Perham Stream Birding Trail Hike

Perham Stream Birding Trail terrain.
Perham Stream Birding Trail terrain.

We had a great hike on the Perham Stream Birding Trail in Madrid Township on Saturday, May 23rd.  The weather was a bit chilly at the start (there were a few snow showers in the mountains!) but it was a hardy bunch of about fifteen birders with binoculars and birding lists in hand.

Saddleback Mountain with a few remaining patches of snow.
Saddleback Mountain with a few remaining patches of snow.

The group was led by Pete McKinley, Ecologist at The Wilderness Society and Maine A.T. Land Trust Vice President, Kirsten Burbank, Trustee of the Sandy River Land Trust, and property owner Carson Hinkley.  We were treated to sightings of a Brown Thrasher, a few Magnolia Warblers, and a Northern Goshawk, among others (see full list below)!

The group gathers at Carson Hinkley's house. Carson maintains the trail which is on his property.
The group gathers at Carson Hinkley’s house. Carson maintains the trail which is on his property (he is pictured in the red jacket above).

Special thanks to Carson Hinkley for not only graciously opening his property up to public use, but for maintaining the trails and having a vision as to the design and future of the landscape.  His knowledge of the history of Madrid Township and the lands all around the High Peaks makes the trail what it is today.

Complete list of species seen (courtesy of Western Maine Audubon):

Turkey Vulture
Broad-winged Hawk
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Brown Thrasher
Nashville Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Common Grackle
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch