Hi All,

Nancy and I went into Chestertown this morning for the first 
parent-teacher conference of the school year. On the way home we swung 
by the Worton Treatment Plant off Chinquapin Rd south of Worton and were 
treated to four shorebird species highlighted by 33 Pluvialis plovers, 
*32* of them juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS (and one lonely 
Black-belly). The best count we have had in years. We also checked Great 
Oak Pond, nothing so good as the plovers but the diversity of waterfowl 
was good including the first Lesser Scaup of the season for the pond. 
Also present was a Pied-billed Grebe (only our third or fourth at Great 
Oak Pd), a latish Barn Swallow, 5 pipits. and a Black-throated Green 
Warbler. I have appended our e-bird reports below for anyone who might 
be interested in complete listings.

Good birding,

Walter Ellison & Nancy Martin

23460 Clarissa Rd
Chestertown, MD 21620

410-778-9568

Observing Nature is like unwrapping a big pile of presents every time 
you take a walk.

E-bird reports follow:

Location:     Worton Wastewater Treatment Plant
Observation date:     10/16/08
Notes:     The 33 Pluvialis plovers were on the dike bisecting the the 
central from the south pool. The plovers flushed at one point making it 
easy to spot the lone Black-belly with its white tail and rump and pale 
wing-linings and black axillars. All of the goldens were juveniles. The 
most I have seen in one location in years ^_^!
Number of species:     21

Snow Goose     1
Canada Goose     120
Ruddy Duck     3
Turkey Vulture     5
Black-bellied Plover     1
American Golden-Plover     32
Killdeer     21
Lesser Yellowlegs     3
Pectoral Sandpiper     1
Mourning Dove     2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)     1
Blue Jay     4
Horned Lark     2
Tree Swallow     24
Carolina Wren     1
Northern Mockingbird     2
European Starling     100
Palm Warbler (Yellow)     4
Song Sparrow     1
White-throated Sparrow     1
Red-winged Blackbird     400

Location:     Great Oak Pond
Observation date:     10/16/08
Notes:     Other observer; Nancy Martin. Pleased to see the latish Barn 
Swallow, the young female Black-throated Green, the pipits, and 
Pied-billed Grebe (one of only three or four I have seen at this 
productive location). First Lesser Scaup of the fall at Great Oak Pd.
Number of species:     29

Snow Goose     1
Canada Goose     1000
Mallard     5
Northern Pintail     2
Green-winged Teal (American)     7
Lesser Scaup     1
Ruddy Duck     73
Pied-billed Grebe     1
Black Vulture     7
Turkey Vulture     14
Osprey     1
Northern Harrier     1
Sharp-shinned Hawk     1
Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern)     2
Mourning Dove     2
Blue Jay     1
American Crow     9
Tree Swallow     22
Barn Swallow     1
Northern Mockingbird     3
European Starling     70
American Pipit     5
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)     1
Black-throated Green Warbler     1
Chipping Sparrow     2
White-throated Sparrow     4
Northern Cardinal     1
American Goldfinch     3
House Sparrow     20