Hi Folks,

In conjunction with Saturday's pelagic trip out of Lewes, Del., Elaine and I
did a fair amount of birding before and after the boat ride.  Highlights
were RED KNOT in Harford Co.; SANDWICH TERNs and MARBLED GODWITs on
Assateague; WILSON'S PHALAROPE in Wicomico Co.; BLACK TERN and UPLAND
SANDPIPERs in Dorchester Co., and COMMON MOORHENs in Caroline Co.

Lured by the Red Knot in Harford, we decided to take a slightly longer way
to the coast on Friday (26 Aug)--by way of Harford and Cecil counties.  At
Swan Harbor Farms, we had just about the same list of birds that Bob Ringler
posted on Saturday (27 Aug), except we did not have the Stilt Sandpiper, but
instead had a White-rumped Sandpiper and two Westerns.  From there we headed
up north to Lapidum, hoping for terns, and we got two Caspians, but that was
it.  All the gulls were Ring-billeds.  As the end of usable daylight
approached, we made our third visit to the Williams Rd. sediment pond in
Cecil Co., and finally got to see some birds.  Highlights were Glossy Ibis,
imm. Little Blue Heron, both yellowlegs, pecs, least, and semi sands.  No
Baird's that we were able to identify, but it was getting late, and the
lighting wasn't that great.

Saturday's pelagic trip was so-so for the birds, but the best-ever I've
experienced for marine mammals.  Great shows from Pilot Whales, Fin Whales,
and Grampus.

We met George Jett this morning (Sun., 28 Aug) at Bayside on Assateague
Island, and headed out to the ORV Zone, with Kevin Graff behind us in his
pickup.  I know Kevin didn't want to take his pickup out there, as one burns
a lot of gas driving through sand, but this turned out to be a real blessing
for some couple, stranded down near the Va. state line when they tried to
make a sharp turn in some deep sand, and half buried their SUV.  Kevin was
able to pull them out quite handily--something I wouldn't have been able to
do with my little RAV-4--certainly making their weekend a lot nicer.
Anyway, we stopped at all the gull/tern flocks and counted a total of 8
SANDWICH TERNs, mostly adults, and George was able to get quite a few
photos.  On our way back, we stopped at __________ Levels? (MM 23.5, or
25.3) to check out the shorebirds, and this is where we saw four MARBLED
GODWITs together, among a collection of Black-bellied Plovers, Semi Plovers,
yellowlegs, dowitchers and peeps.  Kevin will post the numbers.

After leaving George at his car on Assateague, Kevin, Elaine and I drove
through Wicomico Co., ultimately stopping at the borrow pit on US 50 west of
Salisbury.  There were probably two or three hundred shorebirds there, and I
was scanning while Kevin was counting.  Shortly after we got there, Mike
Walsh showed up, and in a short time found the WILSON'S PHALAROPE at the far
edge of the water, swimming in constant circles.  It put on a great show--a
very entertaining life bird for Elaine.

From Wicomico Co., we headed to the Hurlock WWTP, and weren't there for more
than a minute or two when Kevin spotted a BLACK TERN flying out over the
water.  This gray-mantled tern was already in winter plumage with a lot of
white underneath and in the face.  I assume the two SNOW GEESE we saw there
have been staying all summer; they appeared to have wing injuries.  After
leaving the Hurlock ponds, we drove a short distance south on Hwy 331 to
look for the Buff-breasted Sandpipers that Bob Ringler had seen a few days
earlier at the large sod farm on the west side of the road, between Hwy 14
and Petersburg Rd.  Though we did not find the Buff-breasteds, we did see
three UPLAND SANDPIPERs.  There is a small dirt road that goes into the sod
field from the highway, and on the north side of this dirt road is some tall
grass beside a small bare area.  This is where the Uppies were.

After leaving Dorchester Co., we made a short stop at Tanyard Marsh in
Caroline Co. next to the Choptank River.  Here we saw four COMMON MOORHENs,
and heard a fifth one.  The only shorebirds were two Semi Plovers.  After
Kevin left us, Elaine and I made our last stop at the Central Sod Farm on
John Brown Rd. in QA Co.  Besides numerous Killdeer, the only shorebirds
found were two Least Sandpipers.

A fun weekend, as they generally are on the Eastern Shore.

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie