Thanks to Rachael Sumner for this photo of 2 striped hawkmoths, taken halfway between the Visitor Centre and the top of Chesil last Sunday. Just for fun, a different visualisation of the Silver Ys at the Obs this evening: a quick trip around the valerian patches beside the patio with the thermal imager via Portland Bird Observatory June 3, 2022
The observatory portland Patch#
Looks to have been a big influx of Silver Ys today: many dozens nectaring at each valerian patch at the Obs this evening where hitherto there'd been hardly any in recent weeks /LzYbJvAAhW- Portland Bird Observatory June 3, 2022 PKu5VVkg0N- Portland Bird Observatory June 3, 2022īee-eater currently calling overhead in the St Georges Church area per Portland Bird Observatory June 3, 2022 The entire visit took little more than a half-hour, but definitely augmented our Portland experience.Still slim pickings at the Bill today with singles of Wheatear, Reed Warbler and Willow Warbler the only new grounded migrants elsewhere, 28 Dunlin & 10 Sanderling at Ferrybridge. Once at the top, we spent some time admiring the spectacular views of Casco Bay, Back Cove and Portland. We’d tired ourselves out walking all over the city and up Munjoy Hill, so it was nice to take the steep stairs at a slow pace during the tour that paused at exhibits on each floor. It then continued to serve as a signal tower until 1923 when radio made it obsolete. During the war of 1812, it served as a watchtower. Through a system of flags and lights, the tower signaled merchants down at the wharf that their ships were on their way in to the harbor so that they could prepare for their arrival. Though it looks like a lighthouse, the observatory was built in 1807 for a different purpose. The observatory sits on top of Munjoy Hill and is the only remaining historic maritime signal tower in the United States. It cost us about $25 for the three of us to climb to the top of the seven story structure with the docent while learning about the history of the observatory. We made our way up to the observatory late in the afternoon on a whirlwind tour of the city that involved a Ride the Ducks tour, the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, kayaking, and, of course, walking. Access to the tower is only via the guided tour during the summer. There is a small fee to enter and tours are conducted by volunteers. It is owned by the City of Portland and maintained by a private non-profit group called Greater Portland Landmarks.
Though designated a national landmark, the Portland Observatory is not managed by any federal agency. Welcome back to National Parks & other public lands with T! If you are seeing this on Twitter or Facebook, please visit the blog to see all of the photos and read the story by clicking the link.
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