​Birds on Tap℠ - The Boat Trip! Rare Birds and Island Exploration

 

Sunday, October 20, 2024 (weather date 10/26); 9:00am to 2:00pm

Cost - $140

 

Maine Brews Cruise (formerly Maine Brew Bus) and Freeport Wild Bird Supply are excited to resurrect our collaboration for three very special outings in 2024.

 

These unique, relaxed birding and beer-ing adventures that you have come to love combine great local birding at seasonal hotspots with visits to sample the delicious creations of some of our favorite local breweries. These tours are a perfect introduction to birding and/or craft beer, and a great opportunity to travel with significant others, friends, and family that have interest in one topic, while your interest is primarily in the other (for now!).

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But this time we’re leaving the bus in the garage, and for the first time ever, Birds on Tap! is hitting the water! That’s right, we’re taking a cruise. And our goal is to find a rare bird or two.

 

This very special trip will take us across Portland Harbor to the private House Island. We’ve been granted special permission to come ashore and scour the island here in the first peak of the fall “Rarity Season.” We’ll follow well-maintained trails through the island’s mosaic of open habitats, scrub, and young woods. These are great habitats to search for vagrants and other seasonal rarities, and we’ve eyed the habitat from our birding days on Peak’s Island.. I’m excited to get over there myself!

 

While rare birds are rare, we are still going to expect the unexpected. But more likely are regular migrants of the season such as a variety of sparrows, and a growing diversity of waterbirds. At the very least, we’ll have resident waterbirds and several species of gulls to sort through. We are having daydreams of a rare flycatcher! Of course, we'll also have plenty of time to explore the historic Fort Scammell, including the spacious and pristine interior. 

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After exploring the fort and the island's habitat, we'll settle down for a guiding beer tasting. While our current plan is subject to change, we are expecting to offer a historical progression of beer in Maine, a wonderfully educational introduction to the history of the craft beer movement in Maine, starting in the 1980's (when the phrase "craft beer" did not even exist!),

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As we motor back across the harbor, if time permits, we'll take a little harbor tour and we’ll continue to familiarize ourselves with some of the common waterbirds, such as Common Eiders, Common Loons, and the vanguard of our winter diving ducks. There will be additional beverages available for purchase aboard if you so desire.

 

The beverages in the sampling are included in the tour price, and Maine Brews Cruise will supply a light snack and water. Bring binoculars.  We also recommend bringing a lunch or additional snack if you so desire. Sturdy comfortable walking shoes are also recommended, as are a variety of layers as it can be quite chilly on the water by the end of October.

 

Meeting Location

• Meeting time: 9am

• Meeting location: Portland Beer Hub: 320 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101

  • on street parking is available in Portland’s Old Port

  • parking garages are also an option and listed below

    • Fore Street Parking Garage – 427 Fore Street, Portland

    • Fisherman’s Wharf – 202 Commercial Street, Portland

    • Custom House Parking Garage – 25 Pearl Street, Portland

*Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your departure time.*

We’ll return to Portland Beer Hub at 2:00pm

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Birds On Tap℠ - Roadtrip! Warblers and Wort

 

May 2025 TBA; 8:00am - 2:00pm

​Cost - TBA

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Maine Brews Cruise (formerly Maine Brew Bus) and Freeport Wild Bird Supply are excited to resurrect our collaboration for three very special outings in 2024.

 

These unique, relaxed birding and beer-ing adventures that you have come to love combine great local birding at seasonal hotspots with visits to sample the delicious creations of some of our favorite local breweries. These tours are a perfect introduction to birding and/or craft beer, and a great opportunity to travel with significant others, friends, and family that have interest in one topic, while your interest is primarily in the other (for now!). Seasonal birding hotspots and great local beer - a perfect combination, and we'll even do all of the driving!

 

May means warbler migration, and the destination for Warblers and Wort will hit two of Maine’s most famous springtime migrant traps, Portland’s Evergreen Cemetery and nearby Capisic Pond Park. Two oases in the urban jungle, featuring water sources and a mix of various habitats, help concentrate migrant birds that found themselves in or over the city come sunrise. After migrating all night, tired travelers look for refuge: food, water, and shelter, and urban greenspaces are absolutely critical for refueling.  

 

Warbler diversity will rapidly be increasing, up to 18 species possible by the middle of May, depending on the progression of the season. Other species, such as sparrows, raptors, and other Neotropical Migrants such as orioles and tanagers are also on the move, increasing our chances of seeing a diversity of species. If the cemetery’s apples and cherries are blooming, we may be in for quite a treat as these are absolute magnets for hungry migrants.  Meanwhile, most trees have yet to fully leaf out, making them easier to spot! 

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It’s sometimes hard to leave Evergreen on a busy spring morning, but if we do, it will be for the very short trip over to Capisic Pond Park, where we’ll continue to seek migrants of all shapes and sizes.

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After about 3 hours of birding, we will be transported to two of our great local producers to sample their offerings and learn their styles.

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The samples are included in the tour price, and Maine Brews Cruise will supply a light snack (TBD) and water. Bring binoculars. We also recommend bringing a lunch or additional snack if you so desire. Light-colored, long-sleeve shirt and pants are highly recommended to reduce the nuisances of biting insects and trails may be muddy so wear appropriate footwear.

 

For a taste of what’s in store, here’s the trip report from our 2024 and 2019 outings.

 

We'll be doing all of the driving, so you can relax.

 

Meeting Location

• Meeting time: 8am

• Meeting location: Marginal Way Park & Ride

  • opposite the intersection of Diamond St & Marginal Way

  • just East of Franklin Ave.

*Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your departure time.*

We’ll return to Marginal Way Park & Ride (Portland) at 2:00pm

 

This tour is limited to 13 participants, so sign up soon! This is a one-of-a-kind tour, and we think one you won't want to miss! 

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Birds on Tap℠ - Roadtrip! Shorebirds and Steins

 

August 2025 TBA; 10:00am - 4:00pm​

​Cost - TBA

Maine Brews Cruise (formerly Maine Brew Bus) and Freeport Wild Bird Supply are excited to resurrect our collaboration for three very special outings in 2024.

 

These unique, relaxed birding and beer-ing adventures that you have come to love combine great local birding at seasonal hotspots with visits to sample the delicious creations of some of our favorite local breweries. These tours are a perfect introduction to birding and/or craft beer, and a great opportunity to travel with significant others, friends, and family that have interest in one topic, while your interest is primarily in the other (for now!). Seasonal birding hotspots and great local beer - a perfect combination, and we'll even do all of the driving!

 

The original BoT Roadtrip! in 2015, our most popular tour returns to Scarborough Marsh at prime time for a good variety of migrant shorebirds. We’ll learn how to identify our common species, and search for the rare. Up to 20 species of shorebirds are possible! We'll practice identifying our "peeps" (Least, Semipalmated, and White-rumped Sandpipers) and attempt to tease out a rare Western or even a Baird's among the masses. We'll look for local breeding American Oystercatchers and Willets, while searching for migrants such as Red Knots on their way from the high Arctic to the southern tip of Argentina.

 

And not to worry, we'll take a look at everything else, such as Common, Roseate, and Least Terns; herons and egrets, and who knows what else? We may even get a chance to see Nelson's and Saltmarsh Sparrows depending on time, wind, and tide.

 

After about 3 hours of birding, we will be transported to two of our great local breweries to sample their offerings and learn their styles.

 

Check out our 2024 trip report to see why you don’t want to miss out this year!

 

The samples are included in the tour price, and Maine Brews Cruise will supply a light snack (TBA) and water. Bring binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one. We also recommend bringing a lunch or additional snack if you so desire. Sunscreen, a light jacket in case the wind turns onshore, and sturdy comfortable walking shoes are also recommended – we will be out in the sun for the duration of the birding portion of the tour.

 

We'll be doing all of the driving, so you can relax.

 

Meeting Location

• Meeting time: 10am

• Meeting location: Marginal Way Park & Ride

  • opposite the intersection of Diamond St & Marginal Way

  • just East of Franklin Ave.

*Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your departure time.*

We’ll return to Marginal Way Park & Ride (Portland) at 4:00pm

 

This tour is limited to 13 participants, so sign up soon! This is a one-of-a-kind tour, and we think one you won't want to miss!

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