All hail,
I spent the morning at Fort McHenry at the wetland today (Tues). Good
birds: A Merlin chasing sparrows at the front gate of the Fort, an Ovenbird in the
shady hill along the fence, a single Spotted Sandpiper in basic plumage.
Winner of the day, though was a pair of AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS that flew in
and landed along the rip-rap at the outer margin of the marsh. They flew
directly overhead, displaying diagnostic grayish underparts (no black wing pits),
called several times in flight and while resting on the rip-rap. Beautiful
juveniles they had bright, clean plumage and showed substantial orange/rufous
on their streaky caps and along the margins of their tertials; coverts and
scapulars edged in white. Flanks and sides showing faint, gray barring. The
best look I've ever had of this species.
Lou
Louis Nielsen
Reisterstown, MD
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