Two weekends ago, our adventure started with a trip to Bath with Deb’s sister and brother-in-law. The weather gods were in our favor as we departed early Friday morning.
First stop in Bath was Thorne Head nature preserve. Located adjacent to the Bath landfill, at the end of High Street, it was a pleasant hike, visually. Then on to Reid State Park, my second time there. The Canon saw some action along Mile Beach. Wave action attracted several surfers, a very active killdeer and an active pair of piping plovers.
Although I didn’t think I was intruding on anything — I’m very respectful of the animals I photograph — the maybe two-ounce male, I think, kept charging me. Deb thought she heard it say, “get your own woman.” Their privacy was my rule from then on.
Time to check in at the Benjamin Packard House B & B in Bath … a recent discovery of Deb’s sister. We were welcomed by their official greeter, an Italian sheep dog breed (Bergamasco) named Lupi. Lupi and the innkeepers were both extraordinarily friendly. Lupi was very well-trained and quite photogenic. Deb and I will certainly make a return visit.
After an evening out, a great sleep and a wonderful breakfast, it was off to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay — Also, camera-friendly. The magnolia warbler posed trail side while singing a most intriguing song. I can’t say anything about the toad and green frog. I guess it’s up to you. These gardens are a must-see for young and old, they are beautiful!
We pressed on to Damariscotta Mills, and as good fortune would have it, caught the first day of the alewife run upstream to Damariscotta Lake. The alewives painted the river bottom black as they grouped to make a run. Waiting in vast numbers were anxious sea gulls and photographers.
As near as I could tell, gulls were only occasionally successful, me getting images of gulls carrying off fish, less than that. As a first-timer, I really enjoyed seeing the show, a true demonstration of the struggles of nature. A newly constructed fish ladder around the falls made for a great place to observe the alewives as they made their way upstream.
To end a wonderful time, we made our way home on U.S. 1 with a stop in Rockland for ice cream … yum!
45,ooo past the counter at the CMP androscoggin fish way, Viewing window was packed 5′ deep with alewives waiting for their ‘lift’ into a tank truck and transp. to upstream ponds.
The fate of the alewives has little to do with dams and everything to do with conditions far offshore.
Most dams(80%) were built in the early part of the 1800’s; the alewive runs didn’t plummet until the 1970’s…ain’t the dams that’s the problem.
**it is a bumper year for alewives everywhere along the coast….talked with a seagull and an osprey and they……