In a message dated 8/28/2006 10:07:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time,  
 writes:

Upper  end of Lake Needwood off Needwood Rd (lowered levels for dam 
repair look  prime for shorebirds)

Least SP 15
Killdeer 12
Solitary SP  2
Spotted SP 1

Saw Great Egrets at all  locations.




Hi Andy,
 Obviously the shorebirds at Blue Mash are constantly changing. In  fact I've 
seen birds there by late afternoon that were not there early in the  AM, in 
years past. And a view into the leachate pond would be great, but not  likely 
(I'm sure insurance reasons would be claimed).  
 
It would be nice to have a wooden platform built next to the big fence, but  
that's not likely either. With the willows so tall, and getting taller it will 
 only get harder to see into that pond. I know there were lots of ducks and  
shorebids feeding right on the other side of the willows on Sunday, but I  
couldn't see them (I could hear them though and see shorebirds landing there and  
disappearing).
 
 I went over to Lake Needwood the Sunday before last and saw a good  mix of 
shorebirds too. There were 2 Semipalmated Plovers there then, along with  at 
least 2 Great Egrets.
 
Keep checking those ponds; something good is going to turn up (I like to  
think Wood Stork!).
 
 
Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD