A couple from Rhode Island wished to do some boreal winter birding, giving me the perfect excuse to head out the Golden Road and up the Telos Road. Just past the Telos Gate into the North Maine Woods, there is a left turn onto the Harvester Road. In previous visits, it has looked like great boreal habitat, and I’ve wanted more chances to check it out. But, since it is above the gate, I haven’t gone there during breeding season because it costs $7/day and I’m…
…wait for it…
…too cheap.
It’s free access in winter and, sure enough, there was an American Three-toed Woodpecker present almost the moment we showed up this morning. My first of year. The usual Gray Jays and Boreal Chickadees were present. We also had several incidences of Pine Grosbeaks in the road, plus brief encounters with both species of crossbill. There were many singing Purple Finches around the Telos Checkpoint, and a few Pine Siskins. Otherwise, finches are still relatively scarce in them thar hills.
We tried for the Lincoln hawk-owl without success, and had enough daylight to do a piece of the Stud Mill Road east of Milford, turning up a Northern Shrike and a daylight Barred Owl.
It was a pretty good day.
Bob Duchesne
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