#ABArare - Little Egret - Maine - UPDATED

A Little Egret (Code 4) was found at Maine's Scarborough Marsh by Kathy Kelly on Aug 8. It was in the same part of the marsh where Doug Hitchcox found one last year on June 29 — east of the Eastern Trail (this section of the Eastern Trail is also known as the Eastern Road). It was not seen on Aug 9.

photo by Doug Hitchcox

Scarborough Marsh is about a 15-mile drive from Portland. To get there, take US 1 out of Portland. Between Portland and Scarborough, US 1 and Route 9 merge. At West Scarborough, turn left on Pine Point Road (Route 9). The entrance to the trail is on the left about a mile from the turn on to Pine Point Road and about 1/4-mile beyond the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center (open daily 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM until Labor Day). Park here and walk across the marsh to the tree line. The egret was to the right (east). Paul Garrity created a map showing location where last year's Little Egret was seen, and it's helpful for the latest sighting. Click on "Little Egret Sightings 6/29 & 6/30" in the left column of the map to highlight the area where this year's egret was found.

Little Egret isn't the only attraction in the area. Scarborough Marsh's claim to birding fame is that it's the only location where the breeding ranges of Nelson's and Saltmarsh Sparrows overlap. A little further down the coast, southeast of the city of Biddeford, is Biddeford Pool, a location that has hosted a number of rarities over the years, the latest being a Chestnut-collared Longspur in late June.

UPDATE: After no sightings since it was first found on Aug 8, Doug Hitchcox found the egret on Aug 18. He saw it from the Eastern Trail through the opening in the trees near the golf course. It was last seen flying towards Seavey's Landing.