Thompson Island

The 15-minute drive between Ellsworth and Mount Desert Island is most notable for its lobster pound restaurants. Of these, the Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound is particularly famous. It is also located at the causeway entrance to Mount Desert Island and the first true Acadia National Park birding experience: Thompson Island. Route 3 exits the mainland over a bridge at Mount Desert Narrows. Upon crossing the bridge, there is a Chamber of Commerce visitor’s center on the right and a picnic area entrance on the left. This picnic area provides excellent access to viewing the channel. It may be gated in winter, but visitors may walk in.

As is typical of the Maine coast, there are more interesting waterfowl in winter. From October to May, Thompson Island is a good place to look for common eiders, goldeneyes, and loons. In summer, herring and ring-billed gulls are abundant, accompanied by great black-backed and laughing gulls. Bonaparte’s gulls and a few common terns join them later in summer. Shorebirds also pop up on the shoreline rocks in August, particularly greater and lesser yellowlegs, and least sandpipers.