Our June trip to the Adirondacks had a thrilling and slightly unnerving backdrop: the massive manhunt for two convicted murderers who had escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility. The national news broke just before we left, and Mike’s brother, Jim, called to tell us that our little town of Willsboro had been descended upon by hundreds of law enforcement officers. We hoped they’d catch the fugitives before our vacation even began.
Our first day at the camp with our nephew Kyle was an adventure in itself, with a broken hot 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 behind. Afterward, we found our own solution to the lack of hot water, taking a refreshing (and chilly!) bath in the 50-degree water of Split Rock Falls.
Sunday was a beautiful bluebird day, and while our nephew Kyle slept in, 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 were alive with activity, including 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. It wasn’t a prime birding day, but a few gulls and a Black-crowned Night Heron kept us company while we indulged in delicious food and wine.
The true highlight of our trip was our decision to hire an expert guide for the central Adirondacks, a vast, wild, and beautiful area. 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 crazy 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.
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. We dipped on the Gray Jays, but 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.
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. It sounds strange, but these elaborate little houses for the children was 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, a great birding hotspot where we were quickly rewarded with two very friendly Gray Jays, which are known for their bold “camp robber” behavior.
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 in the summer only at high elevations, and it’s a candidate for the U.S. Endangered Species Act. We heard its beautiful, spiraling song and were able to spot a pair very near the summit—a definite lifer!
As we waited for our flight home from the Plattsburgh airport, we heard the news that the last escaped convict had been captured. The saga was finally over, and we could reflect on an incredible trip filled with both adventure and some of the best birding in the country. We’ll be back to the North Country in August to check out more hot spots.
Next up: Southeast Arizona Summer Birding
Trip : Total Species: 92 Year Birds: 13 Life Birds: 2
2015 : Year Birds: 364 Life Birds: 33
Here’s the list: 2015 Bird List
You must be logged in to post a comment.