[Maine-birds] Scarborough Marsh Bird Walk 7/10 & Sparrow Workshop on 7/14

This morning we had another great bird walk from the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center. With a few rarities still being reported we decided to spend our time on the Eastern Trail, despite the low tide.

Unfortunately the Seaside Sparrows were not vocal today, probably a factor of the weather and time of year, so we did not see any sign of those birds. The Black-necked Stilt was also not present in the morning but was reported by others later in the day. For those still looking, the stilt seems to have a pattern lately of showing up sometime after noon and then foraging in the pannes to the east of the Eastern Trail.

We did see (a) the Tricolored Heron fly over the trail (west to east) fairly early; I later had this bird preening along the edge of the river (west side of the trail) during a canoe tour, so it is getting around. Other highlights included the highest number of southbound shorebirds so far and the beginning of the swallows staging over the marsh - signs that fall is upon us!

Here is a complete checklist from out walk: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14619037

I also wanted to mention a workshop I'll be doing at the nature center this coming Sunday (7/14) about the sharp-tailed sparrows. We will spend a little time inside looking at photos (birds in the field and while banding, including hybrids!) then go out for a field trip and see them ourselves. For more information see: http://maineaudubon.org/events/2013/sparrow-workshop/

And mark your calendars now if you can help us with the IBA survey for the Scarborough Marsh on 7/27: http://maineaudubon.org/events/2012/bird-monitoring-2/

Good birding,


Doug Hitchcox
Hollis, ME

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