Dan, I'll make a guess based on time of year, context, and lack of other visual field marks.  Since color did not stand out, I will say, yes you probably saw DUNLIN.  Sanderlings would definitely stand out with their contrasting white on the wings and would be super small compared to the yellowlegs.  Dunlin on the other hand, are much browner this time of year, and wouldn't be very distinctive in terms of plumage.  They are also chunkier in size, although you didn't allude to any specific size differences.
   
  The other possibility would be Black-bellied plover, but their flight pattern and white rump wedge tend to be pretty distictive.  The tight fight pattern, and I'm guessing more rapid wing beats sound more like dunlin.
   
  Virtually all other true peeps I can think of would not be here this early, at least not in flocks.  (An occasional western might show up from Florida, but still pretty darn rare).
   
  Ross
   
  

Dan haas <> wrote:
  I dropped by Jug Bay this afternoon. It's closed on Tuesdays, but I
asked if I could scope the bay for an hour. They said yes. I paid my
$3 donation and set up the scope.

Location: Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary (viewing platform)
Observation date: 3/25/08 from 4-5 PM

Canada Goose 6
American Black Duck 8
Mallard 12
Blue-winged Teal 2
Northern Shoveler 2
Green-winged Teal 8
Common Merganser 3
Great Blue Heron 3
Turkey Vulture 4
Osprey 9
Bald Eagle 3
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 8
Wilson's Snipe 3
Laughing Gull 170
Bonaparte's Gull 18
Ring-billed Gull 60
Herring Gull 90
Mourning Dove 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 4
American Crow 9
Fish Crow 2
Tree Swallow 11
MARSH WREN 1
American Robin 3
European Starling 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Dark-eyed Junco 3
Red-winged Blackbird 28
Common Grackle 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Quick question for anyone interested: Is it likely / possible that I
saw 22 Dunlin?

At the time, I had both Grtr & Lsr Yellowlegs in my scope, all
foraging about making their distinction rather easy. But then, flying
through the scope, there was this other flock of smaller birds flying,
twisting and sailing around the mud flats in a tight formation. The
flock landed about a 1/2 mile away towards the North. I did my best
to ID them, but the distance made it a bit tough.

As much as I'd love to give you great details, I can only offer this:
these birds were not Lesser or Greater Yellowlegs, nor were they
Snipe. The bills were noticebly shorter, as were their legs. I wish
I had more...

Ah, Peeps. I figured since it was just Easter, it'd be a good time for
this ID question. Feel free to email off list, OR visit Jug Bay this
week and try to relocate the flock.

Good Birding,

Dan Haas
West Annapolis, MD

http://wahzoh.blogspot.com/




Ross Geredien
Good Migrations Photography
www.goodmigrationsphoto.com
1-610-850-5035
   

       
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