Arrived Portland Sunday evening, found Comfort Inn, not too expensive. After resting up a bit, we searched for lobster. Portland Lobster Company on the waterfront looked just about right, standing room only with lumping live music. Ordered lobster rolls, all the sweet succulence without the shell to crack washed down by local beer. Finally found a table just before our lobster alert went off to signify that our food was ready.
For a Sunday evening the whole street was hopping. Paid to park, not an empty spot within 10 blocks.
Monday morning was reserved for birding.
Evergreen Cemetery as a must see birding hot spot was described by one of our bird van tour participants at Laguna Atascosa this past winter. Never seen a cemetery quite like this one. Acres of graves and hill side mausoleums and adjacent to a series of urban green trails connecting the cemetery to several other parks and birding areas.
We had 15 species in about half an hour: Eastern Wood Pewee, Black-caped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Great Crested Flycatcher, Mallard - several batches of hatchlings, Canada Goose, Belted Kingfisher, Baltimore Oriole, Grey Catbird, American Goldfinch, American Crow, and Chipping Sparrow. Supposed to be warbler delight during spring migration. I can see that happening easily.
Next we located Capisic Pond Park, mostly Red-winged Blackbird and Song Sparrow - earning their names. Many starling and grackle… obviously in the city and near people. Goldfinch, Cardinal, and 1 solitary House Finch - female. The pond is not much more than cattails now, no open water that I could find. A spot for dog walker, sadly none on leashes. I’m glad people love their dogs, but they shouldn't subject others to their unrestrained pets.
Drove to Cape Elizabeth looking for light houses and birds…
A painted rock commemorates the shipwreck of the Annie C. McGuire on Christmas Eve, 1886. The light keeper and his wife used an ordinary ladder to construct a gangplank to rescue the captain and the crew.
The Fort was built in 1899 and served a harbor defense in both WWI and WWII. Nine miles southeast on April 23, 1945, a German U-boat torpedoed and sank the USS Eagle with a loss of 49 men.
Along with Common Eider and Cormorant, we had Song Sparrow and Black Guillemot and of course, the gulls that wondered the grassy park like stray cats.
This plaque tells of Longfellow’s daily walks from Portland to visit the lighthouse keeper and the inspiration for the poem “The Lighthouse”.
 |
| Cold Water |
Put my feet in the water at Ship Cove picnic area.
 |
| Rocky Beach |
Fort Preble predates Fort Williams and is now the campus of Southern Maine Community College. This fort played important roles during both the War of 1812 and the American Civil War. Two light houses are located there -
and Bug Light. - much smaller and less impressive than Portland Head, but still interesting.
Memorial commemorating the construction of Liberty Ships at the Portland ship yard during WWII was
Two Lights, also known as Cape Elizabeth Light House was built in 1828 as twin towers with stream whistles to warn vessels approaching the coast. The facility was authorized by John Quincy Adams and constructed at a cost of $4250.
Both are privately owned now but easily view-able.
Lunch at the Lobster Shack recommended by the barber in White River Junction and heartily approved by the information staff at Ft Williams. I had lobster roll, Alvin tried the fried shrimp boat. Maine shrimp pales next to Texas shrimp. Witnessed the cooking of whole live lobster, put it into a net bag and toss into the pot of boiling water, made the young lady in front of us cringe.
The line was long when we arrived but even longer about an hour later.
Sadly, our brief time in Maine was over, so we hit the road for Concord, NH, and the state house. No through-way so we meandered through small towns and over scenic byways.
Only had time for a few photos before joining I-89 for the rest of the trip back to Quechee.
.jpg) |
| New Hampshire State House |
 |
| Daniel Webster |
 |
| Franklin Pierce |
 |
| Liberty Bell Replica |
No comments:
Post a Comment