All. The. Shorebirds. And rare wading birds! Here are my observations of note over the past seven days:

• 1 TRICOLORED HERON (my first pure TRHE of the year), Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 8/9 (with Jeannette).

• 26 WHITE IBIS, Webhannet Marsh, Wells, 8/11. 29 were present earlier, but I had to settle for “only” 26. Either way, wow…A flock of White Ibis!  Rapidly expanding up the Eastern Seabird, this was just a matter of time.

Shorebird high counts this week, with many species now peaking:

• AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER: 2 ad with 1 juv, Upper Green Island, Casco Bay, 8/12 (with Seacoast Tours and private tour group). Is this a family group from Ram Island, or perhaps another pair is now breeding further up the bay?

• Black-bellied Plover: 62, Pine Point, Scarborough, 8/8 (with client from NY).
• Killdeer: 5, Pelreco Marsh, Scarborough Marsh, 8/7 (with Down East Adventures Shorebird Workshop Group).
• Semipalmated Plover: 300+, Pine Point, 8/7 (with Down East Adventures Shorebird Workshop Group).
• Whimbrel: 2, Pine Point, 8/8 (with client from NY).
• Ruddy Turnstone: 1, 8/7 (with Down East Adventures Shorebird Workshop Group).
• STILT SANDPIPER: 9 (great count!), Eastern Road Trail, 8/8 (with client from NY) and 8/9 (with Jeannette).
• Sanderling: 34, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/7 (with Down East Adventures Shorebird Workshop Group).
• Least Sandpiper: 75+, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 8/8 (with client from NY).
• White-rumped Sandpiper: 46, Eastern Road Trail, 8/8 (with client from NY).
• Pectoral Sandpiper: 3, Eastern Road Trail, 8/8 (with client from NY)
• Semipalmated Sandpiper: 550+, Eastern Road Trail, 8/9 (with Jeannette).
• Short-billed Dowitcher: 44, Eastern Road Trail, 8/8 (with client from NY).
• Spotted Sandpiper: 4, Sebago Lake State Park, 8/11.
• Lesser Yellowlegs: 64, Royal River, Yarmouth, 8/12 (with Seacoast Tours and private tour group).
• “Eastern” Willet: 8, Pine Point, 8/7 (with Down East Adventures Shorebird Workshop Group).
• “WESTERN” WILLET (FOY): 3 juv, Hill’s Beach, 8/7 (with Down East Adventures Shorebird Workshop Group).
• Greater Yellowlegs: 24, Royal River, Yarmouth, 8/12 (with Seacoast Tours and Private Tour Group).
• WILSON’S PHALAROPE: 1 molting juv, Eastern Road Trail, 8/8 (with client from NY). Phone-scoped video here: https://fb.watch/ePAQA03F_3/