Robert and I did some birding in Montgomery County today. We started at 6 am at Hughes Hollow where we were hoping to find some waders or rails. We saw only the usual suspects though. Next we moved on to Summit Hall Turf Farm. There were some workers speeding around in a minivan and some sprinklers on that hindered visibility. The best birds were some Bank Swallows and a single Least Sandpiper. 

Next we headed over to the Polo Grounds where we saw about 30 each of Killdeer and Horned Larks but no grasspipers or other shorebirds. After cruising some back roads we ended up at the section of Seneca Creek State Park that's along Rt 28. The highlight there was two Blue Grosbeaks. After lunch we stopped at the north end of Lake Needwood which is looking decent for shorebirds. We found several Least Sandpipers, Solitary Sandpipers, and Killdeer. Next up was Blue Mash where we had the best birds of the day. As previously reported the pond inside the fence has good conditions for shorebirds but bad conditions for viewing. We spent quite a bit of time roasting in the sun and risking chiggers and ticks. We were rewarded with:

Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Semipalmated Plover 1-2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1-2
Lesser Yellowleg 3
Least Sandpipers 5-6
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Killdeer Many

The other pond had only a few Killdeer and Solitary Sandpipers.

We ended the day at Violette's Lock where two hours watching the river produced only 2 Forster's Terns and 1 Ring-billed Gull. No noteworthy waders this time.

Mike Ostrowski
North Bethesda