Eiders just off the coast in Acadia National Park
It was unseasonably hot recently and we decided to head north, to where the temperatures were only in the 70’s and spring has just started. The trees still lacked any hint of green, but change is in the air.
For several reasons we chose not to bring our tandem bicycle and planned on spending our time walking the trails of Acadia, on Mt. Desert Island, where we stayed. But we wanted to explore the Schoodic Peninsula, also part of Acadia National Park, but much less visited.
The tidal falls at low tide
We stopped at the Tidal Falls in Hancock, Maine and spotted seals swimming against the tide. We never caught the tidal rip at its height, but enjoyed the dynamic feel of the tides, regardless.
Mature bald eagle overlooking the tidal falls in Hancock, Maine
While we stood watching for seals, my husband spotted a bald eagle on the opposite shore, resting in a pine tree.
Red breasted nuthatch creating a nest hole in a white birch, at the entrance to the carriage trail
Once we arrived at the Schoodic peninsula portion of Acadia National Park, we stopped several times to get out, walk, look and enjoy the views. While checking out the carriage road near the entrance to the park, we heard a tap, tap and looked around for a woodpecker. what we found instead was a red-breasted nuthatch tapping out a nesting cavity, right at the trailhead for the first carriage road. This nuthatch, smaller than it’s white breasted cousin, was focused on its task, and so we got a chance to get a few pictures of it.
Another reversing falls, with a new bridge over a reversing falls as part of the carriage trail system on the Schoodic Peninsula of Acadia National Park
We soon found another reversing falls and stopped in that area for lunch, and enjoyed looking at mergansers, buffleheads and loons right off shore.
A nice lunch spot in the park
Schoodic Point offers great views of Frenchman’s Bay and along the way you’ll see great views of the mountains of Mt. Desert Island.
On the rocks at the top of a dike with a glacial erratic “meatball”
The rocks at Schoodic Point are relatively flat and pretty easy for me to navigate, more fun.
Another bald eagle, watching and waiting, seen by the roadside on our way out, after leaving the park
As we left the park we spotted another eagle perched quite near the road. We had heard eagles are becoming more common, but were getting confirmation of it ourselves in our travels.
Lots of male and female eiders, the rocks just behind them were filled with gulls.
The next day we headed south on Mt. Desert to the Wonderland Trail in Tremont, which offers a very easy walk out to a point on the ocean. There we found a huge flock of eider ducks, with a few buffleheads mixed in, as well as a massive flock of seagulls resting on the rocks just off shore. Suddenly the seagulls rose into the air in a chaotic disarray and my husband pointed. Eagle! A one eagle had singled out a solitary bufflehead, a bird much smaller than the eiders. The eagle seemed to dive for the tiny bird, then backed off, when suddenly two other eagles came from other the trees and the three huge birds circled.
It happened so fast we got no pictures of the eagles in flight, but our hearts were full. We were surprised at how quickly the eagles gave up the hunt and flew away. And yes, the bufflehead lived to see another day. Soon the eiders dispersed, as had the gulls (and the bufflehead).
Two nesting osprey on Googins Island, just off shore in Casco Bay.
On our way home we stopped at Wolfe’s Neck State Park in Freeport, Maine and found a nesting pair of osprey on a small island just off shore.
View from the trail just above the shoreline
The trail along Casco Bay at the lovely state park is quite easy walking, with views of the bay all along the trail.
The weather is cooler now, but spring is here. When you’re out be sure to look for more nesting birds, for ’tis the season, for sure!
Marjorie
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.
Marjorie Turner Hollman 
Beautiful photos…thanks!
You’re so very welcome. Wonderful to share these amazing experiences. Thanks for commenting.
Hmm it seems like your blog ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to everything. Do you have any recommendations for first-time blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.
Thanks for writing, Anna, my spam filter caught you, but hope this helps. My advice is to write about what you love, take pictures where you go, share, and create a facebook page and or instagram page where you can help get out the word about your writing. It takes time, but try to keep your focus on a clear topic, and try to stick to that topic and people will find you. Offer something of value (directions how to find what you share about) and other helpful observations, and people will appreciate your efforts. Good luck!