I enjoyed a great morning of birding in Scarborough Marsh today. Lots of shorebirds, a great raptor show, and a good concentration of waders. No major rarities, but some of the uncommon stuff that makes this season exciting. Plus, a few exciting (near) predation events.

Ed and I got an early start (6:00) at Eastern Rd, where we walked out into the salt pannes. With the incoming, and soon high, tide, shorebirds were a’ plenty. Over 900 Semipalmated Sandpipers led the way, with good numbers of other species. The 91 White-rumped Sandpipers was one of, if not the, highest total of this species that I have had in Maine. An adult Long-billed Dowitcher and two Stilt Sandpipers were also seen, and two Northern Shovelers flew overhead – all very uncommon to rare species. I also was able to tease out a Short-billed Dowitcher of the interior subspecies among the multitudes of “regular” (griseus) Shorties.

Roosting Semipalmated Sandpipers.

How many White-rumped Sandpipers can you find in this photo? (Use the comment field at the bottom of the page to enter your guess).

As great as this shorebird spectacle was, I do believe that the raptor performance stole the show today. A Merlin repeatedly buzzed the pannes, and at one point, was in hot pursuit of a Least Sandpiper that was separated from the flock. Ed and I watched it for a solid minute or so, occasionally coming very close to nabbing it. Then, all of the sudden, the Merlin pulled up and then proceeded to perform evasive maneuvers herself, as a Peregrine Falcon was right on her tail. That chase didn’t last long (the Peregrine didn’t seem to serious about it), but then the Peregrine had to deal with two mobbing Northern Harriers. The Merlin, Peregrine, and at least 3 different Harriers made occasional passes through the flocks – usually just about at the time that we would be close to completing a count of one shorebird species or another. Two Cooper’s Hawks along the trail were added to the mix as well. Not an easy day to be a tasty shorebird!

It was interesting to note that when the Merlin buzzed the pannes, only the peeps took flight. The Short-billed Dowitchers, for example, would go about their business as if nothing was going on. However, when the Peregrine made a pass, EVERYTHING took flight. At one point, an airborne flock of peeps and an airborne flock of Dowitchers and Lesser Yellowlegs, heading in opposite directions, met in a stunning whir of wings. We heard loud snapping sounds, presumably caused by the birds’ sudden change of direction and not mid-air collisions, as soon the two flocks were one cohesive, evasive cloud. All raptors went away hungry. (Complete totals below).

So, I was happily snapping photos of White-rumps amongts Semi-Sands, looking for good study shots. Note the excellent comparision here of the size and bulk of a White-rumped compared to the surrounding Semis.

While Ed and I had noted a number of exceptionally bright juvenile Semipalmated Sandpipers today, it wasn't until I got back and looked at the pictures on the computer that I noticed just how bright this particular bird was. The cap and cheeks are extremely bright, and there is even some rufous (or at least bright orange-buff) on the tertials and primaries.

Blowing the photo up even more, I tried my darnedest to "make" this into something far rarer. I would like to have seen the bill, and the rest of the bird, in the field, but based on these photos, I am satisified that this is the bright extreme of a Semi-Sand. But boy, do I hope to be proven otherwise!

Also note the bright peep in the background...But if only this bird's tertials and primaries were a little darker! But, what do you all think? Comments are welcome.

A Whimbrel even made a rare appearance in these pannes.

Ed had to begrudgingly leave for work, but I had a little more time, so I checked the marsh behind the Pelreco Building. A nice assemblage of waders were feeding in the pannes, with 142 Snowy Egrets and 29 Little Blue Herons, among others, concentrated in one pool. (Complete totals below).

The near-predation event that I witnessed here was a Great Egret snagging a Least Sandpiper! It had it by one wing, the Leastie was fighting for its life, when a nearby Great Blue Heron decided to try to steal the sandpiper from the egret. Instead, the egret dropped the sandpiper who scurried back into the grass. The egret went back to fishing – the small fish in these pools don’t put up as much of a fight, and they can be gulped down before any bullies consider piratism!

A final stop at Pine Point, as mudflats were just beginning to show through the falling tide produced more shorebirds, led by the 157 Black-bellied Plovers (my highest count, by far, of the season so far). But unfortunately, it was now my turn to begrudgingly head into work.

Here are my total counts, generated by eBird, as I discussed yesterday. . .

Location: Eastern Rd, Scarborough Marsh
Observation date: 8/23/07
Notes: Exact counts of peeps impossible due to raptor activity.
Number of species: 39

American Black Duck 2
Blue-winged Teal 1
Northern Shoveler 2
Green-winged Teal 13
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
Little Blue Heron 3
Osprey 3
Northern Harrier 3 - 3 juv.
Cooper's Hawk 2
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 1 - immature ssp tundrius
Semipalmated Plover 13
Killdeer 1
Greater Yellowlegs 12
Lesser Yellowlegs 30 - 1 or 2 adults.
Whimbrel 3
Semipalmated Sandpiper 900 - 10% juvenile
Least Sandpiper 100 - 98% juvenile
White-rumped Sandpiper 91 - a few juveniles
Pectoral Sandpiper 1 - adult
Stilt Sandpiper 2 - 1 adult, 1 juvenile
Short-billed Dowitcher 159 - 90% juvenile. 1 adult ssp.
hendersonii.
Long-billed Dowitcher 1 - adult
Ring-billed Gull 7
Herring Gull 6
Belted Kingfisher 1
American Crow 4
Tree Swallow 9
Barn Swallow 2
European Starling 5
Savannah Sparrow 4
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow 2 - plus 5+ unidentified sharp-tailed
Sparrows.
Song Sparrow 5
Bobolink 11
Red-winged Blackbird 11
Common Grackle 75
American Goldfinch 5

Location: Pelreco Building, Scarborough Marsh
Observation date: 8/23/07
Number of species: 14

American Black Duck 2
Mallard 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 27
Snowy Egret 142
Little Blue Heron 29
Glossy Ibis 32
Cooper's Hawk 1
Greater Yellowlegs 17
Lesser Yellowlegs 6
Least Sandpiper 25
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 3
American Crow 2

Location: Pine Point, Scarborough
Observation date: 8/23/07
Just a few of the highlights:

Osprey 2
Northern Harrier 1
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Black-bellied Plover 157
Willet 2
Whimbrel 5
Bonaparte's Gull 50
Common Tern 15
Black Guillemot 2