Location: Edmunds: Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge.
Guides: Kirstin Underwood & Chris West
Fee: No fee
Description: This trip will involve a drive along the gravel roads inside the 8,800-acre Edmunds Division of the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, with stops along the way to watch and listen for birds. This part of the refuge has more of the coastal spruce-fir habitat than the northern Baring Division. Starting in 1993 a series of 3-5 acre clear cuts were done to increase habitat for early successional species such as the American Woodcock and Chestnut-sided Warbler.
The older spruce-fir and early successional forests of the area are habitat for a wide variety of birds, including warblers, thrushes, and raptors, with possibilities for Spruce Grouse, Boreal Chickadee, and Gray Jay.
At about a half mile along the South Trail is the Timberdoodle Trail, which has a paved walkway leading to an observation platform. Several vernal pools are visible along the south side of the trail which provide nesting habitat for wood frogs and spotted and blue-spotted salamanders.
Continuing, we will then park at the end of the South Trail and walk a short distance into the designated Wilderness Area and scout the Crane Mill Flowage for waterfowl and possibly Solitary or Spotted Sandpipers. No mechanized or motorized equipment is permitted in Wilderness Areas; they are meant to be `forever wild’ with no active management and minimal impacts from people.
The Crane Mill Road connects the North and South Trail. Hallowell Flowage is a good spot to watch and listen for marsh birds, such as the American Bittern, and waterfowl. We will continue on to the end of the driving portion of the North Trail along Hobart Stream and the other entrance to the Wilderness Area. The surrounding forest has been through two stand-replacing wildfires (1985 and 2001) which have resulted in younger vegetation than most of this division. Watch and listen for several species of flycatchers which are usually present.
We will continue along the North Trail and make periodic stops to listen and watch for birds, until we reach the end of the trip at US Route 1.
Bring comfortable, appropriate shoes (preferably waterproof) and insect repellent. No restroom.
Note that these roads are designated for one-way travel.
GPS Coordinates: 44.845, -67.171
Directions: South Trail entrance to Edmunds Division of Moosehorn NWR is just off US Route 1, approximately 4 miles north of Whiting Corner (the intersection of Routes 1 and 189) and .2 miles south of South Edmunds Road and the entrance to Cobscook Bay State Park.