No phalarope today.  I checked the Mason Dixon Farm ponds this afternoon.  Though the phalarope, which was last seen yesterday, the 23rd, was not there, a good collcetion of shorebirds was still present at the east pond.

Canada Goose - 54
Semipalmated Plover - 20
Lesser Yellowlegs - 1
Solitary Sandpiper - 1
Spotted Sandpiper - 1
Ruddy Turnstone - 1 in mostly winter plumage
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 1
Least Sandpiper - 17 and they all have black legs now

  The west pond has too much water for shorebirds.  There are other ponds in the area which are inaccessible where some of the birds may hide at times.  The water level in the east pond was down slightly since the last rain so there will continue to be good habitat for any shorebird that comes along.  Spring migration may be good for another month.

Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD