Lighthouse and Puffins boat tour and Oli's Trolly

This weekend, I decided to take a 40 minute narrated Oli's Trolly tour of downtown Bar Harbor. It was great! The guide told us about local lore and the devastating 1947 fire that burned most of the huge "cottages". He said his ancestors were original rusticators here 6+ generations ago and he retired here with his wife after a NASA career in DC. They winter in Key West. It was a really informative tour and he had lots of great stories. On Saturday, what's left of my guide class (3 out of 9 have dropped out now) took their 3rd and final ALL day paddle to practice tandem kayak capsizes and cold water rescues. Bundled in fleece, I was grateful to hop on the 9:30AM Lighthouse and Puffins 2 1/2 hour boat tour! 😁

Our tour vessel... Friendship V, a jet powered catamaran

On the way out of the harbor...the Margaret Todd Schooner and Bar Harbor Inn

View of the mountainous coastline of Frenchman Bay, named for Samuel de Champlain, the French explorer who mapped and explored the area in 1604. As archaeological evidence has shown in the form of Native American artifacts and several hundred shell heaps, the area also served as the summer home for Wabanaki tribes. The Abbe Museum here has one of the best collections of their artifacts anywhere, and I hope to visit it soon.

 

Our first stop was Egg Rock Lighthouse. It was built in 1875 and is one of coastal Maine's architecturally unique lighthouses, with a square tower projecting through the square keeper's house. Located on Egg Rock, midway between MDI and the Schoodic Peninsula, it is an active aid to navigation, flashing red every 40 seconds. The island is owned by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and is surrounded by rocks covered with sunning seals. Porpoises also frequent the waters around it.

Seals with their pups

Our 2nd stop, above and below, was Petit Manon Island and lighthouse, built in 1855. It is part of the extensive Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Our guide radioed one of the scientists on the island to ask about their activities and bird sightings, allowing us to ask questions. USFWS initiated a seabird restoration effort in 1984, and removed predatory gulls from the island. Terns returned to the island within one week of the predator control effort and have continued to nest on the island every year. In 2005, Petit Manan Island supported 1,007 pairs of common terns, 595 pairs of Arctic terns, nine pairs of roseate terns, 51 pairs of Atlantic puffin, 1,151 pairs of laughing gulls, and one pair of razor bills. Common eider, Leach’s storm-petrel, and black guillemot also nest on the island. Migratory and wintering shorebirds and waterfowl feed on the surrounding inter-tidal ledges throughout the year.

Puffins!

 

 

 

 

Below, our fantastic tour guide. He is from Guatamala and got a geology degree at Rutgers. His knowledge of all the birds we saw was amazing. He was thrilled to spot a trio of oyster catchers flying above, saying it was a rare occurrence in the area, and that they usually fly in pairs.  He said there are 66 lighthouses in Maine and that Michigan has the most with 124. Who knew?

                              Above, a huge eagle's nest in the treetop at 12 o'clock (3 chicks in it!)

Winter Harbor Lighthouse, above, is located on Mark Island, a small island between the Schoodic Peninsula and Turtle Island, near the entry to the town's main harbor. The light was built in 1856 and was deactivated in 1933. It is no longer an aid to navigation and is privately owned with no indoor plumbing, cell service or real amenities. For many years, the station also had a fog bell with automatic striking machinery. Over the years, its owners have included authors, an interior designer and a playwright. It has an interesting history if you have a minute:

http://www.newenglandlighthouses.net/winter-harbor-light-history.html

An osprey nest on a channel marker

Then we slowed at the rugged unspoiled cliffs of Ironbound Island. Wild Atlantic dulse, or seaweed, is harvested here and sold. It grows on north-facing cliffs and shady crevices. The blood red plants branch into many small lobed fronds and dry to a deep purple. It has a long tradition in the cuisines of many Northern European cultures. It is rich in potassium, iron, iodine and trace elements. 

This island was owned by Dwight Blaney and if you have a minute, read the story of him, the island and its many famous visitors:

http://thedowneastdilettante.blogspot.com/2010/06/art-down-east-mr-blaney-of-ironbound.html

All in all, another great excursion...