Our group of over a dozen participants hit the falling tide spot-on at Pine Point Landing. We got great looks at hundreds of shorebirds. Species seen included Semipal and Least sandpiper, Semipal and Black-bellied plover, Willet, Short-billed Dowitcher, Lesser Yellowlegs and Greater Yellowlegs. Also a Ruddy Turnstone, a Whimbrel at close range, and a Red Knot glimpsed briefly. We also enjoyed watching Least and Common Terns and many other expected species. One species NOT in evidence was the Greenhead Horse Fly. :-)
A highlight of the outing was the chance to watch an aerial chase between a hatch year Peregrine Falcon and a hapless peep. For several minutes the shorebird eluded the swooping Peregrine, finally managing to bail into the marsh. The frustrated falcon stayed in the area for several more minutes, scattering the prey species and giving us a good excuse to segue over to Pelreco. There we managed to scrape up both Nelson's and Saltmarsh "type" sparrows (it's often a bit of a tossup -- for me -- as to what species name to hang on some of these presumably hybrid birds, especially when their plumage is beat-up like it is now), along with Cliff Swallow, Marsh Wren, Glossy Ibis, 20+ Snowy Egrets, a Little Blue Heron and 2 Osprey.
See the eBird report below for a more complete accounting of species and numbers.
The only problem with having it so good at Pine Point was we didn't have a chance to look for the American Avocet recently seen in the area.
Join us next week for more birding fun on the weekly Wednesday walk, leaving from the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center at 7AM.
Peace & good birding,
Scarborough--Pine Point, Cumberland, US-ME
Jul 25, 2012 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Regular Wednesday AM bird walk sponsored by Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center
37 species (+1 other taxa)
Mallard 1
Common Eider 2
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 22
Little Blue Heron 2
Glossy Ibis 2
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 2
Cooper's Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Black-bellied Plover X
Semipalmated Plover X
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Willet 12
Lesser Yellowlegs 3
Whimbrel 1
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Red Knot 1 bird seen well, albeit briefly
Semipalmated Sandpiper X
Least Sandpiper 2
Short-billed Dowitcher X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Least Tern 4
Common Tern X
Tree Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Cliff Swallow 1
Marsh Wren 1
American Robin 1
European Starling X
Nelson's/Saltmarsh Sparrow 3
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 2
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Jul 25, 2012 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Regular Wednesday AM bird walk sponsored by Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center
37 species (+1 other taxa)
Mallard 1
Common Eider 2
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 22
Little Blue Heron 2
Glossy Ibis 2
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 2
Cooper's Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Black-bellied Plover X
Semipalmated Plover X
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Willet 12
Lesser Yellowlegs 3
Whimbrel 1
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Red Knot 1 bird seen well, albeit briefly
Semipalmated Sandpiper X
Least Sandpiper 2
Short-billed Dowitcher X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Least Tern 4
Common Tern X
Tree Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Cliff Swallow 1
Marsh Wren 1
American Robin 1
European Starling X
Nelson's/Saltmarsh Sparrow 3
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 2
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
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