I visited the manure ponds at Mason Dixon Farm near Emmitsburg this morning.  The highlight was a Baird's Sandpiper at the East pond.  The shorebirds spent most of their time in the far back of the pond.  I parked at the end of the gravel lane and walked around the left side of the pond to get a closer view.  I saw the Baird's only from this spot at the far (south) end of the pond.  The walk was not difficult but the grass is tall and there are some small ditches along the way.  I am told that you should not attempt to walk around the right side of the pond.  The West pond was full and had no shorebirds, just Wood Ducks and Mallards.

   The tally:

Killdeer  6
Lesser Yellowlegs  1
Solitary Sandpiper  1
Spotted Sandpiper  1
Semipalmated Sandpiper  1
Least Sandpiper  20
Baird's Sandpiper  1 juvenile
Pectoral Sandpiper  8

Barn and Cliff Swallows were flying about.  Bobolinks were heard.

Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD