ME II: last full day

· Maine Event

Today started off with a thin fog way out at sea which made it deliciously cool on the island for most of the morning. This was our last full day so we packed and cleaned and then went for a couple of walks on trails. The first walk went across the island diagonally and took us almost to town. It was about 2.5 miles on an island that is 1 mile by 2 miles and incredibly lovely. The most important thing is that we saw two small toads and a (small) snake! Our second walk was back to the same pond as yesterday which is a nice loop. We stopped for a long while to watch a couple of kingfishers fight off a merlin that was hunting them and their dragonfly dinner. While watching this show we had a pair of bald eagles do a fly-by. Overall a magical day. Then we made dinner and took some of our stuff to Portland so we have less to carry tomorrow. The island has been wonderful and fun yet I'm excited to be back in our old haunts and see what's changed and what's the same. Tomorrow we move to the city of Portland Maine (at least temporarily) and Monday is work!

view of trees and lush landscape with lots of plants and blue sky
This is one of the magical views on our first hike. The trail was softened with pine needles and mosses. The trails have no signs to begin and they are not exactly clear-cut trails like in other places I've walked/hiked.
Yellow golf cart with teal seats and red elements covered with sunflowers
This was the site where the trail exited. This is parked in front of someone's house and this is the main road that goes across the entire island. Its name is Brackett.
young toad camouflaged in dry grasses and sticksn
This was the first magical being we found. Look closely and you will see a young toad. Toad magic was given to us on this hike. Yay. I've never seen a toad on a hike before. In fact, I've never seen a young toad before. Can you see him, he blends in so well.
Toad on moss and a decaying log
Then we wandered further on our trail and saw another one! When I see toads and frogs doing well it gives me faith that the earth right here is doing ok.
young snake in the grasses
Can you see the young snake that crossed our path? It was about 8 inches long and skinnier than a pencil.
lake with trees around and marshlands and blue sky
This is the lake where we saw the bald eagles fly over, 2 kingfishers catch dragonflies, then a merlin came along and there were aviation tricks and quite an exhilarating show. It seemed like the merlin was going to have some kingfisher for lunch. There are also 4 mallards that live in this lake.
a blurry boat
The owl and the pussycat
portland's skyline at dusk
Portland's skyline at dusk, we are heading back to Peaks on the ferry for our last night.
boats in the harbor at Peaks
Boats next to the ferry landing at Peaks.

Have a beautiful evening!

Sending love, Tawnia

And a final day of Peaks birds

  1. House Sparrow
  2. European Starling
  3. Herring Gull
  4. Double Crested Cormorant
  5. Ruby Throated Hummingbird
  6. Northern Mockingbird
  7. Gray Catbird
  8. Black Capped Chickadee
  9. European Starling
  10. Northern Cardinal
  11. American Goldfinch
  12. Yellow warbler 
  13. Red Breasted Nuthatch
  14. Belted Kingfisher
  15. Merlin
  16. Bald Eagle
  17. Mallard
  18. Mourning Dove
  19. Rock Pigeon
  20. Double Crested Cormorant
  21. American Robin
  22. Semipalmated Sandpiper 
  23. Spotted sandpiper 
  24. Ring-billed gull
  25. Great blue heron 
  26. Chimney swift