With Jim's warning of a youth deer hunt this weekend on the refuge, I snuck
out of work at noon to chase this bird. The detailed directions provided by
Jim below are excellent, they brought me right to the edge of the bay just
to the south of the large flock of wigeon. A quick scan of the flock
immediately produced the drake EURASIAN WIGEON. Concerning the walk itself,
I arrived at the trailhead at 2:45 PM and with Jim's description of the walk
being a few miles I figured I should hurry if I wanted to be back to my car
before dark. I walked the trail as fast as a short man in his mid-fifties
loaded down with scope and binoculars could walk. It took me exactly 40
minutes to get to the spur trail at the sign with the numbers 4, 5, 6, & 7.
Assuming I was walking at 3+ mph, the walk is probably 2 to 2.5 miles one
way.

Other birds seen or heard along the trail included the expected woodpeckers,
chickadees, titmice, robins, and nuthatches. However, I also encountered
several BROWN CREEPERS and on my way out a sizeable flock (40ish) of RUSTY
BLACKBIRDS. The blackbirds could be heard calling on the far side of the
river very near the spur trail to the wigeon. Eventually they worked their
way into scattered treetops where I was able to get a rough count before
they flew to the south.

Gary Chapin
Ticonderoga, NY

-----Original Message-----
From: Vermont Birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jim Mead
Sent: Friday, November 06, 2015 9:45 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Drake Eurasian Wigeon

To help people find the exact location- try this:
Go to Vt eBird, find Jim Osborn's posting of the Eurasian Wigeon then click
on the word "map". Look where the location marker is and get directions to
that location. That is where you park your car. From there walk on the path
that starts on the northern end of parking lot. Head north and it will be a
few miles. Along the way you will pass 3 signs on the left, numbered 1,2
then 3. After you pass the #3 sign your next sign will be #5. It is on a
post leaning against a tree a little off the trail and on the left side.
Keep walking until you find a post with 4 signs that is on the right side of
the trail and very close to the river. To read those signs you need to be on
the river side of that post. You will read the numbers 4,5,6 & 7. The foot
path that leads to the Wigeons is on the left side of the trail directly
across from that sign post.  The foot path will lead you to open water and
that is the location. I hope this is helpful. 

Jim Mead

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 6, 2015, at 8:35 AM, Jim Mead <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> The Eurasian Wigeon drake is still here. It is with 134 American Wigeon. 
> ** I would not recommend coming out here during the weekend, as it is
Youth  Whitetail Deer Hunting Season- both days. Today would be a good time,
if you can try for it. Otherwise, I would highly suggest waiting until
Monday. 
> 
> Good luck if you can try for it.
> 
> Enjoy Birds,
> 
> Jim Mead
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Nov 5, 2015, at 12:22 PM, Jim Osborn <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> 
>> I found a Drake Eurasian Wigeon this morning in Long Marsh Bay (Access #7
- unmarked) at Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. The bird was in fairly
high breeding plumage. It had a nicely-colored "rufous " head, a "buffy"
crown stripe, black rump, light gray flanks and back, a "bright white" wing
patch, and a green speculum. It was in the company of 67 American Wigeon, 11
Northern Pintails, and a pair of Ring-necked Ducks. Wear some "orange" if
you go out there as Duck Hunting season is underway.