[Maine-birds] American Avocet, Stilt Sandpiper - Machias

    Just returned from a few days spent Downeast.  Got to see the American Avocet and other birds reported by Ilze Balodis yesterday.  Great sighting and thanks for posting.  

   The avocet was in the marshy area along the Downeast Sunrise Trail last evening and again this morning at 6:30 am.  Also last evening I saw the Great Egret and shorebird numbers that grew to 2000+ birds as the sun set.  A Merlin swooped in and set off quite a show of shorebirds circling around in the air.  

   This morning the avocet was still there, as was the egret and Merlin but shorebird numbers were down to only about 1/10th of yesterday.  There was also a Stilt Sandpiper in one of the pannes in the marsh.

   This section of trail is east of the causeway in Machias on the south side of Highway 1  (the parking lot is currently mostly occupied by a flea market).  The trail is an old railroad bed that is nice and flat but also used a lot at times by ATV's.  The avocet and Stilt Sandpiper were both about 1/4 mile east of the Schoppee Farm Inn this morning. 

Good Birding,

John