The Patton Turf Farm was hosting a single AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER and two BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS Sandpipers this morning.  These were in the same field as last year's Buff-breasted i.e. the first turf field west from the corn/soy fields where the Dickcissels have been.  These birds were with around 30 Killdeer, a large flock of Starling and one or possibly two Pectoral Sandpipers.  
 
Unfortunately all the birds favored the back third of the field where there is bare wet earth.  I first noticed the Buffies preening next to a small pool of water.  I had been there around 20 minutes before noticing the plover, which is a moulting adult but still with plenty of breeding plumage.
 
I then found a third BUFF-BREASTED in with a flock of c 20 Killdeer at the Polo ground on Hughes Rd.
 
If you go to look for these birds, patience and persistence is needed.  The field at Patton has a lot of ridges and dips in it and the Buffies in particular disappeared for long periods.  And the first time I checked the polo field this morning there was nothing; checking again going home produced the Buffies.
 
I also checked the turf farm on Whites Ferry rd east of Poolesville.  The views there are not good but there might be something interesting there - I saw a smallish sandpiper in flight, and could only get the silhouette and no plumage but it looked too long winged for Least/Semi/Western. Unfortunately it pitched down out of sight.

Regards
 
Clive Harris
Cabin John, MD