Nearest Bicknell’s thrush to Augusta

[Chris Spurgeon]

I’m in Maine for a week, staying in the Waterville/Augusta area. I wanted to head out tomorrow (Sunday) to try to see a Bicknell’s Thrush.  It seems like the closest spot for me to try is Saddleback Mountain, but there have been no eBird reports of a Bicknell’s there for about two weeks.  Is that still a good place to go, or should I go further afield into New Hampshire, where they’ve been reported in the last couple of days? Thanks in advance!

Chris Spurgeon

(Temporarily in) Belgrade, ME

[Chris Spurgeon]

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice on finding a Bicknell’s Thrush. I ended up going to Saddleback ski resort and climbing up to the summit. You weren’t kidding about that being a difficult hike! Brutal for a well fed middle aged bloke such as myself. I got to the summit junction with the AT at about 8:15 am and slowly walked along the ridge for about a kilometer over the course of the next hour, looking and listening. We were in the clouds with mist streaming by, temp about 67°. Merlin heard several distant Bicknell’s calls, but I never heard them at all, either live or on Merlin playback. I could see the sonogram, but they were too soft for me to hear via my iPhone speaker (I blame my front row attendance at a Who concert in 1975 for my diminished hearing. Worth it.)

I was starting to have my first thoughts of maybe packing it in when a Bicknell’s showed up about 50 meters from where I was standing. I got great views, photos, audio, and 30 sec or so of video. (eBird checklist coming later).

Hiking back down was, if anything, even harder than going up.  Worth it.

Chris Spurgeon

(On vacation in) Belgrade Lakes