All:

Since shorebird migration is well under way, I thought I would hit a few
spots today that have shown promise in the past.

The extensive Patton turf farms just east of White's Ferry in Montgomery
County have always impressed me as a place with good potential, especially
since they are traversed by a (gravel) public road where it's possible to
stop without blocking the road.  So far, I must admit, its promise has not
been realized, at least, not while I've been there.  It may well prove
attractive to Buff-breasted Sandpipers and American Golden-plovers a little
later in migration.  I hope birders in the western part of Montgomery are
able to check it at regular intervals.  For obvious reasons, we birders
should stick strictly to the road.

Around midday today there were about 20 KILLDEER there, and among this
group there were 2  adult SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS in rather faded
plumage.  Many of the swallows working the fields were BANK SWALLOW.

Over the county line in Frederick, the Lilypons Water Gardens showed hardly
any shorebird mud, probably because of recent heavy rains.  In one almost
empty pool there was a single SOLITARY SANDPIPER.  A few GREAT EGRET and
GREEN HERON were present, but no Night-herons.  An immature RED-SHOULDERED
HAWK showed up briefly.

Mike Bowen
Bethesda

D. H. Michael Bowen (Mike)
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda MD 20817-3845
Tel/Fax: (301) 530-5764
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