I went this morning to Hughes Hollow and other areas of the county along River Rd. Not many passerine migrants around but I did see quite a few birds I don't normally see in the county.
Hughes was relatively quiet but I did get good views of a LEAST BITTERN perched in a small bush in the wooded impoundment, near the top end. Of course I did not have a camera. It hung around for about 30 seconds before creeping off.
Sugarland Rd had a singing Willow Flycatcher and a Northern Bobwhite. This last bird, a male, insisted on running alongside my car as I tried to drive past. Perhaps it was trying to keep dry by not going into the grass.
I hiked up the canal from Sycamore Landing Rd until I could view the pools on the Summit Hall Turf Farm. This had some good birds on it feeding by/in the pool:
Black-bellied Plover - at least 2 - 1 good breeding plumage, one still transitioning
Dunlin - 2 in nice breeding plumage
Peep sp - 2, feeding in middle of water (perhaps Semis but could not really tell)
Pectoral Sandpiper - 1
Solitary Sandpiper - 1
Short-billed Dowitcher - 2
Viewing is difficult so its possible more species were there.
With Killdeer and Gr Yellowlegs seen elsewhere this made it an 8 shorebird sp morning.
The turf farm at Poolesville had little exposed mud and no shorebirds.
Good birding
Clive Harris
Cabin John, MD |