Two of the three Lesser Black-backed Gulls present at Hill’s Beach in Biddeford on the 8^th included these two 3^rd-cycle birds, seen here with a likely 4th cycle Herring Gull for a nice comparison.

Once again, I focused on shorebirds this week, and not surprisingly the non-shorebird highlights I encountered were while looking at said shorebirds. Meanwhile, passerine movement is really ramping up, with lots of early warblers like Yellow, American Redstart, and Black-and-white on the move. Some of the other migrants on our Durham property this week included Canada Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Bobolink, and Barn Swallow.

Non-shorebird highlights this week:

• 1 juvenile BLACK TERN, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 8/5 (with Jeannette).

• 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (one 1^st-summer; with Dan Gardoqui and two 3^rd-summers arriving later), Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/8.

The adults of a lot of species of shorebirds are peaking now, and a growing number of juveniles are arriving, providing for some good numbers at a variety of locations. Shorebird high counts this week:

• Black-bellied Plover: 86, The Pool, Biddeford Pool, 8/8.
• Killdeer: 21, Crystal Spring Farm, Brunswick, 8/5 (with Jeannette).
• Semipalmated Plover: 150+, Pine Point, Scarborough, 8/11 (with Birds on Tap – Roadtrip! Tour group).
• Piping Plover: 6, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/8.
• Whimbrel: 2, Pine Point, 8/11 (with Birds on Tap – Roadtrip! Tour group).
• STILT SANDPIPER (FOY): 1 adult, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 8/9. Still present at low tide on 8/10 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group – All-time Saturday Morning Birdwalk Species #253!)

The All-Time Saturday Morning Birdwalk List

• Sanderling: 14, Hill’s Beach, 8/8 (with Dan Gardoqui).
• Least Sandpiper: 73, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 8/5 (with Jeannette).
• White-rumped Sandpiper: 1, Hill’s Beach, 8/8 (with Dan Gardoqui) and Yarmouth Town Landing, 8/10 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
• Pectoral Sandpiper: 5, Eastern Road Trail, 8/5 (with Jeannette).
• Semipalmated Sandpiper: 1500+, The Pool, Biddeford Pool, 8/8 (with Dan Gardoqui).
• Short-billed Dowitcher: ~40, The Pool, 8/8 (with Dan Gardoqui).
• Spotted Sandpiper: 2, multiple locations this week.
• Solitary Sandpiper: 1, several locations this week.
• Lesser Yellowlegs: 71, Walsh Preserve, 8/9.
• “Eastern” Willet: 18, Pine Point, 8/11 (with Birds on Tap – Roadtrip! Tour group).
• “WESTERN” WILLET (FOY): 1, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/8.
• Greater Yellowlegs: 12, Wharton Point, 8/6 (with Jeannette).

Tours and Events:

• The 20^th Anniversary Celebration Month is underway here at the store.  All the details can be found here, including free raffles for dinner (get your tickets in soon; drawing on Wednesday!), a silent auction for conservation, and several chances to win a new pair of binoculars!
• Birds of Casco Bay with Seacoast Tours, originally scheduled for 8/4, has been postponed until Sunday, 8/25. Call Seacoast Tours to see if any spaces have opened up.