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Ben Hollar

Software developer and hobbyist nature photographer.

Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park

  • November 12, 2022

In September 2022, my family went on our fourth trip to Mount Desert Island in Maine, home to both the quaint tourist town of Bar Harbor and to America’s 13th oldest national park, Acadia National Park. It also happens to be one of the most popular, and for good reason. It offers breathtaking views, varied hiking opportunities, spectacular seafood, tons of wildlife, and much more to enjoy. Suffice to say, it is one of my favorite places on Earth. Below, you’ll find some of my favorite photos from this most recent trip there.

Sightseeing

There are so many things worth seeing and photographing on Mount Desert Island, and I didn’t nearly capture them all on this trip. This time around, my favorite moments included a lighthouse tour on a large catamaran, enjoying a scenic ride on the Margaret Todd, a four-masted schooner, and stopping along Park Loop Road to climb over rocky cliffs and enjoy stunning scenic overlooks.

The Bear Island Lighthouse and the trees surrounding it. The Bear Island Lighthouse and the trees surrounding it. The Bass Harbor Headlight and its surrounding landscape (trees, rocky cliff, and ocean). The Bass Harbor Headlight and its surrounding landscape (trees, rocky cliff, and ocean). An artistic, zoomed in photo of a schooner's mast and some of its rigging. An artistic, zoomed in photo of a schooner's mast and some of its rigging. An artistic, zoomed in photo of rope coils securing the sails of a schooner. An artistic, zoomed in photo of rope coils securing the sails of a schooner. Gently rippling ocean waves. Gently rippling ocean waves. A landscape photo of a foggy harbor. Several larger ships are docked; many small fishing boats are moving in the background. A landscape photo of a foggy harbor. Several larger ships are docked; many small fishing boats are moving in the background. A landscape photo looking out past a lake towards two distant rocky and tree-covered hills, named the "Bubbles". A landscape photo looking out past a lake towards two distant rocky and tree-covered hills, named the "Bubbles".

Wildlife

There were ample opportunities for birdwatching, one of my favorite things to do while out with my camera. Sea birds were abundant and easy to spot.

A herring gull stretching its wings on a rocky cliff. A herring gull stretching its wings on a rocky cliff. A juvenile herring gull flying on a clear-skied day. A juvenile herring gull flying on a clear-skied day. A northern gannet, perhaps a juvenile because of its coloration, flying on a clear-skied day. A northern gannet, perhaps a juvenile because of its coloration, flying on a clear-skied day. A double-crested cormorant swimming in the ocean. A double-crested cormorant swimming in the ocean.

Seagulls Opening Clams

While walking out on Bar Harbor’s namesake sandbar early in the morning — it’s only accessible during low tide — I witnessed seagulls showcasing surprising ingenuity to open clams (or mussels?). They would hunt around the wet ground to find clams exposed by the change in tides, pick them up in their beaks, fly directly upward, and then drop them, landing to collect their reward.

A seagull standing in shallow water, holding a clam in its beak. A seagull standing in shallow water, holding a clam in its beak. A seagull flying on an overcast day, holding a clam in its beak. A seagull flying on an overcast day, holding a clam in its beak. A seagull flying on an overcast day, having just dropped a clam (pictured) from its beak. A seagull flying on an overcast day, having just dropped a clam (pictured) from its beak.

Family

I would be remiss not to include photos of my family and me enjoying the trip. Without them, I may never have discovered such a wonderful place, and spending time with them was a very meaningful part of the trip.

My mom, brother, and I in a group selfie at a mini golf course near Bar Harbor, Maine. My mom, brother, and I in a group selfie at a mini golf course near Bar Harbor, Maine. My brother posing as a mermaid on a rock outcropping above the ocean. My brother posing as a mermaid on a rock outcropping above the ocean. My girlfriend and I taking a selfie on the coast on a foggy day. My girlfriend and I taking a selfie on the coast on a foggy day. My brother standing on a rocky seaside cliff. My brother standing on a rocky seaside cliff. Me, sitting on a rocky seaside cliff. Me, sitting on a rocky seaside cliff. My mom and Dad posing for a picture at a scenic overlook of the Atlantic Ocean. My mom and Dad posing for a picture at a scenic overlook of the Atlantic Ocean.