Portland, Maine has been a bird watching and bird photography hotspot for me for many years. I can almost say that every time I visit the greater Portland area, I can count on seeing and photographing birds! There is such a diversity of birds and other forms of wildlife here! One place I like to visit is the Fore River Sanctuary. This 85-acre preserve is the home of Portland's only natural waterfall called Jewel Falls. The Fore River Sanctuary is the site of the former Cumberland and Oxford Canal. On one of the trails, there are signs that talk about the history of the sanctuary and the history of the canal. This is an area where salt and freshwater marsh meet which creates a habitat where a large number of bird species can be found. I have seen Mallards, Mourning Doves, Double-Crested Cormorants, American Crows, grackles, robins, and egrets! On a completely random note, this is the place where I photographed the largest dandelion I had ever seen! Almost half as big as my hand! Anyway, this is a great place to check out if you are looking for a new place to do some bird watching or bird photography.