At the location described on Wednesday by Dave
Czaplak, Andy Martin and I saw two Baird's Sandpipers
this afternoon.  The heat shimmer was not as bad as it
could have been, but it did inhibit viewing pleasure. 
 The Baird's were feeding with several Least
Sandpipers and one Lesser Yellowlegs; they were
distinctly larger than the Leasts and markedly smaller
than the yellowlegs.  The head, breast, and neck
appeared pale buff- or straw-colored, with a
white(r/ish) supercilium noticed at times by Andy.  I
did note any pattern in the buff; the buff contrasted
with the white belly and the pale back.  The bill was
as described by Dave, and the legs were black.  The
birds fed in and around a puddle; we watched them for
maybe half an hour until every last shorebird took off
and disappeared.  I too think the birds could be
adults.  

This morning when I was around mile marker 28, I heard
and briefly saw a Black-bellied Plover flying around
over the river, the towpath, and the turf farm.  

I made three visits to Hughes Hollow today, and saw at
one time or another 3 Pectoral Sandpipers, 6-10 Least
Sandpipers, and 1 Solitary Sandpipers (and Killdeer,
of course).  Also present there were Wood Ducks, Great
Egrets, Green and Great Blue Heron, an immature
Red-headed Woodpecker, and Red-shouldered Hawk.  A
cheeky Ruby-throated Hummingbird chased a flying Green
Heron.  

At the "other turf farm" way out River Road, Andy and
I saw zero shorebirds (ok, maybe a Killdeer or two).  

Rob Hilton
aimo/10
S/Spring
yahoo
Md.


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