Thursday, July, 31 -- What's Happening about Town

Just a couple of things to do to kick off your vacation. Art show and sale by the Eastham Painters guild, 9 AM to 5:30 PM at the Schoolhouse Museum, Route 6, Eastham.

The Guild of Chatham Painters is having an outdoor art show Thursday and Friday at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, Main Street, Chatham.

The French Cable Station hosting guided tours 1 -- 4 PM, at 41 South Orleans Road (Route 28), Orleans. History and equipment of telegraph cable from France to the US. Open through Sunday.

If Wildlife sightings are part of your perfect vacation, things are starting to heat up in the shorebird world. Numbers and varieties are increasing as are rarities and uncommon shorebirds showing up.

The first rarity of the season was a Ruff spotted at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellfleet. Also spotted was a Wilson's Phalarope. Although the Wilson's Phalarope breeds in Massachusetts, they can still be difficult to find away from breeding grounds.

South Beach continues to bring in large numbers of shorebirds. In Chatham this past week those seen were: black-bellied plover, semipalmated plover, piping plover, American oystercatcher, greater yellowlegs, lesser yellowlegs, willet, spotted sandpiper, whimbrel, husonain godwit, ruddy turnstone, red knot, sanderling, semipalmated sandpiper, least sandpiper, white-rumped sandpiper, dunlin and short-billed dowitcher. That surely is a full days exploration.

Right here around the corner from the Whalewalk Inn at Nauset Marsh a good number of shorebirds are being spotted.

Not only are the birds plentiful, but the whales continue to dazzle guests with their numbers and their antics. Humpback whales still number from the 40s to 60s, while the Minke and fin whales continue to put in a nice appearance. There have even been Sea Turtle sightings and if you are fortunate enough to spot one, please report it to 1-888-732-8878.

For more information please call the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary at 508-349-2615. If you want to take a one night trip to Cape Cod, we do have a couple of one-nights availabel -- and don't forget the 15% discount.