Birding at Thompson Island

Thompson Island Picnic Area is the best opportunity inside Acadia National Park to search for shorebirds, in addition to hosting both egret species, Great Egret and Snowy Egret, and uncommon gull species like Laughing Gull and Bonaparte’s Gull. This picnic area offers an excellent view of the Mt. Desert Narrows and its extensive mudflat that is exposed during low tide. The best time of the year to catch shorebirds and other activity is from August to October. However, during May the picnic area is also worth a check for any migrating songbirds and sometimes a lingering sandpiper.

Details

Activity

Birdwatching

Pets Allowed

Yes with Restrictions

Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet.

Activity Fee

No

Although the activity is free, a park entrance pass is required for all areas of the park from May 1 through October 31.

Location

Thompson Island

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

Time of Day

Day, Dawn, Dusk

Accessibility Information

Thompson Island is mostly accesible within the picnic area. It has wheelchair-accessible parking, restrooms, fire grills, and picnic tables. Assistance is needed to reach the shore.

A Great-blue Heron on the coast

Emma Forthofer, Friends of Acadia, NPS

Thompson Island Picnic Area is located at the northern tip of Mount Desert Island, just south of the Trenton Bridge, the only entrance to Mount Desert Island by land. This location is best visited any day at low-tide, especially arriving at low-tide and watching the tide come in possibly pushing shorebirds closing in view. Pull into the parking area wherever there is an open spot. It’s always worth taking a few minutes to walk the perimeter of the parking lot to search for any songbirds hanging in edge of the surrounding mixed forest. Please note to be cautious of traffic and cars in the parking lot.

Afterwards, head towards the picnic tables and fire rings and begin scanning the mudflats or Mt. Desert Narrows. In late summer and fall searching for common shorebird species such as Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Black-bellied Plover, and either Greater or Lesser Yellowlegs, this location is easily the best place to view these species of bird. Carefully search small pools of water as well, often uncommon gull species like Bonaparte’s Gull or Laughing Gull will be mixed in with Herring Gull.

Next, direct your attention towards the marsh area just south of the mudflat, anytime in the summer there is a good chance for Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant and Common Eider. Lastly, keeping an eye out in the sky during the summer will give you an opportunity to see any passing Common or Arctic Tern as they usually make their way to and from nesting sites.

Notable Acadia Species: Black-headed Gull, Marbled Godwit, Little Blue Heron