Crater Lake was formed several thousand years ago from the eruption of Mount Mazama, which scattered ash and debris across hundreds of thousands of square miles. The collapse of the volcanic mount left behind a deep and steep-walled caldera which slowly developed into the clearest, near-perfect circular-shaped freshwater body, Crater Lake- “the bluest lake on earth”. The only national park in Klamath County, Oregon, located near the cities of Klamath Falls and Medford, is constantly attracting the admiration of bird watchers throughout the country. Crater Lake is one of the oldest lakes in the United States at a depth of 1,943 feet, and the ninth deepest lake in the world. Bird watching at Crater Lake National Park is made unique by the variety of landscapes and habitats, inviting a wide range of flora and fauna species.
Continue reading Bird Watching at Crater Lake National ParkCategory: Bird Watching Places
Best bird watching places to see birds.
5 Favorite Activities From Our Atlantic Puffin Trip to Maine
5 Favorite Activities From Our Atlantic Puffin Trip to Maine
These are our 5 favorite things we did while visiting Maine to see Atlantic Puffins. If you are thinking about visiting Maine, please check them out.
The mention of Maine conjures up images of waves pushing against rocky coastlines and towering lighthouses. Its harbors with a variety of boats and lakes with forest surrounding it. The kind of place where it feels like you should simply sit down somewhere – anywhere- in that state and soak up nature in all its glory. Except it would be a shame not to partake in activities like birdwatching in Maine, among other things. The state has so many wonderful things ready for its tourists to explore.
1 . Moccasin Shopping
Usually, shoe shopping is not an activity we would include while visiting Maine. However, we discovered a luxurious footwear brand, Wassookeag Moccasins that makes their shoes in Maine. Their shoes are “Made in the USA”, and the brand is named after Lake Wassookeag, which translates to shining waters. Their premium leather moccasins are hand-stitched and handmade in their local shoe shop. These aren’t mass-produced moccasins and you can tell by the high quality and amazing amount of skill that is required to craft them.
These moccasins are a luxuriously classic and are made from cowhide, bull hide, or buffalo hide. Every step of making these shoes is custom, even the shoe last is specifically made for these handmade moccasins. They are so comfortable and can be purchased at a great price.
Most importantly, moccasins are perfect for setting out on all the adventures waiting for you in Maine, at home, or while bird watching. Don’t forget to visit this shoe shop’s website. www.wassookeagmoccasins.com
2. Bird Watching In Maine
Our favorite place to go bird watching was at Audubon’s Mass Landing Sanctuary. It was very quiet and peaceful with lots of birds to see. It also wasn’t too far from the LL Bean headquarters.
In a diverse landscape such as Maine’s, it is almost a given that there would be a good number of local and migratory bird species to see. The national parks in Maine are a sure bet to see the most colorful ones. In fact, if your main goal in Maine is to marvel at the scenery, you can do it while bird watching. Birds there seem to love playing hide and seek in the conifer forests or keeping a firm eye on the farm fields for their prey.
On Maine’s coast, Black Guillemot, Black-legged Kittiwake, and Shearwaters are a few of the species you would come across. Inland bird species include but are not limited to Spruce Grouse, Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpeckers. For shorebirds, you need to head to Biddeford Pool. Great Cormorant, Razorbill, and Purple Sandpiper would welcome you there. There are also a lot of backyard birds you can see as well.
Take A Puffin Tour
We have already discussed birdwatching in Maine but the Atlantic Puffin tour deserves a special appreciation and segment. At Eastern Egg Rock, the Puffin colony is thriving. It is the only place where you will get to see so many Puffins at once. On the Project Puffin boat a tour guide and narrators accompany you to make the experience as exciting and educational as possible.
Puffin tours usually take place in spring, which is mostly June. The Puffin Watch cruise from Hardy Boat Cruises departs from New Harbor. We took this one and it was amazing. At Eastern Egg Rock, the cruise does circles around the island for half an hour. During this period, you observe all the birds gathered at the coastlines and over the sea. This includes Atlantic Puffins, Arctic Terns, and Roseate Terns – both of whom are endangered species. It is a little difficult to take pictures due to the boat rocking.
The boats get close to the Puffins, and you should have an unobstructed view. However, to get the full experience, binoculars are recommended so you can observe details on the island. Not to mention it does not matter whether it is sunny or raining the entire day, the Puffin tours commence on time. You have to be weather-ready with your leather Mocassins and windbreaker. Also don’t forget some motion sickness remedies if you have them. The boat was a little rocky on the way back and a few passengers had tummy trouble. Our kids did fine and so did I and we didn’t need anything.
3. Visit The Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park has a secure spot as one of the country’s top 10 visited parks. Surrounded by the coastlines that are simultaneous to Maine, the inland region of Acadia are forests, streams, and rough mountains. A traveler by car can take the Park Loop Road, which crosses over every major attraction Acadia has to offer.
In terms of activities, Acadia is so good at keeping its visitors busy that you might have to take entire two days to truly explore the place. Do you maybe want to try out the 160 miles trail for hiking? The most walked paths are Jordan Pond Full Loop and Beehive Loop. Instead of walking, you can rent a cycle. Maybe you want to take a dip in the ponds after kayaking? Or would you birdwatch at one of the hotspots knowns as Acadia? At night, you can set up your camp and enjoy the night view full of stars.
Don’t have food with you? That’s good. You should visit Acadia’s only restaurant anyway. The Jordan Pond House Restaurant’s bread and tea has been around since the 1890s and should not be missed out on.
4. Visit Lighthouses
Can you truly visit Maine and not pay special attention to at least one lighthouse? That is the number one requirement and top of the to-do list for most people. You have to marvel at these huge towering buildings meant to show a path of light to sailors.
There are lighthouses up and down the coast of Maine. We visited 5 of them before running out of time. We would have like to see more! We saw Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in Bristol, Nubble Lighthouse in Town of York, Pond Island Lighthouse in Phippsburg, and Ram Island Ledge Light Station in Portland.
Portland Head Light
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in Bristol
Nubble Lighthouse in Town of York
Pond Island Lighthouse in Phippsburg
Ram Island Ledge Light Station in Portland
We have to say that Phippsburg was our favorite spot to go to the beach. During low tide there is a sandbar you can walk across to get to Fox island. It is amazing to see all the sea creatures and nature along the way and on the island…a few birds as well.
The Nubble Lighthouse might be the one that most prominently features in photos when you look up Maine. For good reasons, as the lighthouse is beautiful, it is the easiest to get close too. A day when there is a rising tide? The best day for photographers as you see the waves crashing against the rocks, making for a picture-perfect moment.
November might be the best time to visit the place although we visited in August. There is so much festivity in the area during that time. Both the cottage of the keeper and lighthouse are alight to mark the holiday season. The year-end, the celebration involves hot chocolate, a merry, musical atmosphere, and perhaps, a visit from Santa. In addition, Ogunquit offers cruises so you can check out the lighthouse while remaining in the water.
The lighthouse also bounds several areas. On one side, there is the Long Sands – one of the popular New York Beach. Another bounds towards the Old York Historical Society while the other can take you to 1745 York Corner Schoolhouse.
5. Take A Whale Tour
It would be a shame to come to a coastline state such as Maine and not go on a whale watching tour. Where else would you get to see these playful Humpback whales? The whale-watching season in Maine begins from the middle of April and ends in October. To actually see them with your eyes, you have to book on a sunny day. A foggy day in Maine means you won’t be able to see the whales coming out of the water once in a while clearly.
There are plenty of companies offering to take you such as Cap’n Fish’s Cruises and Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. Cap’n Fish’s boat tour does not only focus on whales but also on other marine lives such as sharks and seals. A quick tour of the Boothbay Harbor is included, along with a view of the famous lighthouses of the state.
The Bar Harbor whale watch ventures directly into the Gulf of Maine for the elusive whale and their marine friends. A guide is present to inform tourists about the wildlife. Only the tour can get canceled depending on the weather. So, if you are going with this company, have an alternate plan ready in case the weather is not ideal.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of things to do in Maine. Other than bird watching in Maine and shopping for your favorite moccasins and clothes, Maine offers much more in terms of scenery. You don’t always have to have an activity in place in Maine. You can simply set up a picnic blanket and basket somewhere and look out into the ocean.
If you do want to do something, there are plenty of hiking trails, museums, and arts to marvel at. For those who love canoeing, the water is certainly up for it.
Backyard Birds of Kentucky
Kentucky has a beautiful landscape ranging from farmlands to ponds. Continue reading to know everything about the backyard birds of Kentucky.
Continue reading Backyard Birds of KentuckyBackyard Birds of Alaska
Alaska is known for many things. It has more glaciers, mountains, lakes, and rivers than a person could even imagine. Not to forget, the wildlife such as bears (it is called the “bear country” for a reason!), moose, bison, caribou, salmon, jellyfish, puffins, and many others.
Continue reading Backyard Birds of AlaskaBackyard Birds of Hawaii
Oh, beautiful Hawaii, the soft waves, warm breeze, and the bright sun is heaven on earth. Many people know Hawaii for many things, whether it’s because of its amazing beaches, beautiful warm weather, the array of fresh tropical food it offers, or its culture. Everyone has their reasoning, but many people don’t associate with Hawaii are animals, specifically birds.
Continue reading Backyard Birds of HawaiiBackyard Birds of Iowa
The state of Iowa has many beautiful bird species. Backyard birds of Iowa include a number of species from the Yellow-headed Blackbird (least frequent) to the Black-capped Chickadee (most frequent).
Continue reading Backyard Birds of IowaBackyard Birds of Kansas
Kansas is one state where you can spot birds all year round. Backyard birds of Kansas range from the Mountain Bluebird (least frequent) to the American Robin (most frequent).
Continue reading Backyard Birds of KansasBackyard Birds of Florida
Many people dream of visiting Florida for their beaches and their nightlife. However, for people like us, these things do not matter a lot. We find happiness and peace in the small things that nature has gifted us with. If you resonate more with the latter, then I am sure you will be interested in today’s topic. Birds.
Continue reading Backyard Birds of FloridaBackyard Birds of Delaware
Delaware, a city with beautiful geographical features like the Delaware River, Delaware Bay, and the ocean, is breathtaking on its own, but that is not the best part about this city. These astonishingly beautiful geographical features attract hundreds and hundreds of birds, making Delaware a “bird suitable” city, making it a home to approximately four hundred and twenty-three species of birds. There are many backyard birds of Delaware for you to learn about!
Continue reading Backyard Birds of DelawareBackyard Birds of Missouri
Every experienced birder started as a hobby backyard birder sometime and remained involved in backyard birding almost throughout their whole life to gain the knowledge they have today. If you live in Missouri, you’re lucky as this state offers many opportunities for attracting, identifying, and watching the beautiful backyard birds of Missouri.
Continue reading Backyard Birds of MissouriBackyard Birds of Texas
Texas is the second state with a great backyard bird count. This state covers everything, starting from deserts to marshes, making it the best location for birds to get comfortable.
Continue reading Backyard Birds of TexasBackyard Birds of Connecticut
Connecticut, a state in southern New England, USA, has been abundantly gifted by nature and humans. Ranging from waterfalls (and not just any waterfall but the Kents falls) to parks like Bluff Point State Park (Groton) to sunsets (that Connecticut is known for), it is filled with places and features that will make you fall in love with nature all over again.
Continue reading Backyard Birds of ConnecticutBackyard Birds of Ohio
Ohio should be one of the top states you must visit for birding because it is a huge nest to a wide range of backyard bird species. The individuals in Northwest Ohio arrogantly call Ohio the world’s warbler center and have a spring festival called American birding’s largest week. Several migrating songbirds stay by the state before they’re all set to reach their final destination, calling for a big gathering of birders.
Continue reading Backyard Birds of OhioBackyard Birds of North Carolina
For people who like it, birding might be a fun leisure activity, particularly when you’re birding in a state like North Carolina. Here you find a wide range of backyard birds. Let’s see how you can commence your birding explorations here.
Continue reading Backyard Birds of North CarolinaBackyard Birds of Colorado
Whether it is the flapping of the wings or the chirping and singing, birds are the soundtrack for summers for everyone. They rise with the sun and set with it as well—the epitome of nature. Colorado has many things, the vivid landscape, plateaus, mountains, canyons, and whatnot. What it also has in abundance is a vast array of birds. Whether it is the regal look of a Black-billed Magpie or the adorableness of a Black-capped Chickadee, Colorado has it all.
Most people like watching birds when they are taking a stroll in the park or even in the comfort of their own home. For many, it is a known way to connect with nature and detach from the busy world. Today we will go through the most common backyard birds that you will find in Colorado. Although we cannot name All of them due to their sheer quantity, we can try naming those you are most likely to see. So, without any further ado, here are the most common backyard birds of Colorado.
Continue reading Backyard Birds of ColoradoBackyard Birds of California
California is a vast state that encompasses numerous habitats. That is why it also carries within itself a wide array of bird species. In this article, we will talk about the most common backyard birds of California and discuss the seasonal component of the species. Winters are pretty mild in California, making it a home to many of the bird species. Apart from this, many other birds make their way to California in the winter season. Here are some of the most common
backyard birds of California.
Backyard Birds of Massachusetts
Massachusetts is the most populous state of the United States of America in the New England region. If you want to know everything about the beautiful backyard birds of Massachusetts, scroll below!
Continue reading Backyard Birds of MassachusettsBackyard Birds of Mississippi
The Magnolia State of Mississippi is considered the birthplace of blues music. Know everything about the backyard birds of Mississippi in this article.
Continue reading Backyard Birds of MississippiBackyard Birds of Minnesota
Minnesota’s temperature is slightly on the dangerous side, fluctuating from extreme cold to burning summer heat. People might find that intolerable at times; however, backyard birds surely do flourish in these circumstances. If you are a bird watcher, you can visit this place in any season and still find some occasional bird species.
Continue reading Backyard Birds of MinnesotaBackyard Birds of Louisiana
It is said that one who has seen the backyard birds of Louisiana turns into an ornithophile for life. The beautiful backyard birds of Louisiana range from the Western Kingbird (less frequent) to the Northern Cardinal (most frequent).
Continue reading to unearth some of the most interesting aspects related to the backyard birds of Louisiana.