Duck, Piping Plover, Least Tern, and Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed and perhaps Seaside Sparrows. A rarity or two in this area is always a possibility. We'll then bird our way north along the short New Hampshire coastline, where there is fine ocean and salt-marsh habitat, deviating to look for Fish Crow. Night in Portsmouth.

Day 3: Early this morning we'll visit the nearby Pease Airport and Great Bay Refuge in search of Upland Sandpiper, Wood Thrush, Pine and Prairie Warblers, and Scarlet Tanager. Farther north, the blueberry barrens near Kennebunk, Maine, support healthy populations of Vesper and Grasshopper Sparrows, and Bobolink. Later, we'll drive northwest to the White Mountains, making our first search for Bicknell's Thrush, and some of the area's boreal breeders, late in the day. Night in North Conway.

Day 4: The spectacular White Mountains support a very rich breeding avifauna. The great altitudinal range found here results in a substantial variation in climate and habitats, all of which can be sampled via roads and short hikes. Extensive conifer and hardwood forests, bogs, waterfalls, and spectacular views provide the backdrop. The summit of Mount Washington, at 6,288 feet, tops the tallest mountain in the northeastern U.S., and it supports a limited alpine zone frequented by nesting American Pipits. Just below, in the 'Krummholz' vegetation near the timberline is found the very local Bicknell's Thrush, which in late June will be singing its ethereal song at dawn and dusk. More widespread boreal forest and bog habitat of spruce and fir is found between 2,500 and 4,500 feet and supports good numbers of Black-backed Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Gray Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Blue-headed Vireo, and Blackburnian and Blackpoll Warblers. Lower still, in the mixed, broad-leaved forests and thickets, are found Broad-winged Hawk, Least Flycatcher, Veery, and many warblers including Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue, and Black-throated Green. We'll sample all elevations during our stay, with a special emphasis on Bicknell's Thrush and other boreal breeders found in this region. Night in North Conway.

Days 5-6: After a final morning in the White Mountains we'll drive north to the Connecticut Lakes region of extreme northern New Hampshire. Here in the 'North Country' wilderness region of northernmost New England - with its river-bottom pastures, stands of dense spruce and fir, birch, and alder-lined streams and bogs - we'll search along level trails and logging roads for such special boreal-forest breeders as Spruce Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, and Rusty Blackbird. Other species found here include Ruffed Grouse, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Olive-sided and Alder Flycatchers, Philadelphia Vireo, Bay-breasted, Mourning and Wilson's Warblers, and Lincoln's Sparrow. Crossbills are possible and Moose are fairly common. Nights in Pittsburg.

Day 7: After a final early morning of birding in the Connecticut Lakes region we'll head east across central Maine, passing through many interior New England villages and towns, ending up along the coast of 'Downeast Maine' at Machias. Night in Machias.

Days 8-9: The town of Machias will provide our base for exploring easternmost Maine. On the first day we'll drive to Cutler, birding the productive woodlands on the way and witnessing spectacular tidal changes. We'll take the relatively short boat trip to Machias Seal Island, an outstanding seabird colony supporting large numbers of Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, and Arctic Terns, as well as smaller numbers of Guillemots. Because we can land on the island and there is a hide, photographic opportunities should be wonderful. The crossing to the island is usually rich with seabirds and should introduce us to our first Great, Sooty, and Manx Shearwaters, and Wilson's Storm-petrels.

On the following day we'll search out any boreal species such as Spruce Grouse that we may have missed earlier in the trip. We'll also cross the border into New Brunswick, Canada, to visit the forests and spectacular coastline at Roosevelt-Campobello Island International Park searching for Black-billed Cuckoo and many warblers including Palm and Canada. The areas of Passamaquoddy Bay, Head Harbor Passage and Quoddy Head State Park are frequented by Common Eider, Cape May Warbler, Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, and probably Black-legged Kittiwake. During a dusk outing we'll search for American Woodcock. Nights in Machias.

Day 10: After a final early morning of birding in the Machias area, we'll drive down the coast about two hours to Bar Harbor. In the afternoon we'll take a half-day seabird and whale-watching trip to Petit Manan Island and offshore waters. Petit Manan supports several of the same species that breed on Machias Seal Island, as well as Roseate Tern and Laughing Gull. The waters nearby are good for shearwaters, storm-petrels and summering Northern Gannets. Excellent views of Fin, Minke and Humpback Whales may be had, and there are many Harbour Porpoise. Night in Bar Harbor.

Day 11: The Mount Desert Island/Acadia National Park region is quintessential coastal New England. Much of the island is national park land, forested and frequented by some 20 species of breeding warblers, as well as flycatchers and thrushes, with beautiful lakes haunted by the calls of nesting Great Northern Divers, granitic mountains rounded off by Pleistocene glaciers, and wild, rocky shorelines. And the seafood is divine. The nearshore waters are rich in marine life, and avian species include eiders, Bald Eagle, and Black Guillemot. Other possibilities include Peregrine Falcon and White-winged Crossbill.

If it proves to be a workable option, we'll take a voyage on a very fast catamaran that makes the round-trip to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and back in just a few hours. Although views of birds will be brief, the trip does provide us with our best chances of seeing Northern Fulmar, Leach's Storm-petrel, and other deep-water pelagic species. Night in Bar Harbor.

Day 12: We'll head southwest down the coast, stopping along the way to look for any species that we may have missed. The southern Maine coast provides a beautiful backdrop to our birding. Sites such as Scarborough Marsh and Biddeford Pool are frequented by large numbers of breeding waterbirds including Glossy Ibis, and Little Blue and Tricolored Herons. Both Saltmarsh and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows nest here. At the end of the day we'll arrive back in the Boston area near Logan Airport. Night in Boston.

Day 13: We'll catch a morning flight back to London where the tour concludes in the evening.

Cost £2280

Single Room Supplement £360

Maximum group size: 16 participants and 2 leaders.

The ground arrangements for this tour are organised by our American associates WINGS.

New England bird list
return to top of page
return to North American introduction
return to Calendar