[Maine-birds] Eurasian Wigeon, 24 N Pintail, ducks at the Abby

I checked the Abby this afternoon and the ice is just beginning to break up, with 9 imm. eagles sitting here and there.

The ducks are just starting to arrive with something like 200 present, notably:

1 male Eurasian Wigeon (ph.) - no other wigeon.

24 N Pintail

100+ Black Ducks

50 Mallards.

No Canada Geese.

no teal or other waterfowl other than Com Mergs.

The Kennebec River seems to be opening up quickly up and down the river around Richmond without the assistance of the Coast Guard, which may mean that ducks will push through quickly like last year.  We'll see.

But it's very much worth visiting the Abby over the next few weeks.

Directions: from I-95, Bowdoinham exit to rt.125 into Bowdoinham, north on rt. 24 a mile or so, right on Brown's Pt. Road until you X the single lane bridge (enjoy this, not many in New England).  I park by the large transmission line structure to the east of the bridge.  Please note that there are signs about not impacting coastal vegetation, not that birders will do that.

With the ice still largely intact but crumbling, the ducks tend to be in pretty close to this observation point and are easy to flush - patience and stealth helpful.

Best, Peter