Whale Watching on the Bay of Fundy

We had a beautiful, sunny morning for our Whale Watching trip. We were out about 2 1/2 hours. We left from Johnson Bay at 9:00 a.m. From there we went to Cobscook and Fundy Bay. We saw whales, seals, and lots of birds. It was a great trip!


Waiting for the boat.


Boarding the Lorna Doone


Captain Ralph


Northern Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) 10 to 30 feet. The Minke is the smallest of the Rorquals and the most common (the three Rorquals are Northern Minke Whale, Bryde's Whale and Sei Whale. Their blowholes and dorsal fins are usually visible above the water at the same time, unlike some other whales).

Fin Whale

Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) 40 - 80 feet. The Fin Whale is one of the fastest swimmers among whales - up to 35 mph! The most diagnostic field mark is the unique asymmetrical jaw coloring: white on the right side, dark on the left.

Bald Eagle Nest

Bald Eagle




Greater Shearwater - A life bird for us!


Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull


American Black Duck, Northern Gannet


Bonapart's Gull


Gray Seal - isn't he cute!?

Gray Seals


East Quoddy Lighthouse

(Remember - All the photos can be clicked on to enlarge)

Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada

We had great weather for our trip out to Campobello Island with Carolyn and Wally.

[Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States, spent his summer vacations on Campobello Island over a period of 56 years. His rugged and beautiful "beloved island" is located in Passamaquoddy Bay, which forms the border between the State of Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick. He came first with his father and mother, then with his wife and children. Here he fell ill with polio that left him partially paralyzed at the age of 39. Today Roosevelt Campobello International Park honors his memory and symbolizes the friendship between the United States and Canada. The 2,800 park includes the 34-room “cottage” where Roosevelt and his family lived and four other cottages dating from approximately the same period.]

President Johnson and Prime Minister Lester Pearson created the Roosevelt Campobello International Park in 1964.

After viewing a short introductory film in the visitor center, we walked along a flowering path to FDR’s summer home.



Guides stationed throughout the home offer interpretation and answer questions about the house, its historic furnishings, and the family.


FDR's Summer Cottage



After touring the FDR cottage we walked to the Hubbard Cottage. Both cottages have amazing views of the Bay of Fundy.


The Hubbards were neighbors.


Awesome views from inside and outside the house.

After visiting the cottages we had lunch then drove to East Quoddy Lighthouse. We saw a few whales, seals, and saw 2 life birds (Greater Shearwater and Northern Gannet).


East Quoddy Lighthouse




Black Guillemot-Juvenile, Herring Gull


Harbor Seal, Northern Minke Whale

Northern Gannet:




After a wonderful day in New Brunswick, we headed back to the US to Carolyn and Wally’s RV where we visited for a while and said goodbye. We probably won’t see them again until this Fall when we all end up in South Texas again.


More to come: The next day Mark and I took a whale watching boat trip and a tour through a chocolate factory. Stay tuned!

The most beautiful bird in the world!

Any guesses on what bird a lot of people consider the most beautiful bird in the world?

Mark was asked to be the guest speaker at the Aroostook Bird Club meeting this month. He has a wonderful powerpoint presentation from our first trip to Costa Rica. We’ve been to Costa Rica twice. Both trips were with our friends Sharon and Rick. Once in February 2008 and again in January 2010.



I don’t know how anyone could pick one bird to be the most beautiful bird in the world. I had a hard time picking pictures for the blog. There are just too many beautiful birds!

Here are a few bird photos from our first trip to Costa Rica:


Blue-gray Tanager, Blue-crowned Motmot, Black-cheeked Woodpecker


Crimson-collared Tanager, Collared Aracari, Blue-throated Toucanet


Green Violetear, Gray-headed Chachalaca, Flame-colored Tanager


Mottled Owl, Montezuma Oropendula, Long-tailed Tyrant


Violet-crowned Woodnymph, White-necked Jacobin, Tropical Screech-owls


Snowcap. This little guy was so small he had to stretch to use the feeder!


Beautiful flowers, beautiful rivers and waterfalls, and cute lizards!


Some people consider the Resplendent Quetzal the most beautiful bird in the world.