After receiving a few replys back about the long-bills, i learned that these birds are rare spring migrants.? Not knowing that on sunday, i didn't spend much time on the dowitchers, 
but they showed the humped back and more barred flanks? But it was also raining so maybe they were just puffed up? perhaps but i'd like to make note they were possible and for anyone who passes by to check them out.
As I said, there was a dead moorhen on the road, but i forgot to mention there was also a dead King Rail.? An extreme high tide may of pushed the birds up to the road and unfortunately got hit. Also forgot to mention there were plenty of alive semi plovers mixed with the shorebirds.

Thanks
Amanda


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From: 
To: 
Sent: Sun, 3 May 2009 8:24 pm
Subject: Tanyard Marsh -- Caroline Co



Bill Harris and I visited Tanyard today in search for a moorhen or two.? We arrive and immediately found one - dead on the road.? We never saw one alive today, however, we did pick up a few shorebirds, including:? Least, Semi, and pectoral sandpipers, greater and lesser yellowlegs, short and long-billed dowitchers. Also had least and forster's terns, green-winged teal, and other regulars.? What really caught my attention was a group of laughing gulls with 2 or 3 different-looking gulls.? They looked exactly like laughing, same size, but had reddish legs.?not boneparte's.?I always thought laughers had black legs, but correct me if i'm wrong.
We then took a trip to the Easton Wal-mart and were stunned to see a pair of catbirds inside near the clothes.? Then we saw a sparrow, which turned out to be a grasshopper sparrow!? We had bird calls and tried unsuccessfully to lure them outside.? Is there anything that could help? or are they just gonna die? just thinking

Amanda Spears
Centreville, MD


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