[Maine-birds] This Week's Highlights and Shorebird High Counts, 8/3-8

Hi all,

A few observations of note over the past six days for me included the following:

- 1 continuing adults WHITE-FACED IBIS, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 8/4 (with Jeannette).

- "PATCHES," the TRICOLORED HERON X white egret sp. HYBRID, Eastern Road Trail, 8/4 (with Jeannette).

- widespread migrants this week included Eastern Kingbird, all species of small swallows, especially Bank and Tree, Northern Waterthrush, American Redstarts, Yellow Warbler, and Bobolink. 

- 1+ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Fort Foster, Kittery, 8/8

Due to high water from recent high tides in Scarborough Marsh, my two visits to the Eastern Road Trail salt pannes this week were lackluster (especially compared to last week!) and my shorebird high counts this week really reflect that:

Black-bellied Plover: 88, Wharton Point, Brunswick, 8/7.

Semipalmated Plover: ~100, Pine Point, Scarborough, 8/4 (with Birds on Tap - Roadtrip! tour group).

Killdeer: 5, Highland Road, Brunswick, 8/5 (with Jeannette).
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER: 1 ad,  Pine Point, 8/4 (with Birds on Tap - Roadtrip! tour group).

Spotted Sandpiper: 3, Royal River Park, Yarmouth, 8/3 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).

Greater Yellowlegs: 15, Pine Point, 8/4 (with Birds on Tap - Roadtrip! tour group).

"Eastern" Willet: 7, Pine Point, 8/4 (with Birds on Tap - Roadtrip! tour group). 

Lesser Yellowlegs: 7, Eastern Road Trail, 8/4 (with Birds on Tap - Roadtrip! tour group). 

Least Sandpiper: 37, Eastern Road Trail, 8/5 (with Jeannette).

White-rumped Sandpiper: 6, Pelreco Marsh, 8/5 (with Jeannette). 

Pectoral Sandpiper: 1, Eastern Road Trail, 8/5 (with Jeannette).

Semipalmated Sandpiper: 250+, Pine Point, 8/4 (with Birds on Tap - Roadtrip! tour group).

Short-billed Dowitcher: ~50, Pine Point, 8/4 (with Birds on Tap - Roadtrip! tour group).

And here are my photos of the Scarborough Marsh LITTLE EGRET from last week, 8/2:

http://www.facebook.com/pg/Freeportwildbird/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2763821540314449

-Derek

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 Derek and Jeannette Lovitch

 Freeport Wild Bird Supply

 541 Route One, Suite 10

 Freeport, ME 04032

 207-865-6000

 www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com  

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