Since there have been many shorebird posts, I thought I'd mention that I've 
been looking for shorebirds and other migrants at the PG landfill (known as 
Brown Station).  This is not open to the public, but I've been doing a bird 
survey there with permission from the County.  I have not posted any 
sightings recently, but have not had anything exciting turn up either.  The 
two habitat types there I'm looking at right now are its stormwater ponds 
(their fringes) and ditch areas.  I have a list of target birds I hope to see but 
it is full of tough ones for here.  Although the property has a good amount of 
other interesting habitat types (mixed deciduous forest, swamp, old fields, 
etc.), I'm focusing on shorebirds now.  The severe drought (like most of MD) 
has enhanced some of this habitat that normally is very poor here for 
shorebirds, and since it is not on a tidal system or large river these are tough 
to get here.

In general there have been low numbers of shorebirds here, but there are 
always some present this season.  I only have nine species so far; the best 
day so far was 7 species, and the highest daily count I've had for one species 
is 27 (Least Sandpiper).  This month I have seen Killdeer, Semi-palmated 
Plover, Gr. Yellowlegs, Lsr. Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, 
Pectoral Sandpiper, Semi-palmated Sandpiper, and Least Sandpiper.

Also I've noticed a few more waders than usual.  My high counts (daily, but 
not all on same day) are:

G. Blue Heron 12
Green Herons 9
Great Egret 28 (they have been here since 8-19; I was out of town from 8-11 
to 18; before that there were usually 8-12 here during August)
Snowy Egret 1
L. Blue Heron 1

Perhaps the waders are taking advantage of the drought effects: the reduced 
water level in ponds makes it easier to forage for food that is more 
concentrated now.  A tough year for frogs!

Elsewhere in PG, no exciting birds from home (Jug Bay area) lately, but the 
first fall migrant chimney swifts turned up this week; also there have been 
about 1200-1500 starlings staging here around the marsh in the evenings 
(ugh!).  There have been about 150-200 cowbirds with them.

Regards-
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD