Re: [MDOsprey] Two (!) Ruffs in MD and thoughts on "MDShorebirdNet"

Larry Line (Lscrap@erols.com)
Tue, 20 Jul 1999 14:03:20 -0400 

Miliff@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> What Greg Miller did not mention about today's birding was the molting male
> Ruff that he, Todd Day, and I found at a private farm in Queen Anne's County
> today at about noon.  It was with about 30 other shorebirds (25 Least, 3
> Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Solitary, 1 Spotted) at a small farm pond but was far
> enough away that a scope was required for good views.  If anyone is extremely
> interested in this bird for county listing purposes or any other purposes I
> can reveal the location and you can likely arrange permission: I am however
> reluctant to post the location publicly given that the property is private.
> Please don't hesitate to email me if you are interested though.
> 
> Fortunately though, when I returned home I had a message from George Jett
> that ANOTHER Ruff was at Easton Sewage Plant on Saturday.  So...I turned back
> around and went off to see that one.  It is an even more striking bird, also
> a molting male (cream colored head and extensive black below), and is
> impossible to miss in the impoundment there which is drawn down and has quite
> a number of shorebirds in it.  Access to the sewage plant is easy
> Monday-Friday during working hours - just stop in at the office and ask
> permission.  The plant is east of Easton.
> 
> Directions: Take MD 331 out of Easton.  Turn right on Chilcutt Lane (about
> your second right) and take it a mile or more to the end.  Turn right at the
> stop sign and in about .2 mi make your first left.  Follow the pavement to
> the end and you will be at the entrance to the sewage plant.  The office is
> straight ahead.  You may usually drive around the roads of the facility and
> you will easily find the shorebird pond up the grassy hill to your right.
> 
> In the course of our birding this weekend, Greg Miller mentioned to me that
> folks in Ohio have a shorebird webpage where people log in and make regular
> postings not just on shorebird sightings in the state, but on the condition
> of shorebird hotspots around the state (i.e. water levels at such-and-such
> seem good or so-and-so's pond is completely dry and is now worthless or at
> the intersection of whosiwhatsit Lane and Rte. godknowswhat there is a rain
> puddle that seems good).  Well, I think we need this in Maryland!   We
> Marylanders have a hard enough time with shorebirds given that the best spots
> are hard to access (i.e. Hart-Miller Island, Assateague Island) and that we
> have an inferiority complex being sandwiched between Bombay Hook and
> Chincoteague). I have most of my free summers in MD since I was 16 driving
> around to various shorebird spots checking the conditions.  But it is far
> easier for all us internet connected folks to share our observations so that
> we can hit the spots that are good and skip the ones that aren't.  Conditions
> often change yearly, monthly, or even weekly (depending on rain or lack
> thereof) and this kind of network would be a real boon to the MD birding
> community I think, especially those of us that like shorebirds.  Plus, Greg,
> Todd, and I wouldn't have missed Pectoral, Western and Ruff on our July Big
> Day if we had known how good Easton STP was!
> 
> Now...I didn't quite get Greg to volunteer to maintain such a site...but
> maybe if we all begged in unison.
> 
> In any event, here are my observations thus far this summer:
> 
> Easton Sewage Plant:  Water in impoundment very low with only a couple small
> pools remaining.  Many shorebirds present 7/18 (1 Ruff, 3 SB Dowitchers, 10 L
> Yellowlegs, 1 Semi Plover, 200 Least Sands, 15 Semi Sands, many Killdeer and
> some Spotteds).  Likely to get drier and worse pretty quickly
> 
> Hurlock Sewage Plant:  Few shorebirds 7/17 (SoSa, LeYe, GrYe, LeSa, SpSa,
> Kill) and all on the rocky margins...not much sludge built up yet on surface
> of pools)
> 
> West Ocean City Pond:  Water levels fairly low but tall grass makes viewing
> very tough.  LeYe, LeSa, SBDo present 7/17
> 
> Deal Island:  No good habitat anywhere as water levels are very high
> throughout, though I did NOT check the "Green Dumpster Road" which is often
> good...
> 
> Lilipons:  Pond under bridge at Lilipons Rd. has potential.  No birds there
> 7/17 probably due to goose flock...
> 
> North Beach:  Looked good back on 7/11.  Not too many birds yet though.
> 
> Horsehead Wetlands Sanctuary/Wildfowl Trust:  Lake Knapp excellent 7/15 with
> SBDo (10), LeYe (35), LeSa (75), SeSa (1), and SpSa (1) all present.  Also
> LBHe and SnEg.  This spot tends to dry up fairly quickly though so further
> updates would be good.
> 
> Blackwater:  On 7/16 the tide was high and habitat non existant.  Non tidal
> pools generally dry or have far too much water to be good for shorebirds.
> 
> Ridgely Sewage Plant:  Judging from Bob Ringler's 7/17/99 post, the
> conditions are good!
> 
> Tanyard: Water levels look good here...tidal influx fills the small marsh on
> the south side of Md 331 and dry weather drains it.  The pool is now about
> half full but only GRYE and SBDo there today.
> 
> Areas I've not yet checked that can often be good and for which updates would
> be desirable:
> 
> Piney Run Reservoir, Garrett Co.
> Rouge Lagoon/PPG Ponds, Allegany Co.
> Harney Rd. Pond and Bullfrog Rd. Pond, Frederick County
> Tridelphia Reservoir, Howard County
> Browns Bridge Rd., Howard County
> Liberty Reservoir, Carroll County
> Papermill Flats, Baltimore County
> Beawview Ponds, Saint Mary's County
> Courthouse Point, Cecil County
> Bethel WMA, Cecil County
> Gunther's Pond, Cecil County
> Remington Farms, Kent County
> Green Dumpster Rd., Deal Island, Somerset Co.
> Fairmont WMA, Somerset Co.
> Salisbury Turf Farms, Wicomico Co. (usually needs rain which we haven't had!)
> E. A.  Vaughn WMA, Worcester Co.
> 
> So..if anyone has any insight on conditions at any of these spots, or any
> insight on other spots they've been recently, perhaps you can post your
> observations?
> 
> In the meantime, good shorebirding and lets find a Little Stint for MD!
> 
> Best,
> 
> Marshall Iliff
> miliff@aol.com
> 
> PS - Undoubtedly I've mentioned shorebird locations not familiar to
> everyone...if you want to know where some of them are I'd gladly provide info.

Marshal and George,
	Just came back from the ESP.  The breeding Ruff was gone but the
immature, (with the black on its back and sides) was there with a Red
Knot.  In the drainage fields a flock of Bobolinks were watched for 15
minutes. We were there from 0800 to 0930.  Good for shoe birds!
 Larry Line  Lscrap@erols.com