[MDOsprey] Shorebirds in Garrett County

Robert Ringler (ringler@cct.infi.net)
Sun, 29 Aug 1999 23:45:11 -0700


Shorebirds seen in Garrett County this weekend:
On Saturday, Aug. 28 at the Youghiogheny River Lake:
Great Blue Heron  3
Green Heron  2
Killdeer  38
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Least Sandpiper 3

Access is from the end of Old Morgantown Road onto the dry lake bed.  
Turn left at a wide opening in the grass and drive a mile or so across 
the lake bed until you reach the short grass and mud flats.

Sunday, Aug. 29 at Piney Dam
Double-crested Cormorant  2
Great Blue Heron  2
Green Heron  2
Canada Goose  78
Mallard  2
Osprey  1
Killdeer  70
Spotted Sandpiper  2
Least Sandpiper  8
Baird's Sandpiper  1 juvenile
Pectoral Sandpiper  1
Short-billed Dowitcher  1 juvenile

Habitat here is excellent.  Birds were either at the upper end of the 
lake to the right of Piney Run Road or on the expanse of short grass next 
to the dam.  Access from I-68 is from the Finzel exit, following the 
signs for Alternate US40 and continuing straight ahead on Piney Run Road.

At the Trout Run sewage ponds were 30 Wood Ducks and 10 Killdeer.

Also seen on Sunday was 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch at Redhouse.  Virtually 
no passerine migration noted.

Bob Ringler