Hi everyone,

Spent the last several days on the shore. Highlights for the trip.

5/11 - Along Dover road, just before Tanyard, there was a large group of shorebirds in a wet field. Over 100 Semi-palmated Plovers, Least Sandpipers, Yellowlegs, one Dunlin and one Pectoral SP. Stopped at the Borrow pit near Salisbury, among the Yellowlegs and Least Sandpipers were three Short-billed Dowitchers and six Semi-palmated Plovers. At Eagles Nest, there were 3-4 Red Knots on the flats. Hundreds of terns around the inlet, could not find any unusual ones.

5/12 - Started the morning at Truitts Landing where I had a Sedge Wren singing. Thanks to Paul and Matt for their assistance on this bird. Also present were Virginia Rails, King Rails, Seaside Sparrows, Marsh Wrens and several Chucks. Tried Hickory Point, which yielded nothing except for a Pink Lady Slipper and lots of flies and Mosquitoes. Drove the Assateage ORV zone, where they were 10 Whimbrel along the beach. While returning I had a second winter (?) Glaucous Gull fly by and land on the beach. Great bird, one that I had missed all Winter and Spring.

5/13 - Tried Elliot Island road during the early morning hours with no success for Black Rails. Stopped by Ft. McHenry on the way home and saw the Western Kingbird, also present was a Snowy Egret in the wetlands and a Least Tern over the water.

Unfortunately, I have to return to work now after spending a week off to go birding. Still wondering where all the pelicans are...

Regards,

Dave Powell

Germantown, MD