Thank you for posting this Clint!.  I went out after work this afternoon and finally (after about 4 misses in various locations before now) I got to see an Upland Sandpiper!  I saw 3 there, and watched them for about 30 minutes.  I  soaked in the moment.  Tho' it was very humid, the afternoon sun was warm and soft making for good light.  The UPSA's were quite active - hunting and chasing insects.  Reminded me of herons hunting in a shallow pond.  I left them at 5:30 to look around elsewhere, but the only other shorebirds I found were 4 Killdeer in another nearby field.

UPSA was a lifer that simply eluded me for several years now, and it was well worth the long wait.  They are really beautiful and fascinating to watch.  Although I could see them with bins, I'm glad I had a scope as it made a huge difference.  The filed is very big and they were toward the back of it.  I am unfamiliar with hatch year and winter plumages, but I was able to see one was an adult with beautiful plumage I think is still breeding plumage?  The other two were noticeably much paler with less contrast between colors in their head, back, breast, belly, and shoulders.

I then went over to the Hughes Rd polo grounds, where there was some sort of polo scrimage going on - also fascinating to see!  Birds present in the field there at 6 pm included 136 Killdeer, 10 Horned Larks, and starlings (EUST number is irrelevant - there were too many to bother counting!).  Also one adult Red-shouldewred Hawk perched on a pole overlooking the field.  It was there the entire time I was there - he didn't seem to mind all the activity?

It was a first time I've ever been to view either of these areas, and well worth the hassel getting there in the afternoon (warning - rush hour traffic coming out was pretty bad til I got west of Poolesville).

Cheers!
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD