Birdwalk Highlights for 8/26: Walsh Preserve, Yarmouth

Thanks to the morning high tide, off we went to nearby Walsh Preserve to enjoy shorebirds once again. And with the passage of the season, we weren't surprised to see fewer shorebird than we had here two weeks ago. Nonetheless, we had decent tallies of 28 GREATER and 26 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, along with about 10 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 9 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 4 LEAST SANDPIPERS, and 1 each of SOLITARY, SPOTTED, and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS.

Wading birds have concentrated more though: 22 GREAT EGRETS, 16 SNOWY EGRETS, and 4 GREAT BLUE HERONS stalked the pannes. About a dozen MALLARDS and a couple of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS joined them, with a single NELSON'S SPARROW glimpsed briefly.

Five BARN SWALLOWS were southbound overhead, while a female RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD paused to check us out. In the woods, we began with a nice look at a PINE WARBLER and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and finished with a spritely little HOUSE WREN. We also heard a calling ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and a singing EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, while also seeing several GRAY CATBIRDS and a couple of EASTERN PHOEBES.