Posted by Luke Ormand on August 8, 2016 at 12:38 PM
Hey all - I'm headed to Acadia from Sept. 20-24th. Plan on doing lots of photography, staying right in Bar Habor. Any and all tips are welcome - specifically looking at the best bird/wildlife spots. Looking forward to hawk watching on Cadillac Mt.
Depending on how long you will be at Acadia some of the best places are around Mt Desert Island and a little visited part of the park north on the Island on the Schoodic Peninsula. Here is a list for your further investigation:
Coast around Thunder Hole (Park Loop Road). Pink Granit bedrock, waves crashing with a northeast wind. At the far southern end of this stretch of coast is Rock Beach which always seems to have great photo opportunities. In the water off this cost you will of course see lots of gulls and depending on the wind and weather there could be loons and / or Eiders on the water.
Otter Cliff – Continue on park loop road past rock beach will take you to a parking lot (on the right ) and 100 foot hi cliff that looks back on the entire coast from rock beach to sandy beach
You already seem to know about the road to the top of Cadillac Mt. it is good there from the top and other pull offs you will see. Sunrise first on the east coast of the US from the top and there is a pull off down from the top that will give you a good view to the west looking at bubble top Blue Hill and the sunset.
There used to be a boat from northeast harbor out to Baker Island. Good place to look for eiders and they will show you a lighthouse and a few Bald eagle nests on the way to or from Barker Island. Have not been on that boat is a few years so not sure if it is still running or in it is running after labor day.
Leaving Bass Harbor light find a place along the shoe that the park calls wonderland. Park on the right and you will have a ½ mile walk to the shore. Likely to find sea birds and at low tide lots of tidal pools. A tripod and a circular polarizer will be very helpful in the tidal pools.
Returning to the mainland and heading north on Rte. 1 look for Acadia NP Schoodic Peninsula sign and turn right on that road. This will take you along the rocky shore of the peninsula to Schoodic Pont. If there are large waves in the gulf of Maine during your visit that is the day to go to Schoodic Point. The hit a large point of rocks and slash very high in the air. Along the road tpo the point and past the point when you leave look for sea birds in the water, particularly as you leave Schoodic point.
Cadillac Mt Hawk watch
Every year, strong northerly winds push thousands of raptors from Maine and Canada south along the eastern coastline as they migrate to warmer areas for the winter. With its wide-open views and tallest vantage point on the eastern coast, Acadia's Hawk Watch location on Cadillac Mountain often provides visitors with a close look at the soaring raptors. Each year, program participants see large numbers of sharp-shinned hawks and American kestrels. To help you identify flying raptors, click here for a silhouette guide.
I usually spend a few day in Acadia in the autumn. I don’t have a schedule for this year but check in with me before you head up there and if there is an overlap with my day up there we can meet up and say hello.
If you are looking for a good place to eat try the Side Street Café. Great food from sandwinches and burgers up the full entrees. Great Lobster dishes and Lobster rolls include Lobster Mas & Cheese. They also have some really good craft beer mostly made in Maine and the other new England states on draft. http://sidestreetbarharbor.com/
Posted by Jim Deasy on August 16, 2016 at 10:14 AM
Depending on how long you will be at Acadia some of the best places are around Mt Desert Island and a little visited part of the park north on the Island on the Schoodic Peninsula. Here is a list for your further investigation:
Coast around Thunder Hole (Park Loop Road). Pink Granit bedrock, waves crashing with a northeast wind. At the far southern end of this stretch of coast is Rock Beach which always seems to have great photo opportunities. In the water off this cost you will of course see lots of gulls and depending on the wind and weather there could be loons and / or Eiders on the water.
Otter Cliff – Continue on park loop road past rock beach will take you to a parking lot (on the right ) and 100 foot hi cliff that looks back on the entire coast from rock beach to sandy beach
You already seem to know about the road to the top of Cadillac Mt. it is good there from the top and other pull offs you will see. Sunrise first on the east coast of the US from the top and there is a pull off down from the top that will give you a good view to the west looking at bubble top Blue Hill and the sunset.
There used to be a boat from northeast harbor out to Baker Island. Good place to look for eiders and they will show you a lighthouse and a few Bald eagle nests on the way to or from Barker Island. Have not been on that boat is a few years so not sure if it is still running or in it is running after labor day.
Leaving Bass Harbor light find a place along the shoe that the park calls wonderland. Park on the right and you will have a ½ mile walk to the shore. Likely to find sea birds and at low tide lots of tidal pools. A tripod and a circular polarizer will be very helpful in the tidal pools.
Returning to the mainland and heading north on Rte. 1 look for Acadia NP Schoodic Peninsula sign and turn right on that road. This will take you along the rocky shore of the peninsula to Schoodic Pont. If there are large waves in the gulf of Maine during your visit that is the day to go to Schoodic Point. The hit a large point of rocks and slash very high in the air. Along the road tpo the point and past the point when you leave look for sea birds in the water, particularly as you leave Schoodic point.
Cadillac Mt Hawk watch
Every year, strong northerly winds push thousands of raptors from Maine and Canada south along the eastern coastline as they migrate to warmer areas for the winter. With its wide-open views and tallest vantage point on the eastern coast, Acadia's Hawk Watch location on Cadillac Mountain often provides visitors with a close look at the soaring raptors. Each year, program participants see large numbers of sharp-shinned hawks and American kestrels. To help you identify flying raptors, click here for a silhouette guide.
I usually spend a few day in Acadia in the autumn. I don’t have a schedule for this year but check in with me before you head up there and if there is an overlap with my day up there we can meet up and say hello.
If you are looking for a good place to eat try the Side Street Café. Great food from sandwinches and burgers up the full entrees. Great Lobster dishes and Lobster rolls include Lobster Mas & Cheese. They also have some really good craft beer mostly made in Maine and the other new England states on draft. http://sidestreetbarharbor.com/
Posted by Luke Ormand on September 7, 2016 at 9:21 PM
Thank you so much! I'll be sure to post here when I return from my trip
Discussion
4 replies- Luke
I'm on the run today time is difficult, but I will put together some info for you in a day or two and get it to you.
Jim
Late September in Acadia will not be particularly great for wildlife. The sea birds are in transition due to migration, the loons are probably the scruffiest looking time of the year and the peregrine falcon are usually gone by that time of the year. I am told be bird people in Maine that the best place to get current info is a google source: https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!forum/maine-birds
Some good info links:
https://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm
http://www.acadiamagic.com/
http://www.barharborinfo.com/acadia_national_park/
http://www.visitmaine.net/page/38/lighthouses
http://www.acadiachamber.com/AcadiaBirdingGuide.pdf
Depending on how long you will be at Acadia some of the best places are around Mt Desert Island and a little visited part of the park north on the Island on the Schoodic Peninsula. Here is a list for your further investigation:
- Coast around Thunder Hole (Park Loop Road). Pink Granit bedrock, waves crashing with a northeast wind. At the far southern end of this stretch of coast is Rock Beach which always seems to have great photo opportunities. In the water off this cost you will of course see lots of gulls and depending on the wind and weather there could be loons and / or Eiders on the water.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/park-loop-road.html- Otter Cliff – Continue on park loop road past rock beach will take you to a parking lot (on the right ) and 100 foot hi cliff that looks back on the entire coast from rock beach to sandy beach
http://www.acadiamagic.com/OtterCliff.html- Following park loop road you will find more pull offs that you should check to look for sea birds
http://www.acadiamagic.com/seawall-acadia.htm- You already seem to know about the road to the top of Cadillac Mt. it is good there from the top and other pull offs you will see. Sunrise first on the east coast of the US from the top and there is a pull off down from the top that will give you a good view to the west looking at bubble top Blue Hill and the sunset.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/panoramics/cadillac-mountain-01.html- There used to be a boat from northeast harbor out to Baker Island. Good place to look for eiders and they will show you a lighthouse and a few Bald eagle nests on the way to or from Barker Island. Have not been on that boat is a few years so not sure if it is still running or in it is running after labor day.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/NortheastHarbor.htmlhttp://www.acadiamagic.com/park/baker-island.html
- Bass harbor great harbor loaded with Lobster boats and seals in the winter but end of September might be a little early for them.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/BassHarbor.html- Bass harbor light makes a good sunrise or sun set picture if you are there at low tide. Never seen many sea birds there except the sea gulls.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/BassHarborLight.- Leaving Bass Harbor light find a place along the shoe that the park calls wonderland. Park on the right and you will have a ½ mile walk to the shore. Likely to find sea birds and at low tide lots of tidal pools. A tripod and a circular polarizer will be very helpful in the tidal pools.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/wonderland-trail.html- Returning to the mainland and heading north on Rte. 1 look for Acadia NP Schoodic Peninsula sign and turn right on that road. This will take you along the rocky shore of the peninsula to Schoodic Pont. If there are large waves in the gulf of Maine during your visit that is the day to go to Schoodic Point. The hit a large point of rocks and slash very high in the air. Along the road tpo the point and past the point when you leave look for sea birds in the water, particularly as you leave Schoodic point.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/schoodic-peninsula.htm- While you are over there look for Corea Maine to see another very good looking working harbor full of Lobster boats.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/corea-maine.htm- Cadillac Mt Hawk watch
https://friendsofacadia.org/hawk-watch-acadia/Every year, strong northerly winds push thousands of raptors from Maine and Canada south along the eastern coastline as they migrate to warmer areas for the winter. With its wide-open views and tallest vantage point on the eastern coast, Acadia's Hawk Watch location on Cadillac Mountain often provides visitors with a close look at the soaring raptors. Each year, program participants see large numbers of sharp-shinned hawks and American kestrels. To help you identify flying raptors, click here for a silhouette guide.
I usually spend a few day in Acadia in the autumn. I don’t have a schedule for this year but check in with me before you head up there and if there is an overlap with my day up there we can meet up and say hello.
If you are looking for a good place to eat try the Side Street Café. Great food from sandwinches and burgers up the full entrees. Great Lobster dishes and Lobster rolls include Lobster Mas & Cheese. They also have some really good craft beer mostly made in Maine and the other new England states on draft.
http://sidestreetbarharbor.com/
Late September in Acadia will not be particularly great for wildlife. The sea birds are in transition due to migration, the loons are probably the scruffiest looking time of the year and the peregrine falcon are usually gone by that time of the year. I am told be bird people in Maine that the best place to get current info is a google source: https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!forum/maine-birds
Some good info links:
https://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm
http://www.acadiamagic.com/
http://www.barharborinfo.com/acadia_national_park/
http://www.visitmaine.net/page/38/lighthouses
http://www.acadiachamber.com/AcadiaBirdingGuide.pdf
Depending on how long you will be at Acadia some of the best places are around Mt Desert Island and a little visited part of the park north on the Island on the Schoodic Peninsula. Here is a list for your further investigation:
- Coast around Thunder Hole (Park Loop Road). Pink Granit bedrock, waves crashing with a northeast wind. At the far southern end of this stretch of coast is Rock Beach which always seems to have great photo opportunities. In the water off this cost you will of course see lots of gulls and depending on the wind and weather there could be loons and / or Eiders on the water.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/park-loop-road.html- Otter Cliff – Continue on park loop road past rock beach will take you to a parking lot (on the right ) and 100 foot hi cliff that looks back on the entire coast from rock beach to sandy beach
http://www.acadiamagic.com/OtterCliff.html- Following park loop road you will find more pull offs that you should check to look for sea birds
http://www.acadiamagic.com/seawall-acadia.htm- You already seem to know about the road to the top of Cadillac Mt. it is good there from the top and other pull offs you will see. Sunrise first on the east coast of the US from the top and there is a pull off down from the top that will give you a good view to the west looking at bubble top Blue Hill and the sunset.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/panoramics/cadillac-mountain-01.html- There used to be a boat from northeast harbor out to Baker Island. Good place to look for eiders and they will show you a lighthouse and a few Bald eagle nests on the way to or from Barker Island. Have not been on that boat is a few years so not sure if it is still running or in it is running after labor day.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/NortheastHarbor.htmlhttp://www.acadiamagic.com/park/baker-island.html
- Bass harbor great harbor loaded with Lobster boats and seals in the winter but end of September might be a little early for them.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/BassHarbor.html- Bass harbor light makes a good sunrise or sun set picture if you are there at low tide. Never seen many sea birds there except the sea gulls.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/BassHarborLight.- Leaving Bass Harbor light find a place along the shoe that the park calls wonderland. Park on the right and you will have a ½ mile walk to the shore. Likely to find sea birds and at low tide lots of tidal pools. A tripod and a circular polarizer will be very helpful in the tidal pools.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/wonderland-trail.html- Returning to the mainland and heading north on Rte. 1 look for Acadia NP Schoodic Peninsula sign and turn right on that road. This will take you along the rocky shore of the peninsula to Schoodic Pont. If there are large waves in the gulf of Maine during your visit that is the day to go to Schoodic Point. The hit a large point of rocks and slash very high in the air. Along the road tpo the point and past the point when you leave look for sea birds in the water, particularly as you leave Schoodic point.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/schoodic-peninsula.htm- While you are over there look for Corea Maine to see another very good looking working harbor full of Lobster boats.
http://www.acadiamagic.com/corea-maine.htm- Cadillac Mt Hawk watch
https://friendsofacadia.org/hawk-watch-acadia/Every year, strong northerly winds push thousands of raptors from Maine and Canada south along the eastern coastline as they migrate to warmer areas for the winter. With its wide-open views and tallest vantage point on the eastern coast, Acadia's Hawk Watch location on Cadillac Mountain often provides visitors with a close look at the soaring raptors. Each year, program participants see large numbers of sharp-shinned hawks and American kestrels. To help you identify flying raptors, click here for a silhouette guide.
I usually spend a few day in Acadia in the autumn. I don’t have a schedule for this year but check in with me before you head up there and if there is an overlap with my day up there we can meet up and say hello.
If you are looking for a good place to eat try the Side Street Café. Great food from sandwinches and burgers up the full entrees. Great Lobster dishes and Lobster rolls include Lobster Mas & Cheese. They also have some really good craft beer mostly made in Maine and the other new England states on draft.
http://sidestreetbarharbor.com/