Paper Mill Rd. Flats, Baltimore County, 1-2 PM 8/06:

Good shorebird numbers today, and one unusual bird.  A small plover with a shoulder bar instead of a full breast band.  Small bill, bright white neck (in front), breast, belly.  Head, nape and back a gray/brown.  Fairly narrow eyebrow stripe.  Leg color uncertain.  Feeding on mudflat with Peeps.  Bigger than Least or Semi-Sand, and plump, close-to-ground shape.  I do not think this bird was an immature Semipalm. Plover (an adult Semipalm. Plover was elsewhere on the Flats).  Nor did it seem to be as pale as Piping Plover or Snowy Plover.

Debbie Terry and Kye Jenkins went out to look for the bird about 3:30 PM.  They found 2 Semipalm. Plovers, but nothing unusual.  If you want to look for yourself, check the Baltimore City/Baltimore County site guide, or contact me offline.

Other birds seen:

Killdeer-- 4
Semipalm. Plover-- 1
Greater Yellowlegs-- 5
Lesser Yellowlegs-- 4
Peeps-- about 80, with approx. 50 Least and 30 Semi-Palm.
Pectoral-- 1
also Great Egret-- about 10 in the air as I arrived.

Debbie and Kye saw fewer birds overall, 2 Semipalm. Plovers, no Pectoral, no Great Egrets.

                Peter Lev
                Baltimore Bird Club