Our June trip for Adirondack birding came with an unexpected twist: a massive manhunt unfolding just miles from our family camp. News of two escaped convicts from Clinton Correctional Facility broke the day before we left. Suddenly, our quiet corner of Willsboro was filled with roadblocks, helicopters, and hundreds of officers. It wasn’t the backdrop we imagined for a summer getaway, but with plans set and family waiting, we headed north anyway — ready for a week of mountain air, lake views, and whatever birds the North Country had in store.
Cold Water & Camp Adventures
Our first day at the camp with our nephew Kyle was an adventure in itself, with a broken water heater forcing us to get creative. A hike in New Russia, with the thought of escaped convicts on our minds, gave us a few nervous moments, especially when Sharon lagged. Afterward, we found our own solution to the lack of hot water by taking a refreshing (and chilly!) bath in the 50-degree water of Split Rock Falls.
A Bluebird Sunday on Lake Champlain
Sunday was a beautiful bluebird day, so we took a walk around our neighborhood, Buena Vista Park. Along the shore of Lake Champlain, we spotted Canada Geese, Mallards, and Ring-billed Gulls. The neighborhood trees held Northern Flicker, three species of vireo (Blue-headed, Red-eyed, and Warbling), American Goldfinch, and Tufted Titmouse. We then took a detour, hopping on the Port Kent ferry to Vermont for the Burlington Wine and Food Festival. The birds were few, but some gulls and a Black-crowned Night Heron kept us company while we indulged in delicious food and wine.
Into the Adirondacks With a Birding Pro
The true highlight of our trip was our decision to hire an expert guide for the central Adirondacks. Given our “big year” goal, we enlisted the help of Joan Collins of Adirondack Avian Expeditions.
We met Joan at the Town of Newcomb overlook, which offers stunning views of the Adirondack High Peaks. A Winter Wren was singing its long song, and Black-capped Chickadees chimed in. Our first stop was a railroad crossing, where a short hike led us to a treetop Olive-sided Flycatcher, calling out its distinctive “quick, three beers” song. Nearby, Joan surprised us with a recent discovery: a Black-backed Woodpecker nest. We watched as the parents flew in and out, feeding their very vocal young—a special sighting of a species that is one of only two woodpeckers in North America with three toes. Joan put us on our first Black-backed Woodpecker in 2012, one of the times we ran into fellow birder Bill Phelan.
Flycatchers, Warblers & Trails
Our hike on the Roosevelt truck trail was incredible. Joan, completely focused on finding birds, seemed unfazed by the ongoing manhunt, and her confidence was contagious. Along the trail, we found Yellow-bellied, Alder, and Least Flycatchers, a year bird Nashville Warbler, and more.
After sandwiches in Long Lake, we headed to Sabattis Bog in search of Gray Jays. While we didn’t find them there, we did see Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, and Magnolia Warblers, as well as a nesting Broad-winged Hawk. Throughout the day, Joan put us on 55 species and eight year birds, including a Golden-crowned Kinglet.
As we drove out, we talked about a bird we had been looking for all day, the elusive Ruffed Grouse. Joan drove slowly, and while we were stopped to admire a Scarlet Tanager, she looked to her left and there, not five feet from her door, was a Ruffed Grouse! It was the perfect end to a spectacular day.
Bog Birds, Camp Robbers & Mountain Views
That night, we stayed at the historic Covewood Lodge on Big Moose Lake, where Common Loons greeted us on the water. Our room was built as a playhouse for the original owner’s daughter. These elaborate little houses for the children were quite common back around the turn of the century. For breakfast, we grabbed donuts from Mary’s White Pine Bakery—the best in the world, in our opinion. With donuts in hand, we headed to Ferd’s Bog. This is a great birding hotspot where we spotted two very friendly Gray Jays, which are known for their bold “camp robber” behavior.
A Lifer at the Summit
Our final stop was Whiteface Mountain, home of the 1980 Olympic downhill skiing events. The views from the top were stunning, and you can see Quebec, Lake Champlain, and Vermont on a clear day. We were there for a specific reason: the Bicknell’s Thrush. This secretive bird is found only in the summer at high elevations and is a candidate for the U.S. Endangered Species Act. We heard its beautiful, spiraling song and spotted a pair very near the summit—a definite lifer!
By the time we boarded our flight home from Plattsburgh, the final fugitive had been captured. Looking back on the week, it was a trip packed with adventure in every sense. From cold‑water baths and Lake Champlain mornings to flycatchers, woodpeckers, Gray Jays, and a lifer Bicknell’s Thrush near the summit of Whiteface. The North Country has a way of surprising us, and this visit delivered more than its share. We’ll be back in August to explore even more of its wild, bird‑rich corners.
Trip: Total Species: 92 • Year Birds: 13 • Life Birds: 2
2015: Year Birds: 364 • Life Birds: 33
Next up: Southeast Arizona Summer Birding
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