Birdwalk Highlights for 3/22: Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick

It was a perfect tide and a perfect calm morning for observing prime time for the spring duck concentration in Maquoit Bay from the Conservation Land Trail. And we nailed it today. What a show!

Arriving at the end of the trail, the impressive rafts of ducks was laid out before us. We teased out a pair of AMERICAN WIGEON and about a dozen MALLARDS from the flock of 400-450 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS dabbling on the mudflat, joined by 150 HERRING GULLS and about 100 RING-BILLED GULLS. Later on, a drake RING-NECKED DUCK appeared amongst the black ducks, too.

Out in the water, a truly impressive raft of ~600 GREATER SCAUP was a sight to behold. It took some work, but there were at least 6 LESSER SCAUP among them. Slightly further out were 200-250 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER in their own raft, with other waterbirds including estimates of about 50 COMMON EIDERS, 20 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 15 BUFFLEHEADS, and 15 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Meanwhile, a single COMMON MERGANSER and a small flock of 16 CANADA GEESE headed north overhead.

If this wasn't a great site on it's own, the entire bay took flight when an immature BALD EAGLE cruised low. Breathtaking!

A more comical highlight was the poor RING-BILLED GULL that was flying around with a clam clamped shut on its toe! The gull seemed to remain fairly calm about its predicament, flying around to a freshwater creek that entered the mudflat, standing there with the clam immersed in the water. Unfortunately, we didn't see it fly off (when the eagle came by) so we don't know the final chapter of this story.

As expected the woods to and from the point were quiet, although we did hear a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER and most of the expected woodland birds, plus a couple of singing SONG SPARROWS at the point.

Finally, a quick scan of the flooded fields along Highland Road added about 60 Canada Geese, 20 Mallards, 2 American Black Ducks, and two recently-arrived KILLDEER to the tally.