by Brit Fox
We couldn't have asked for more perfect conditions for our 2025 MYBC trip to Monhegan Island. This highly anticipated annual trip depends entirely on favorable weather and sea conditions, and this year delivered: bright sunny skies, warm air with a refreshing sea breeze, calm seas, and ideal wind conditions that brought migrants to the island and kept them there all day.
Ferry Crossing Several BLACK GUILLEMOTS greeted us in the harbor as we boarded the Hardy ferry. The boat ride wasn't particularly birdy, but highlights included multiple harbor porpoise sightings, large rafts of COMMON EIDERS, and a lone NORTHERN GANNET that provided excellent viewing opportunities. As we approached the island, a magnificent BALD EAGLE stood guard on a rocky outcropping, surrounded by DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS.
Morning Birding Thanks to intel from our friends Eli and Jess, we knew where to focus our search. Just up the hill at the schoolhouse, we found a LARK SPARROW feeding alongside a CHIPPING SPARROW—the LARK SPARROW being a lifer for many in our group and an excellent way to start the day.
We moved to the garden area behind the library, where a DICKCISSEL flew overhead but didn't provide good views. Between there and the pump house, we encountered a nice variety of migrants: INDIGO BUNTING, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, NORTHERN PARULA, and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS. At the pump house pond, an elusive WILSON'S SNIPE hid in the shadows while PALM WARBLERS foraged in the mud. As we left this area, we witnessed an aerial spectacle—a PEREGRINE FALCON dive-bombing and harassing two soaring OSPREYS.
Ice Pond The ice pond lived up to reports of good bird activity. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and numerous CEDAR WAXWINGS welcomed us, while a LINCOLN'S SPARROW skulked along the far bank and YELLOW WARBLERS flitted about. We spent considerable time here working through the various species before activity subsided.
Afternoon After lunch at Lobster Cove, the pace slowed but remained rewarding. PALM WARBLERS continued moving through the spruce trees, and we spotted soaring MERLINS throughout the day across the island.
As our day concluded, we reflected on an absolutely beautiful experience. One day on Monhegan never feels like enough—we're already looking forward to our next visit.
Special Thanks We extend our gratitude to the Acadia Birding Festival for sponsoring this trip and to Magill Weber (and Hattie) for joining us and helping with bird identification.
For a full list of birds seen, please checkout our eBird checklists:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S274512068
https://ebird.org/checklist/S274897072
Until we meet again, Monhegan!
