Hi Everybody,

We stopped by Great Oak Pond this evening (24 Sept) to check out the waterfowl (and other fowl). There were three duck species (Mallard, Green-winged Teal and one Ring-necked Duck) and over 500 Canada Geese on the pond, but Nancy spotted two long-billed large shorebirds feeding up to their bellies that she wanted me to check out. Turns out they were two adult MARBLED GODWITS. They seemed to be getting a lot to eat judging by the rate of head plunging and bill action. Also present were a Pectoral Sandpiper, 8 Lesser Yellowlegs, a Greater Yellowlegs, and 15 Least Sandpipers. I presume shorebirds occasionally visit the Handy Point area from Hart-Miller Island which is not at all far off as the shorebird flies.

This morning we had 13 Broad-winged Hawks (one departing the trees in the back woodlot at 8:00 AM), a Sharp-shin, and an adult female Northern Harrier among the more usual vultures and Bald Eagle. A Brown Creeper was also "zeeee"-ing in the woods out back.

Good Birding,
 
Walter Ellison

23460 Clarissa Road
Chestertown, MD 21620
phone: 410-778-9568
e-mail: 

"A person who is looking for something doesn't travel very fast" - E. B. White (in "Stuart Little")