Take I 95 North from New Hampshire into Maine. Just after the rest center leave the interstate highway at Exit 4 ( The Yorks, Ogunquit). Proceed to the stoplight and turn right onto Highway 1 south. At the next light turn left onto 1A North. You will go through York Village. Stay right at the fork on 1A South. York Harbor Beach The first open area you come to is York Harbor Beach. Check the exposed rocks for unusual gulls and scan the harbor for loons and ducks. At the end of the peninsula in thebackground is Nubble Light the next stop. Nubble Light Proceed on past the end of the beach and make a right turn. Continue on this road until you see the sign for Nubble Light. Turn right and follow the double yellow lines through a residential area to Sohier Park and Nubble Light. Park on either side and view the ocean with your scope. This is the parking lot where the Sage Thrasher was seen in November and December of 2001. Cliff House On leaving Sohier Park turn right and follow the yellow lines back to 1A north. Turn right and proceed north for some distance. There is one view at a beach, but there is really no good place to park the car so be careful of stopping here.Watch for a fork in the road at the Shore Road Market. Take the right fork onto Shore Road. Continue on Shore Road for some distance. Just past the St. Peters by the Sea Episcopal Church you will see two white pillars marking the entrance to Bald Head Cliff Road and the Cliff House. Turn right onto Bald Head Road. The Cliff House is resort which usually closes after Thanksgiving. You are on private property so be very considerate. From the parking lot, you will see a road on the left that goes downhill around the newest building to a parking lot in front of a motel like building. Park here. Walk around the motel and scope the ocean from the cliff. To the left of the motel building is the seewage outflow pipe and this attracks ducks in close to shore. Common Eiders, Harlequins, and Scoter are often here is good numbers. Look hard for the King Eider which is usually here. Also keep an eye out for Guillemots. Marginal Way After leaving Cliff House take a right turn on Shore Drive and proceed for some distance to Perkins Cove Road in the town of Ogunquit. Make a right turn and proceed to the parking lot on the left. Marginal Way is a well maintained ocean path that begins on the ocean side of the Oarweed Restaurant. You can bird from the car in the parking lot or walk along the path. The best view is obtained from the first point where there are several benches. Sit here and scan the ocean. Usually in winter there are flocks of Common Eider, Harlequin Ducks. Return To I 95 The loop ends at Marginal Way. Return to Perkins Cove Road and at the junction with Shore Road turn right. In 200 yards you will see a left turn to Route 1. Go south on Route 1 until you see a sign for I 95. Close Window To Return to New England Seabirds Page author: Emmalee Tarry |