Mid-Coast Audubon to offer Damariscotta Mills birding field trip

The forebay at Damariscotta Mills fish ladder. Jeff Cherry photo

Mid-Coast Audubon is set to lead a field trip in the Damariscotta Mills area Saturday, March 16, to check the pools above and below the famous fish ladder and also look out over Great Salt Bay.

Participants can expect to see a good representation of overwintering ducks, including Hooded, Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, and Bufflehead. The group also will look for less common species like Barrow’s Goldeneye, Scaup, and Ring-necked Duck.

This is a great place to bird year-round and is worth a visit during the Alewife run in May, according to a news release from Jeff Cherry with Mid-Coast Audubon. The Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder eBird hotspot has reports of 147 species.

Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome. The group will meet at 8 a.m. in the parking area at 384 Mills Road in Newcastle.

Attendees don’t need to be an Audubon member or have advanced birding skills to join in.

For more information, visit midcoast.maineaudubon.org.