Freeport Wild Bird Supply is proud to once again partner with Down East Magazine’s Down East Adventures for the sixth year of offering exclusive birding workshops focused on gaining greater knowledge and field skills in a focused group of seasonally accessible birds. Focused on skill-builder rather than list-building, there will be plenty of “life birds,” but also more knowledge and education about birds, habitats, birding, and much more about the natural world. We are honored to be their provider for a series of unique and exclusive birdwatching endeavors. In 2026, we will once again offer four exclusive outings.
For more information on each tour, as well as registration information, visit: https://www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/downeast-adventures-tours Trip reports from each will be posted here upon their completion.
- Winter Waterbirds Workshop
January 29th, 2026; 9:00am – 4:00pm.
First and foremost, I must commend everyone in the group for being such troopers today! Brutally cold temperatures and a barely broken trail to start the day, with a frigid day barely warming into the low 20’s. But everyone was prepared, everyone was ready to bird, and we all learned a lot.
Between astronomical low tides, days of offshore winds, and recent bitter cold, we encountered many fewer waterbirds overall than expected at this season. We did see some of the stars of the winter show well, such as Harlequin Ducks – always the crowd favorite! – and Great Cormorants. At two sites, we worked our way through learning the various seaducks, while at two other sites we studied dabbling ducks. A short gull workshop was also included. We even finished with another family of waterfowl when a hen Greater Scaup landed in Perkin’s Cove when we returned at the end of the day.
The Ogunquit Rivermouth was one of the most productive destinations today, with an unexpected 4 Northern Pintails pioneering amongst hundreds of Mallards and American Black Ducks, Canada Geese, and really close views of White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, and Common Loon, plus a Belted Kingfisher – one of our “honorary waterbirds.” Elsewhere, Black Scoters were the dominant species, with large rafts witnessed at multiple locations.
As rewarding and educational the birding was, I think most people will end up remembering more about the domestic duck roundup attempt that we witnessed at Abbott’s Pond. We were there to study Mallards, American Black Ducks, and hybrids thereof, learning the differences and nuances in plumage of some of our most commonly seen waterfowl. We did that, and then sat back and enjoyed the show as the pond’s caretakers were bringing some “dumped” domestic hybrids to a better home.
their plumage, such as on this female Mallard.
2. Spring Migrant Songbird Workshop
- Spring Migrant Songbird Workshop
Portland. May 17, 2026.
This half-day workshop focused on the migrant songbirds, especially warblers, that are passing through Maine’s most famous migrant trap, Portland’s Evergreen Cemetery. At the peak of warbler migration, we learned how to identify these charismatic birds, and discussed their mind-boggling migration and what they’re up to in Maine.
We began with making some predictions of what the morning would produce, and later analyzed the winds and radar images to draw some conclusions about what we did and did not see. And while we expected more than the 13 species of warblers we saw and/or heard, and more “passage migrants” overall, we still had a really enjoyable day, and yeah, 13 species of warblers!
Beginning at Evergreen Cemetery, we were greeted by newly-arrived Red-eyed Vireos, and a nice variety of warblers. More were in the tops of oak trees (we learned why) than down low, but we still enjoyed great views of a variety of species, such as Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, and especially Magnolia Warbler. After hearing them all morning, we were finally treated to a stunning view of a Great-crested Flycatcher, and we finished off with an unexpected immature Orchard Oriole! We also had exceptionally good views of two different perched and hunting Cooper’s Hawks – although this was a songbird workshop, I jokingly justified it as songbird-eating raptor identification is more important for a songbird to workshop than songbird identification is for us to workshop!
Moving over to nearby Capisic Pond Park to continue our birding by habitat lessons, we soon added plentiful Yellow Warblers and a migrant female Canada Warbler to our warbler tally, while later enjoying more quality time with American Redstarts. Baltimore Orioles abound here, and we spotted the local male Orchard Oriole here, where they are regular breeders (one of the few places in the state they are found annually), making for a two OROR day. Gray Catbirds were conspicuous, Warbling Vireos were seen, but mostly heard, and we found a nest brimming with soon-to-fledge-already American Robins. As for non-songbirds, we took time to study Red-tailed Hawks in flight and especially soaked in the stunning plumes and high-breeding facial skin of a confiding Great Egret.
With temperatures rising into the 70’s and abundant sunshine, we were all complaining (mildly) about being overdressed for the first time this spring! But also, how it was “too nice out” to have seen a ton of birds, despite what the overnight radar image suggested! But this is the challenge of birding in migration, and thankfully, the weather was delightful and there were plenty of birds to look at all morning!
3. Shorebird Workshop
August 18, 2026; 9:00am – 4:00pm
nearly at our feet at our first stop
With more than 35 species of shorebirds (a diverse group including plovers and sandpipers) regularly appearing in Maine, this workshop is designed to appreciate the diversity and beauty of this fascinating family.
With recent sighting reports and the desire to avoid really long walks with a rapidly increasing temperature, we began the day in Biddeford Pool, starting at Great Pond with Least Sandpipers at our feet. We began our shorebird identification journey here with Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs as well, and a nice performance from Spotted Sandpipers. Despite our focused agenda today, it was impossible not to enjoy all of the other birdlife at the pond, including 3 locally-rare Forster’s Terns among Common Terns feeding just in front of us. There were lots of juvenile Glossy Ibis and juvenile Laughing Gulls, Great and Snowy Egrets, and a few Black-crowned Night-Herons as well.
Over the dunes at the nearby beach, we went back to work with shorebirds, with close-up views of Piping (3) and Semipalmated Plovers (about 125 of them!), Semipalmated Sandpipers, and spiffy Ruddy Turnstones plowing through seaweed mats.
Then, with the outgoing tide, we watched birds come and go from Hill’s Beach, adding Short-billed Dowitchers (85!), Black-bellied Plovers, and spotted 8 American Oystercatchers in the distance. We practiced plover vs sandpiper some more, this time at a distance, and later had a Whimbrel (shorebird species #12) fly across the street at The Pool.
After our lunch break, we relocated to the environs of Scarborough, beginning with Pine Point. We had much better looks at a couple of American Oystercatchers and another Whimbrel and caught up with another new shorebird species that offered good studies in 8 Willets. We walked to the beach to check for rarities and then finished up at the Pelreco Marsh where a few Killdeer were our 14th and final shorebird species on the day.
More importantly than the species count, however, we learned how approachable (both literally and figuratively!) shorebirds can be, and how breaking it down to family goes a long way in narrowing down our choices that lead to a successful identification – which for most shorebirds, most of the time, is just not that hard!
4. Monhegan Birding Workshop
September 11-13, 2026
Join Derek Lovitch for three days of birding at Maine’s famous Migration Mecca. As the summer crowds dwindle, the island becomes a birders’ paradise, with birding opportunities around every corner. This tour will spend three days sampling what the island has to offer during the peak of migration, from warblers to hawks to sparrows to the unexpected. Weather (and sometimes, lack thereof) will dictate how much we do or do not see, but every day is different out there. We’ll learn that fall warblers are rarely if ever “confusing” and why migrants – and vagrants from any direction – drop by this offshore migrant trap.
While finding and seeing birds will be the priority, we will also do a bit of informal workshopping in the afternoons to learn more about the mechanisms and marvels of bird migration. Day one will begin at the dock for the Hardy Boat in New Harbor. We’ll keep an eye out for birds from the top deck of the boat as we make the hour-long crossing to the island. Upon our arrival, we’ll hit the ground running to make the most out of our first morning at this special place. Once we’re on land, we’ll be on foot for the next 2 days, with several walks throughout the day. We’ll mostly be on dirt roads with some steep sections, but we’ll also traverse some narrow trails full of roots and rocks. Expect to spend time on “unimproved surfaces.” You will set a new personal record on your step-counter – especially when the bird we most want to see gets discovered on the opposite end of the island just before mealtime!
On the first day, after we check in lunch will be on your own, with a variety of options scattered about the town. After a break, we’ll head back out later in the afternoon for some more birding, before assembling again for an evening “cocktail hour” (BYOB; also available on the island) and our migration workshop where we’ll discuss the birds of the day, how and why we saw (and didn’t see) what we did, and more (when time and energy levels permit). The next two mornings we’ll once again maximize our time on the island. Following a short walk shortly after sunrise, we’ll enjoy the famous Monhegan House breakfast before birding for the remainder of the morning. Once again, we’ll break for lunch before reconvening for some afternoon birding: on the second day until we prepare for our evening “cocktail hour and migration review, and on the third day, right up until it’s time to head to the ferry.
For 2026, we’ll be staying at the venerable Island Inn. More details will soon follow. Stay tuned!
See Derek’s blog entry to see how the 2025, 2024, and 2023 trips went.
Maine Birding Field Notes 