Birdwalk Highlights for 8/12: Walsh Preserve, Yarmouth.

With a morning high tide, we excitedly hurried over to the Walsh Preserve to study and enjoy some shorebirds. And the marsh did not disappoint, yielding great views of shorebirds, especially unlimited side-by-side comparisons of LESSER (79) verses GREATER (36) YELLOWLEGS.

Among the yellowlegs fed 8 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, while 4 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS waited for the tide to recede. A few LEAST SANDPIPERS were moving around as well. 6 SNOWY EGRETS, 2 GREAT EGRETS, and 1 GREAT BLUE HERON were present as well, with 2 GLOSSY IBIS foraging in the salt pannes with the shorebirds.

From the marsh overlook, we enjoyed views of a BROAD-WINGED HAWK and a family group of at least three RED-TAILED HAWKS. Two EASTERN KINGBIRDS and EASTERN PHOEBES flycatched along the edge, with GRAY CATBIRDS in the understory. 4-6 BANK SWALLOWS and 4-6 TREE SWALLOWS foraged in the airspace, with CEDAR WAXWINGS flying about.

In the woods, we enjoyed an inquisitive BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, a couple of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, both WHITE-BREASTED and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and a few pairs of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES.

We ended out marsh viewing with hearing three - and briefly seeing one - NELSON'S SPARROW, and ended the trail walking with a recently-emerged CICADA to round out a very enjoyable summer outing.