Hi Everyone,

I just returned from several days on the Eastern Shore, where the highlights of the trip was definitely shorebirds. I hit 26 different species for the trip.

8/18 - Kent County farm pond along Langford Road has quite a few shorebirds. The best was 5-6 Stilt Sandpipers. Three Cattle Egrets and Eastern Meadowlarks were in the field surrounding the pond.

8/19 - Poplar Island - Species list previously reported by Gail and Danny. Hats off to Mikey L. for finding the two Red Knots.

8/20 - Worcester County - Bayside was slow, so I did a poor man pelagic for an hour by setting up a sea watch at the National Park south beach. Best birds were two Black Terns and a Gannet.

At Skimmer Island, I found two Marbled Godwits and a Sandwich Tern. Received a phone call today from George Jett who reported the Godwits are still present.

Somerset County - Rumbly Point had several hundred Semipalmated Plovers, Both Yellowlegs, Least, Semi-palmated Sandpipers and one Western Sandpiper.

Deal Island - Riley Roberts Road - American Avocet was the highlight in the large impoundment. Also present was a Black-bellied Plover and 10-15 Short-billed Dowitchers among the Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers.

8/21 - Wicomico County - The previously reported Golden Plover is still present at the turf farm next to Wright's Market along RT 50.

Dorchester County - At the Hurlock WWTP, there was a Wilson's Phalarope in the back cell. Unfortunately, it flew when a Coopers Hawk flew over. Not sure if it circled back and landed in another cell.

On RT 307, approximately a mile out of Hurlock, there was a Buff-breasted Sandpiper in the bare dirt field on the right.

Great to see so many good shorebirds in MD.

Regards,

Dave Powell
 
Germantown, MD