Today, I was hired for a one-on-one shorebird workshop. Phil wanted to really work through, and study shorebirds – both rare and common. I absolutely love guiding for pursuits such as this – really studying and teaching, not just twitching!

We did not plan the day as a shorebird “big day,” in the true sense. Although I set a goal of 20 species, my plans were mostly centered around choice opportunities and vantage points for good studies – such as side-by-side comparisons of similar species. We did have a few target species in particular – especially Buff-breasted Sandpiper, so extra effort was made for some species.

If we were to do this as a true big day, we would of begun at Pine Point in Scarborough at dawn – and low tide – to scan the mudflats, and finished up at Hill’s Beach (or visa versa) on the outgoing tide in the evening for similar habitat. We would also have tried a few specific spots to fill a few specific holes.

However, the species count was secondary to the quality of the observations: our goal was to really see each species well, study them, and compare them to similar species.

We began at the Sanford Sewerage facility, which started the day off right with great views of Stilt Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs side-by-side, and Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers side-by-side. We also found our only Solitary Sandpiper of the day, and a Killdeer flew over, calling, a very lucky bird for us as this was the only one we would see the whole day!

Winding Brook Turf sod farm in Lyman was a bust – no Buff-breasted or American Golden Plover, and not even a Killdeer. In fact, the only shorebird was a single Semipalmated Plover, looking very out-of-place on the dirt road.

The next stop was Biddeford Pool, where we walked out in to the marsh from behind Hattie’s Deli. With the high tides and northeast wind, the water had filled in the pool a bit sooner than we had hoped, so we didn’t have a great time here – although we did get our only Ruddy Turnstones on the day.

Biddeford Pool Beach, however, was exceptional! Nearly a thousands shorebirds were in the wrack as the incoming tide pushed them even closer. We sifted out a handful of White-rumped Sandpipers, and two juvenile Western Sandpipers – another of the day’s targets. Happily, we also spotted the juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper that has been there for 3 days now. More great views of this handsome bird, and my 10th Buffy in 5 days (which is simply ridiculous!). Phil and I sat down on the beach, allowing the shorebirds to get used to us, and as the incoming waves pushed them closer, we were provided with fantastic studies of White-rumped Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers and Plovers, and Sanderlings. We left the beach with 16 species of shorebirds on the day – my goal of 20 was definitely within reach!

East Point, however, did not produce much: no shorebirds roosting on the rocks along Ocean Drive, and no Golden-Plover (a long shot) on the golf course. After lunch, we headed north to the Eastern Road Trail through Scarborough Marsh, with our goal of 20 species within reach.

We soon added Whimbrel (a very nice flock of 13) and Pectoral Sandpipers. Plus, there were some good studies of both flavors of Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and a few more White-rumps. So, the outing came to a close with 18 species of shorebirds: not too shabby for a 2/3 day of work! (If you could call it, "work!")

Here is the tally sheet:
Black-bellied Plover: Sanford Sewerage, Biddeford Pool.
Semipalmated Plover: all locations, mostly juv.
Killdeer: Only 1, flyover at Sanford Sewerage (Phew!)
Greater Yellowlegs: Sanford, Biddeford Pool, Eastern Rd.
Lesser Yellowlegs: Sanford, Biddeford Pool, Eastern Rd.
Solitary Sandpiper: Only 1, Sanford Sewerage.
Spotted Sandpiper: Only 1, Biddeford Pool Beach.
Whimbrel: 13, Eastern Rd.
Ruddy Turnstone: 6, Biddeford Pool.
Sanderling: _500+_, Biddeford Pool Beach.
Semipalmated Sandpiper: All locations except sod farm; 400+ Biddeford Pool
Beach, just about all juv.
WESTERN SANDPIPER: 2 juv, Biddeford Pool Beach.
Least Sandpiper: All locations except sod farm, all or nearly all juv.
White-rumped Sandpiper: 5+ Biddeford Pool Beach; 6+ Eastern Rd, including 1 juv.
Pectoral Sandpiper: 5 juv., Eastern Rd.
STILT SANDPIPER: 6 juv, Sanford Sewerage; 2 juv, Eastern Rd.
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER: 1 juv, Biddeford Pool Beach.
Short-billed Dowitcher: 1 juv. Sanford, 4 Biddeford Pool, 1+ juv. Eastern Rd.

If we had started earlier, or spent the entire day out, low tide at Pine
Point and/or Hill's Beach could of produced: Dunlin (just beginning to arrive), Red Knot (flock seen recently at Pine Pt.), American
Golden-Plover, Willet, and even American Oystercatcher. Other "misses"
included Wilson's Phalarope (late bird has departed Sanford), and
Long-billed Dowitcher (seen yesterday off Eastern Rd).

Other highlights included:
1 imm. Little Blue Heron continuing at Sanford (rare inland).
1 Northern Pintail, Sanford Sewerage.
3 Northern Pintail, Biddeford Pool.
2 TRICOLORED HERONS, Eastern Rd.