The migration that started in August is now almost over. Several weeks ago, when I was sitting on the terrace late one afternoon, I noticed several dozen large swallow-shaped birds with distinctive white wing patches flying over the fields. Looking through my binoculars, I confirmed that they were Common Nighthawks. I was amazed at the number of birds that kept streaming through—obviously on their way south, maybe to Costa Rica, where I have also seen them in February. I first saw nighthawks the one and only time I went to an evening Red Sox game about 20 years ago. Nighthawks are insect-eaters, and they were feeding on the insects drawn to the floodlights.

In early September Pam and I decided to go to Plum Island to see if we could catch the thousands of tree swallows that congregate there before migrating south. I thought I might be too late for the swallows but hoped to catch some other migrants. I called up friends and suggested we go up. At the gate to the National Wildlife Refuge I realized my wildlife (duck) stamp was out of date and bought a new one. The duck stamp provides admittance to all National Wildlife Refuge; the proceeds from the stamps go to the acquisition of land for wildlife habitat.

Osprey (Courtesy illustration)

Most of the tree swallows had left, though we did see several swallows winging into the salt marshes to spend the night. While walking along one of the impoundments and looking at different species of shore birds, we saw an osprey in the distance. The osprey flew toward us, and not 100 feet away went into its distinctive hover and dove into the water, coming up with a fish clasped in its talons. We watched the osprey hover overhead in close view for at least five minutes—this made the trip worthwhile.

We recently made a foray to Maine to visit friends on Swan's Island. The island, off Bass Harbor at the tip of Acadia National Park, promised some good birding. Rick and Susan met us at the ferry and drove us to their wonderful cottage on a quiet cove. Knowing we were "into" birds, Rick said there was a bird in his cove that he couldn't identify. He said it was a diving duck and described it as grey and white with white wing patches. The only diving duck I am familiar with that has white wing patches is the Black Guillemot, but as its name implies—it's black. On reaching the cove, we saw the duck. It sure looked like a Guillemot, but was all grey and white. On checking the field guide, I discovered that the juveniles and nonbreeding adults have this coloring; mystery solved. This reinforced one of the problems with birding this time of year—immature plumages can vary greatly from mature colors and patterns.

We were told that Bald Eagles frequented the area, so we took a walk out to the end of the cove. Across the water we saw a white bird sitting on a rock at the water's edge. On close inspection through the binoculars, we saw it was an eagle, and while were watching that one, another flew by at tree-top level. While I was sitting on the rocks looking at the incredible scenery, a flash caught my eye and I just managed to get my binoculars on a Peregrine Falcon streaming by. Walking back to the cottage, I saw a Cooper's Hawk chasing a blue jay. Whether or not he caught the jay I do not know, as they disappeared into some trees—three raptors in our first hour on the island!

Around the island we saw Semi-Palmated Plovers, Least Sandpipers, and the usual selection of gulls. Driving back from a walk on a sandy beach at the east end of the island, we saw a raptor fly out of the tall grass beside the road and perch on a tree not 30 feet from us. We were so close that we could see the prey that it had just grabbed. The raptor was a Broad-Winged Hawk, and its prey a vole.

After Swan's Island, we continued on a long-planned trip Down East to hike the Bold Coast trail just north of Cutler with five of our friends. The hiking was great and the scenery spectacular, but the birding was not productive. The most memorable birding moment was standing on the balcony of our bed-and-breakfast on the East Machias River. There were Common Mergansers in the river and a Bald Eagle perched in a tree just across the river. Something was emitting a loud screeching noise from the woods around the eagle and after trying to find the source of the noise for several minutes, we sighted an immature bald eagle flapping its wings high in a pine tree. It took off on what might have been its maiden voyage and cruised up and down the river several times right in front of us.

We drove home, taking some back roads so we could appreciate the spectacular coast. Although most of the migrating birds had probably already left the wonderful coastline, the sleepy fishing harbors and incredible rocky shoreline made up for it.

David Durrant lives with his wife, Pamela, on East Bare Hill Road at Micheldever Farm, where they watch birds—their own peacocks, chickens, and wild birds.