Essex Woods

Essex Woods is a Bangor city property that surrounds a productive wetland. It is surprisingly birdy despite being located next to an interstate highway. Warbling vireos, yellow warblers, and American redstarts are abundant. Baltimore orioles are common. Chestnut-sided warblers are present. Blue-winged teal, pied-billed grebes, American bitterns, and green herons are among the typical breeders. Mallards are abundant, and American black ducks are scattered in their midst later in summer. Sora and Virginia rails are nesters, though they are heard more often than seen.

The trail begins atop Essex Street Hill and follows a paved path 0.25 miles downhill to where it splits in a T intersection. Choose the right trail to circle the wetlands, enjoying waterfowl and open area birds. Take the left trail for a chance at the secretive black-billed cuckoo that nests here intermittently. Alternatively, enter from Stillwater Avenue onto Drew Lane, then left onto

Directions: From I-95, turn off onto Broadway in Bangor, go right off the ramp, and turn right immediately onto Alden Street. A quick series of turns will follow from Alden to N. French to E. Broadway to Lancaster Ave, which will end on Essex Street nearly opposite Watchmaker Street. Essex Woods is at the end of Watchmaker.