A visit to Popham Beach State Park on the 19^th produced more fog and fewer shorebirds than I had hoped, but a family of Piping Plovers provided plenty of entertainment. Note that I did not approach these birds, but instead sat in the sand (burying my feet and legs mostly to defend against Greenhead Flies!) and let them wander up to me. It was a wonderful moment.

A few observations of note over the past seven days included the following:

• Red Crossbills continue to be widespread in small numbers around the state, by my high count this week was only 4 in Millinocket on 7/18.

• 21 Lesser Yellowlegs, Yarmouth Town Landing, 7/16.

• 1 Mourning Warbler, Knife Edge Brewing, T1-R8, 7/17 (with Jeannette).

• 2 CANADA JAYS, 13 total WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS including several singing males, 1 out of place FIELD SPARROW, 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher, etc., Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, 7/18 (with Jeannette).

• 2 Whimbrels, Popham Beach State Park, Phippsburg, 7/19.

TOURS:

We have some room available for tomorrow afternoon’s charter to Seal Island. With all of the rarities around offshore recently, who knows what we might find!  Hope to see you aboard!