OK. I’m ready for the Acadia Birding Festival’s all day van trip downeast tomorrow and again Sunday. A scouting stop at my favorite Spruce Grouse spot in Roque Bluffs turned up a male. It’s not much of a photo, but I put it on the Maine Birding Trail Facebook page anyway: https://www.facebook.com/MaineBirdingTrail. While watching the grouse, I was listening to Boreal Chickadees in the same spot. Then, while returning to my car – a hen with at least four tiny chicks popped up.
A few minutes later, on Johnson Cove Road, I noted a Ruffed Grouse crossing the road. When I drove up to the spot, I saw an indignant male on the other side of the road, ruffing up his neck feathers and crest. I suspect that I inadvertently caused coitus interruptus.
While scouting Great Wass Island, there was a lovely Red Knot in all his breeding redness roosting in Alley Bay with 30 Black-bellied Plover.
Despite the success of this morning’s scouting, I may still take the festival participants all the way to Lubec. I spent a terrific day with the Pollocks from California in the Cobscook Bay area yesterday and all three males were right on their territories where they were supposed to be. We didn’t even have to try hard, and those grouse are more accustomed to people and often put on a performance. As usual, despite our attempts to keep a respectful distance, Bruce Deuce flew right down to our feet. I’m sure it was a boost to his already considerable confidence to drive us off so easily.
Bob Duchesne
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