Autumn Grand Manan - August 2026
Dates: August 31 - September 6, 2026
Leader: Barry Zimmer
E-bird
Total Species: 108 birds
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Overall Summary
Once again, our Autumn Grand Manan tour was a big success. Under near-ideal weather conditions, we tallied virtually all of our seabird targets on our boat trip into the Bay of Fundy! We also enjoyed an excellent variety of landbird migrants (including 17 species of warblers), found the near-mythical Boreal Chickadee, and had generally good weather, with the exception of one drizzly day. The lovely New Brunswick coastline and delicious food (think lobster and blueberry pie) added to our great experience.
Our trip began with a drive from Bangor, Maine, to Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick. We didn’t stop much along the way but did manage to see several Broad-winged Hawks perched on wires next to the highway. Near Ossie’s (our lunch stop), we found a few migrants, including Hermit Thrush, Ovenbird, and Wilson’s, Nashville, and Black-and-white warblers. Edge habitat near Blacks Harbour produced our first substantial mixed-species flock, with nine species of warblers coming in to one dead tree, as well as Red-eyed Vireo and Purple Finch—not bad for early afternoon birding on a travel day!
In the town of Blacks Harbour itself, we had scope studies of Black Guillemot, Great Black-backed Gull, and several species of shorebirds. We also tallied a pair of Bald Eagles soaring over the harbor. Finally, it was time to board our ferry to Grand Manan. Conditions were perfect on the water, and we had a nice variety of birds along the way. Around 75 Great Shearwaters, good numbers of Common Murres, and a few Northern Gannets were among the birds seen from the ferry. We also had a distant sighting of a Fin Whale. All in all, a very successful first day that concluded with a lobster dinner at the Marathon, while a migrant flock of 21 Common Nighthawks sailed past!
The next day was our all-day charter boat trip out of Seal Cove on Grand Manan Island. Conditions were near perfect, and by 9:00 a.m. we were on the boat and heading out into the Bay of Fundy. We had wonderful views of Razorbills almost right out of the gate—a good sign for sure, as this species can be tough. We would tally an incredible 30 Razorbills for the day. The rest of the day did not disappoint. A couple of hundred Great Shearwaters (some almost at arm’s length!), a dozen or so Sooty Shearwaters, roughly 200 Wilson’s Storm-Petrels (including a flock “dancing” on the water over fish oil), four Leach’s Storm-Petrels, 27 Atlantic Puffins, three Pomarine Jaegers, hundreds of Red-necked Phalaropes, one Red Phalarope, and many Northern Gannets and Lesser Black-backed Gulls were among the many avian highlights. Additionally, we enjoyed a wonderful Humpback Whale show very close to our boat and a pod of over 40 Atlantic White-sided Dolphins. What an amazing day!
The next two days of our tour were largely spent scouring the island looking for passerine migrants. We encountered many nice flocks, usually led by pugnacious Black-capped Chickadees, and each with a different composition.
We tallied an impressive eighteen species of warblers (one leader only), with 151 individuals. Our most common species were Black-throated Green (36), Black-and-white (18), Common Yellowthroat (16), and Northern Parula (13). An especially cooperative Ovenbird along the Dock Road was quite memorable, as were epic views of so many others. We also had a few of the later-arriving warbler species, like Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, and Cape May. Other notable passerine finds included Least Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Blue-headed and Red-eyed vireos, a furtive Boreal Chickadee on the Dark Harbour Road (only seen on about a third of trips here), Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Gray Catbird, and Purple Finch.
Other goodies seen on the island included very close Common Eiders, White-winged Scoter, Black-bellied and Semipalmated (almost 400!) plovers (among 10 shorebird species seen), and wonderful, close views of a few Merlins. A few Nelson’s Sparrows showed very well after some effort at Castalia Marsh.
It was, simply put, a wonderful tour. A wildly successful boat trip combined with excellent passerine migration, decent shorebird variety, a few unexpected rarities and low-density species, and all under generally excellent weather conditions. Did I mention the blueberry pie and lobster? Also, how can I forget the 11th Annual VENT Fall Classic (mini-golf)? I can’t wait to return next year!
Day-by-Day Summary
August 31 - Arrival in Bangor
September 1 - Drive from Bangor to Grand Manan via Hwy 9 and Canada Hwy 1 with stops in Bethel and around Blacks Harbour, ferry ride from Blacks Harbour to Grand Manan (54 species; 54 total)
Our first migrant flock in Blacks Harbour and nine warbler species in one tree. Nice ferry ride with lots of Common Murres and a Fin Whale.
September 2 - 8-hour boat trip out of Seal Cove to Grand Manan Banks, The Prong, Old Proprietor Shoal, Clark Ground and Wood Island (35 species; 69 total)
Fantastic charter boat trip with nearly all seabird targets tallied, including razorbills, Atlantic Puffins, Great & sooty shearwaters, hundreds of Wilson's Storm-Petrels, Leach's Storm Petrel, Pomarine Jaeger, etc. Also great Humpback Whale show.
September 3 - Marathon Inn grounds, Castalia Marsh, The Anchorage Provincial Park, Whistle Road to Long Eddy Light Ballfield Beach, Castalia Marsh, Dock Road, Southwest Head, The Anchorage, Ballfield Beach (57 species; 90 total)
Great mixed species flocks throughout the day. wonderful views of Nelson's Sparrow at Castalia. good shorebird variety.
September 4 - Marathon Inn grounds, Dock Road, Bayview Road, Dark Harbour Road, Castalia Marsh, The Anchorage (and Long Pond), Ballfield Beach; evening owling (64 species; 104 total)
More mixed species flocks. Warbler species totaling 17 for the tour.
September 5 - The Whistle Road, ferry ride from Grand Manan to Blacks Harbour, drive to Bangor along Canada Highway 1 and Highway 9 in Maine (40 species; 108 total)
September 6 - Departures for home (108 total species)
Wildlife Seen:
MAMMALS:
Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)---all in Maine
Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)---one along Dark Harbour Road
Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)---one by Cindy and I in Maine the first morning
European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)---introduced on the island
Gray Seal (Halichoerus grypus)---just a couple this year
Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)
White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus)---one spotted by Ken on the ferry crossing to Grand Manan
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)---great show of four very close to our boat with repeated surfacing and dives showing flukes
Atlantic White-sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus)---huge pod of 40 or more right next to our boat
Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)---common on the ferry crossing & boat trip
Total species - 11
BUTTERFLIES:
Cabbage White
Clouded Sulphur
Orange Sulphur
Common Ringlet
Common Wood-Nymph
Total species – 5
REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS:
American Toad---in-hand inspection
Total species – 1