Quarry Road Trails: A Little Known Gem

American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla in courtship display.

The American Redstart above was only one of numerous birds seen today on the trail year around. In winter cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing, in the rest of the year walking, jogging, biking, and dog walking are popular, as well of course as birding. See the trail map at the Quarry Road Trails website.
[//]:# (!steemitworldmap 44.583068 lat -69.658819 long Quarry Road Trails, Waterville, ME d3scr)

A more typical view of the male American Redstart.

Wood Thrushes were singing in several locations when I arrived about 7:15 AM, although I could not get looks at any of these beautiful skulkers. I did get to see lots of great birds though, and several allowed photos.

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks Pheucticus ludovicianus are descriptively named.

If you are not sure if you are seeing an Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe just wait a second and it will bob its tail up and down to convince you.

If you go birding in the eastern U.S. in a deciduous or mixed forest in the late spring or early summer you will always hear the Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus singing all throughout the day, but they live high in the canopy and are much less often seen. This is the first photo I've managed of this species in almost a week of birding here. The scientific name is much more descriptive, as it's an olive colored vireo.

This Pine Warbler Setophaga pinus was first heard high in a grove of mature pine trees. I could not see it, and the song is a trill much like the Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis so I played a recorded song on my phone. The bird immediately flew directly to my phone, and literally flew within inches of me and the phone. I was so flustered that it took me a few seconds to get the recording turned off, all the time the warbler dashed in and out around me. Really cool, but making me feel quite guilty for disturbing this breeding bird for my viewing satisfaction.

After leaving the Quarry Road trails I went to the Flood Brothers Dairy, a great place for migrant shorebirds, and where two days ago a White-rumped Sandpiper and a Wilson's Phalarope were seen. Only one of the three settling ponds had enough water for muddy habitat, and a Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos was the only shorebird present. These are an uncommon spring migrant, so I was happy to see it.

Adult Pectoral Sandpiper. In the fall juveniles are fairly regularly seen, but adults are not common on either coast as they generally migrate through the center of the continent.

I'll close with a goofy photo of an Osprey pair, on a nest that looks like the leaning tower of Piza. It seems to have been abandoned and rebuilt on top of the prior nest at least twice, leading to a leaning 3-story structure. Regardless it seems to have a breeding pair, with one bird sitting on the nest, and the mate standing nearby.

Until next time, good birding. Steem on!

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