This morning I looked briefly around the PG landfill site for fall migrants, as part 
of an ongoing survey I'm doing there this year.  Despite the continuing paucity 
of warblers and other migrant passerines (I was plagued with their absence 
over the weekend!), I was surprised nicely this morning.  I say this about the 
warblers, since I just read about the arrival of some migrants seen/heard all 
over elsewhere around the region this morning!  There's some very good forest 
and scrub/shrub habitat for migrants to rest and forage in at this site, I just 
haven't seen any fall birds present in it yet!

Two nice surprises:  About 14 BOBOLINKS were flying around and resting in a 
stormwater pond's marsh fringes surrounding it.  I listened to their many calls 
and watched them for about 15 minutes while looking for other birds before I 
moved on.

Also, a BROAD-WINGED HAWK.  When I first arrived at another pond area I 
saw a raptor coming in low over the treetops, more or less directly toward 
me.  Based on its size (small) and profile (pointed wings held flat), my 
immediate reaction was accipiter, or possibly a falcon, either of which would 
be exciting to see here.  My guess was Coopers.  I quickly got on it with my 
bins but as it got closer I was thrown off since it just didn't seem right.  At 
first I thought it was on a stoop and might dive on something in the adjacent 
field.  But it became obvious as it got closer and its course remained steady 
that it was not stooping, only having a nice low altitude look.  It flapped only 
once on the approach, and its wingbeat also was not accipiter-like.

As it passed almost directly over me at a height of about 100 feet (based on 
the height of the surrounding trees), I had the clear look that I needed.  It 
had a white belly and chest with large spotting that was irregular and not 
much of it.  The distinct black edges on its wings and its broad terminal tail 
band were a clincher for a hatch year bird.  I am nearly certain it was a 
migrant, since I never found a Broad-wing here during the Atlas period (I 
surveryed here four breeding seasons); my first BW hawk ever at this site!

As for shorebirds, with all the rain we had last week the habitat here that was 
good for shorebirds during the drought, is diminishing now to fair or worse.  I 
only had 2 Lesser and 1 Gr. Yellowlegs, one Least Sand., and 2 Killdeer!  Also, 
the flock of Great Egrets have left.  One Snowy Egret and 1 L Blue Heron 
were present, presumably the same ones from last week. Plus 9 Green Herons, 
and 4 BW Teal.

Cheers-
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD