This morning at 7 am; at Recycle pad pond (PG convenience center, off Brown Station Rd):

Highlight was a flyover Black-bellied Plover, ~ 200 feet high; heading ESE (toward Jug Bay!).  It was calling steadily, otherwise I would have missed it while my attention was on the pond as I scanned through the scope.  A very early migrant.  The yellow book does not list dates for this species (I presume since some oversummer at the coast?), but shows an increase in bar size (relative abundance) at the end of first week in August, which I assume indicates the beginning of migration.  It's the earliest I've seen one, and it's been several years since I've seen one in this county.

Black-bellied Plover 1
Killdeer 4 Ad, 7 HY
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 3
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Least Sandpiper 11
Pectoral Sandpiper 2

Lowlight (is that a word?) was a Great Egret in obvious distress.  It was laid out flat on the bank, looking like it had spent a long time in that position, with very matted (wet) plumage.  It was clearly alive since I could see it occasionally open its eye, but other than eye movement it was motionless.  I presume some predator had incapacitated the bird, but could see saw no obvious sign of attack.  Perhaps a large snapping turtle?  I once saw a large snapper get a Black-crowned Night Heron.

Jeff Shenot
Croom MD