Sorry for the late report. Like many others I spent Friday on the lower  
shore, enjoying the weather and picking up some last-minute year birds. I  started 
at Truitt's Landing at dawn, but spent more time in Worcester  than 
anticipated and had to skip a few planned stops, ending the day at  Elliott's Island. 
Some highlights:
 
KING RAIL - 2, Truitt's Landing, heard only; identified by deep, booming,  
slow-paced grunts. One was hidden in a strip of dense reeds right beside the  
road on the left.
VIRGINIA RAIL - 3, Truitt's
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - 1 at boat ramp, end of Elliott Island Rd.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS - 30 at Truitt's, 8 Elliott Island Road
DUNLIN - 70, Elliott Island boat ramp, roosting on breakwater w/BB  Plover
DOVEKIE - 1, the star of the weekend at OC Inlet
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE - 3, previously reported at South Point, on  wires 
just before the red house
SHORT-EARED OWL - 2, Elliott Island Road at 4 PM, west of roadside boat  
launch
TREE SWALLW - 100's at EA Vaughn North, numerous at all coastal  spots
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH - 2, Truitt's
SEDGE WREN - 6 or more at Truitt's, throughout the length of the road in  the 
marsh; calling frequently, several good looks close to the road at the first  
water; most I've ever seen in one place.
NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW - 2, marsh edge at Taylor's Landing  (Worcester)
SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW - 3, with Nelson's; they all teed up nicely  
after flushing.
PURPLE FINCH - 1 brownie at EA Vaughn North
 
I missed the Harlequins at the inlet, as well as a few others such as  Gannet 
and Great Cormorant. The days just aren't long enough this time of  year.
 
Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD
 
 
 
 



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