Jeannette and I returned from our summer vacation on the 3^rd, and with shorebird migration in full swing, so I went right back to work, both personally and professionally! Here are my observations of note over the past 10 days:

• 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher has been present in our Durham yard since 8/8.

• 3 Gadwall, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 8/4.

• 1 Louisiana Waterthrush, River Winds Farm and Estate (Private), Saco, 8/5.

• 1 juvenile Little Blue Heron, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 8/8 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).

• 3 continuing FORSTER’S TERNS, Great Pond, Biddeford Pool, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).

• 1 continuing THICK-BILLED MURRE, Ferry/Western Beach, Scarborough, 8/10 (with Jeannette). Present since 7/18, this first summer bird is in heavy wing molt, but otherwise appears healthy, actively diving, and surviving just fine. Please, just give it some room! We have been monitoring its health in consultation with Avian Haven, but even though it is well south of normal summertime range and it’s standing on the beach, it appears absolutely fine. Murres cannot take off from flat land, plus it’s in heavy molt, so perceptions of it being “sick” are just well-intentioned misunderstanding. It is being monitored, however!

• 1 continuing TRICOLORED HERON, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 8/10 (with Jeannette).
• 1 continuing “PATCHES!” the proposed TRICOLORED HERON X SMALL WHITE EGRETTA(S) HYBIRD. This seems to be the same individual present since at least 2023. Discussion and great photos from Bill Thompson can be seen here.

Prior to our trip, I had a couple of notable observations in the two days after my last post before we departed :

• 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo (FOY, finally) and 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Old Town House Park, 7/25 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).

• Highlights from my 7/26 “Whale Watch and Puffin Combo” birder’s special tour with Cap’n Fish’s Cruises out of Boothbay Harbor included: 206 Wilson’s Storm-Petrels, 16 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 3-4 RED PHALAROPES (upon photo review), a mere one Great Shearwater, 1 Northern Gannet, and of course all three terns and a great Atlantic Puffin show (especially for the date) at Eastern Egg Rock.

And here are my shorebird high counts over the past 10 days (see previous blog for an explanation of the “data” included here):

• AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER: 8, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
• Black-bellied Plover: 64, Wharton Point, Brunswick, 8/7.
• Killdeer: 7, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 8/12.
• Semipalmated Plover: 125, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
• Piping Plover: 3 each at Biddeford Pool Beach and Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
• Hudsonian Whimbrel: 1 each at The Pool and Jones Creek, Scarborough Marsh, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
• Ruddy Turnstone: 16 Biddeford Pool Beach, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
• Least Sandpiper: 263, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 8/10 (with Jeannette).
• White-rumped Sandpiper (FOF): 1, Eastern Road Trail, 8/10 (with Jeannette).
• Pectoral Sandpiper: 1, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 8/8 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group)
• Semipalmated Sandpiper: 125, Biddeford Pool Beach, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group). Very low high count for the season as I was unable to visit the best locations at the perfect tides this week.
• Short-billed Dowitcher: 85, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
• Spotted Sandpiper: 6, Great Pond, Biddeford Pool, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
• Solitary Sandpiper: 8, Florida Lake Park, 8/12.
• Lesser Yellowegs: 174(!), Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 8/4.
• (Eastern) Willet: 8, Pine Point, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
• Greater Yellowlegs: 29, Walsh Preserve, 8/4.

Upcoming Tours (that have space):

Birds on Tap℠ – Roadtrip! Shorebirds and Steins

August 16, 2026; 9:00am – 3:00pm​

These unique, relaxed birding and beer-ing adventures that you have come to love combine great local birding at seasonal hotspots with visits to sample the delicious creations of some of our favorite local breweries. These tours are a perfect introduction to birding and/or craft beer, and a great opportunity to travel with significant others, friends, and family that have interest in one topic, while your interest is primarily in the other (for now!). Seasonal birding hotspots and great local beer – a perfect combination, and we’ll even do all of the driving!

The original BoT Roadtrip! Way back in 2015, our most popular tour returns to Scarborough Marsh at prime time for a good variety of migrant shorebirds. We’ll learn how to identify our common species, and search for the rare. Up to 20 species of shorebirds are possible! We’ll practice identifying our “peeps” (Least, Semipalmated, and White-rumped Sandpipers) and attempt to tease out a rare Western or even a Baird’s among the masses. We’ll look for local breeding American Oystercatchers and Willets, while searching for migrants such as Red Knots on their way from the high Arctic to the southern tip of Argentina.