Date: Thu, 3 May 2001 16:24:52 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Fred Shaffer Subject: North Beach Shorebirds I took the afternoon off from work and, with Sibley Guide in hand, tried to sort through the shorebirds at the North Beach mudflats. I had seen great numbers of shorebirds there in the past, but was pleasantly surprised by the diversity today. I saw: 2 Greater Yellowlegs, one heard calling in flight 8 Lesser Yellowlegs, some very close 1 Spotted Sandpiper (I saw this one behind Rod n Reel) 1 Common Snipe 1 Solitary Sandpiper 14+ Least Sandpipers 4 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 2 at very close range noting bill shape and plumage. 1 possible Western Sandpiper. I got good looks at this bird next to some of the other peeps and he was distinctly more rufous in the wing with a longer, slightly downturned bill) 2 Killdeer 1 possible Pectoral Sandpiper. I got a brief, but good look at the bill, and the heavily streaked, dark breast of this bird before a car caused it to fly off. I also noted the much larger size than the surrounding peeps. I was unable to find any dowitchers. I also saw 4 Snowy Egrets, 3 Osprey, 2 Mute Swans, many Red Wing Blackbirds, and the usual gulls. Fred Shaffer Patuxent Bird Club Crofton pamthept@aol.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================