Migration Alert: Sea Ducks Building Along the Atlantic Flyway

Sea duck hunting is one of the most rugged and exhilarating forms of waterfowling. Unlike gunning sheltered marshes, hunters pursuing eiders, scoters, and long-tailed ducks face wind, waves, and salt spray as flocks skim low across the surf. Sea duck season across the northern reaches of the Atlantic Flyway is taking shape as shorter days, colder weather, and shifting winds begin pushing birds toward their traditional coastal wintering grounds.

In Maine, guides are already reporting encouraging early-season movement. Captain Bennett Ellis of Bold Coast Outfitters says, “Scoters have been around since early October, but not a ton of new ones have shown up recently. There are still plenty around.” Long-tailed ducks also began appearing several weeks ago, according to Ellis.

Populations of resident birds are holding steady in numbers, but the big news is the arrival of the first major migratory push of sea ducks. “We just started seeing a big push of migrators about two days ago—groups of 20 to 50 at a time throughout the morning,” Ellis reports. 

Things are looking much better than last season, which Ellis described as, “One of the toughest seasons I’ve ever had,” owing to tough weather conditions and inconsistent bird movements. This year, he and his clients have been able to hunt every single day, and the birds have been just about everywhere.

Looking ahead, Ellis remains optimistic: “As long as the weather stays cold, we should keep seeing more birds showing up. Anyone coming in late November or early December will probably have a really good shoot this year.”

In Massachusetts, sea duck numbers are also building steadily. Mike Lundholm of Cape Cod Waterfowl reports that he has been seeing scoters for a few weeks now in pretty solid numbers. Each time he gets on the water, he sees more birds. “Eiders and scoters are loading up,” he notes.

Lundholm is optimistic about the opener. “If you subscribe to the idea that colder temps and an early winter help, we’re definitely getting that,” he says.

Offshore scouting has revealed heavy concentrations of birds. After strong north winds, Lundholm says, “I’m seeing strings and strings of birds—big bunches farther out, especially in offshore rips where some of the biggest groups are in places that are hard to reach.”

Farther south, Long Island is also holding strong preseason numbers as the opener approaches. According to Anthony Babich of Elite Long Island Outfitters, scouting runs this week showed plentiful scoters and longtails on the North Fork, while the western bay system is holding a mix of good numbers.

Optimism is high among local hunters, as Babich notes, “The anticipation and excitement for the opener continues to keep our staff confident for another successful season.”

Throughout the North Atlantic region, scoters and long-tailed ducks are already present in good numbers, and eiders are beginning to move. With daylight waning, fresh waves of migrators are on the way, providing plenty of opportunities for waterfowlers willing to face the surf, wind, and open water that define this thrilling corner of the migration.