Nine Special Places for Discovering Wildlife in the MidCoast

Watching wildlife in their natural habitat is one of the most rewarding experiences available to all of us. In the MidCoast you can discover a sense of awe and wonder when you spot moose, black bears, brightly colored puffins, huge whales, and soaring hawks and eagles. Taking time for a deeper connection with nature’s cycles helps slow time down during our busy lives. There are countless opportunities to explore nature and its varied inhabitants throughout Maine but to get you started, here are nine special places for discovering wildlife in the MidCoast.

 

 

Merrymeeting Bay – A Vast Haven for Migrating Waterfowl

Formed by the confluence of six rivers, Merrymeeting Bay is one of the largest freshwater tidal estuaries in the world. The bay drains nearly 40% of Maine’s fresh water and is the largest staging ground for migratory waterfowl in the northeast. It attracts ospreys, Artic Terns, and is one the best places to watch Bald Eagles in Maine. The estuary is home to rare plants and animals including Parker’s Pipewort, Stiff Arrow-head, Short-nosed Sturgeon, and Atlantic Salmon.

 

 

Basin Preserve – Protected Trails and Waters

Vinalhaven Island

Basin Preserve offers quiet kayaking paddling and the chance to see seals, Great Blue Herons, ospreys, and eagles. Jointly owned by Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Vinalhaven Land Trust, you can also explore the basin with over three miles of moderate hiking trails. After an hour-long ride on the Vinalhaven Ferry from Rockland, you bike or drive to the Basin Preserve.

 

 

Project Puffin Visitor Center – Protecting the Atlantic Puffin

Rockland

Seeing Atlantic puffins with their bright plumage is a thrilling experience that can be enjoyed with a little planning. Puffins make their homes on islands that you can visit by boat tours from New Harbor and Boothbay Harbor. Once endangered, populations have been restored through Project Puffin and the Audubon Society. Stop by the Visitor Center on Main Street in Rockland to learn about these spectacular seabirds that can live up to 30 years.

 

 

Boothbay Harbor – The World’s Largest Whales Up Close

Boothbay

From April through October, the world’s largest living creatures can be found just miles off our coast. Massive Finback whales measuring up to 80 feet long can be seen in addition to Humpback, Pilot, and Minke whales. While these extraordinary ocean visitors can be seen from the shore with good binoculars, the best way to see them up close is on a whale-watching cruise. Large charter boats from Cap’n Fish’s offer exciting, educational whale watching and the chance to see rare Puffins.

 

 

Pemaquid Point – Flocks of Hawks, Eagles, and Shorebirds

Pemaquid

Known for its iconic lighthouse, Pemaquid Point offers great birding opportunities. At the start of Spring, thousands of raptors, including hawks, eagles, and falcons begin arriving in Maine after migrating thousands of miles. Over a dozen varieties of raptors arrive including Broad-wing hawks with three-foot wingspan and small Cooper’s Hawk that fly at dazzling speeds. While looking for raptors, you also may see many shorebirds including Atlantic Puffins that forage along the shore.

 

 

Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge – Visitor Center

Rockland

The Wildlife Refuge is a group of over 50 islands that are home to seabirds, waterfowl, and other wildlife. Visitors can enjoy wildlife watching, hiking, and photography. One of the few islands open to the public is Pond Island located near Phippsburg. You can learn more about the Refuge at the Visitor Center in Rockland. Materials are available 24 hours a day.

 

 

Seawall Beach – Piping Plovers and Least Terns

Phippsburg

Near the town of Phippsburg, beautiful Seawall Beach offers a quiet beach experience with fewer crowds. The beach is home to endangered Piping Plovers and Least Terns – the world’s smallest terns. A short hike through scenic woodlands leads to a pristine beach that stretches for miles. This wonderful escape is possible because the beach and surrounding 600 acres are protected areas. Parking is limited so plan on arriving early.

 

 

Medomak Pond – Explore Wildlife from a Kayak

Waldoboro

Medomak Pond is one of the special watery places along the MidCoast. It’s home to river otters, beavers, muskrats, white-tailed deer, and on rare occasions, black bears. The pond connects the Medomak River to marshes and the ocean and offers lazy paddling while looking for wildlife.  Don’t have a kayak? The MidCoast Conservancy offers free hour-long kayaking tours during the summer.

 

 

Thomaston Green – A City Park for Wildlife Watching

Thomaston

This beautiful 15-acre historic park in Thomaston overlooks the Saint George River and is a great spot for observing waterfowl, especially during migration. Bald eagles, ospreys, and hawks are regular visitors who often make dazzling displays of flight. The open space is ideal for children and visitors of all ages. Not far from the park are many historic and magnificent homes of shipbuilders and the world-famous, Lyman Morse Boatbuilding Company.

 

For more special places in the region, explore eight natural wonders of the MidCoast or consider doing some island hopping in the MidCoast.