Goodness, I am tired. A mere 26 hours after returning home from Utah, I was heading out the door for two whirlwind days of private guiding. Lynn, from Texas, hired me to find some Maine specialties for her as she is currently doing a “Big Year.”

A “Big Year” is an attempt to see as many birds as possible within one calendar year within the ABA area (the continental US and Canada). Despite having recently eclipsed 600 for the YEAR (good grief, I just eclipsed 600 in my life!), we were able to add 7 new species in two days here in Maine. I had met Lynn 7 or 8 years ago in the middle of the Bering Sea (St. Paul Island) and then Jeannette and I ran into her in South Texas a couple of years ago. Knowing that I now live – and guide – in Maine, Lynn contacted me earlier this year as she began her summer planning for the Big Year run.

As for as she knows, Lynn is the first woman to do a Big Year, and as far as she knows she now holds the record – eclipsing her previous record Big Year, set only within the borders of Texas a few years back. I was honored to play a small role in this pursuit. She had 5 main target birds: Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Roseate Tern, Bicknell’s Thrush, Spruce Grouse, and Atlantic Puffin. I then had her recite her “wantlist” to see if there were a few gaps in the checklist that could be filled in over the next two days.

We began in Sprawlborough Marsh early Tuesday morning, immediately getting great looks at Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow (#605, if I remember correctly). Roseate Tern soon followed, with good looks at Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows, five lingering Black-bellied Plovers, and a single Greater Yellowlegs (coming or going!?) also being noted.

With such quick success with our first two targets, we diverted down to Biddeford’s Rotary Park for Blue-winged Warblers, a bird Lynn missed in Texas this spring. Although this is probably the only reliable place in this state for this species, I have seen them well here on my last two visits, so we took a shot.

We walked around for a bit – it was getting hot, and it was surprisingly mosquito-filled – without hearing the buzzy whoopee-cushion of the Blue-wing. Then, after completing the loop, I heard the distinctive song from the west side of the teen center, and we were off in pursuit.

I found the bird, an exclaimed, “Whoa, it’s a Lawrence’s Warbler!” Lynn exclaimed, “Oh no, it’s a Lawrence’s Warbler!” See, the bird known as the Lawrence’s Warbler is a hybrid Blue-winged Warbler x Golden-winged Warbler backcross! It’s rare – exceptionally rare in Maine – and absolutely gorgeous, but it doesn’t “count.” Luckily, both of us were soon satisfied when a female Blue-winged Warbler joined our mutt in the same tree, providing a “countable” Blue-winged for the list. We then headed for the hills.

We had lunch in Rangeley, and then took a short stroll at Hunter’s Cove Preserve, allowing us a chance to digest (before our upcoming major trek) and also begin our quest for a Spruce Grouse. I must admit, I did not promise Spruce Grouse to Lynn. The birds are a pain in the butt to find when you’re looking for them, and this is not a great time of year to see them (males lay low, and females sneak around with chick in tow behind them). However, sometimes you get lucky and run into a family, so by spending time in good habitat, you give yourself a chance.

Although we did not have a “Fool’s Hen,” at Spruce Cove, we did hear the male Cape May Warbler that I found here two weeks ago. But, there was to be no more stalling – it was time to get on the packs and climb a mountain!

First of all, I must say, Lynn really knows how to pick the days! With our ridiculously wet and unsettled weather over the past few weeks, I was definitely worried about climbing and camping overnight atop Saddleback Mountain. But, under mostly clear skies this afternoon (a few showers were passing well to our west), we began our climb.

Unlike my client, “Bob,” last week, Lynn made it up the bunny slope easily, and we slowly but surely (there’s no point in rushing) birded our way up the hill. Close to ¾ the way up, I spot an oddly dark rock in the middle of the trail.

A glance through the bins yielded what I was hoping it would be – a Spruce Grouse! A hen, with three downy chicks nearby, was taking a dustbath in the middle of the trail! Who says there no such thing as dumb luck!?

Can you find the chick in this photo???

After pitching our tents for the night, we enjoyed the evening chorus of Bicknell’s and Swainson’s Thrushes. We were treated to one good – but not great – look of this furtive mountaintop denizen, and then retired to some much-earned rest. At least 7 Bicknell’s were singing and/or calling tonight.

The next morning was surprisingly quiet, with only a few Bicknell’s Thrushes heard, and only one briefly seen by me. Admittedly, I was quite disappointed in the performance, but Lynn was more than satisfied with not only another addition to her Big Year list, but a life bird as well.

Heading down the mountain (we ran into a Boreal Chickadee, and heard another Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, by the way), I had to formulate a plan for the rest of the day. Originally, I had planned on spending the day (likely fruitlessly!) searching for Spruce Grouse, but that was no longer necessary, so I decided to try and fill in a couple of holes in Lynn’s year list.

After searching around for a Mourning Warbler in some good-looking patches, I decided to call for back up, and called my friend Don for some additional information. He told me about a trail where he had 2-3 Mournings earlier this year, so instead of aimlessly wandering around, we headed straight for the trail. Don told me to walk the trail about 150 meters, but within a mere 50 feet, a glorious Mourning Warbler began to sing, with another one a little farther away.

With another success under our belts, I was running out of options – but had a lot of time to fill – so I decided to make a desperate hot, mid-day, mid-summer attempt to hear a Virginia Rail. Don gave me a couple of place to try in the Messalonskee Lake area, but with the heat, breeze, and traffic, this was completely fruitless. However, we did enjoy Black Terns (15+) and at least 4 Purple Martins – the two Messalonskee specialties – for Lynn’s growing, fledgling Maine state list.

With our options now limited, we rolled into the parking lot at Pemaquid Point, with about an hour and a half to burn. My plan was to allow for a little relaxation while seawatching for a Wilson’s Storm-Petrel. Unfortunately, a wall of fog greeted us, and we began to worry about whether or not our streak of great weather and great luck was coming to an end.

While I enjoyed a critical half-hour of shut-eye on a picnic table bench at the park (I was going to worry about my ability to drive home a few hours from now), Lynn stared a the fog and stressed about whether or not the Hardy Boat Puffin Watch was going to be running tonight.

We arrived at the dock, and were informed that there were “all intentions” to go tonight, as the fog was only patchy offshore. I spoke with Captain Al, who expressed further confidence. We were relieved, but as the boat motored offshore, the visibility was close to zero.

All of the sudden, Eastern Egg Rock was before us, and Atlantic Puffins (Year bird number 711 – I think – and our 7th target bird for the trip) zoomed by, along plenty of Black Guillemots, and Arctic, Roseate, and Common Terns. Mission accomplished. The fog even began to lift – and cleared out nicely when it was time to go, of course – just like my trip to Outer Green Island last weekend.

We topped off Lynn’s successful Maine experience with a Lobster Roll at Red’s Eats in Wiscasset (what else!?). Since this was Lynn’s first visit to Maine, I felt obligated to provide all of Maine’s specialties – food, as well as birds! Moxie got the thumbs down, Whoopee Pies got the thumbs up, and the lobster rolls were a resounding hit.

Stubbornly, I insisted on trying a few marshes on the way home in a desperate attempt at a Virginia Rail, but that twitch will have to wait for Lynn’s next adventure.

You can follow Lynn’s Big Year run on her website.