Hi Everybody: I just returned home and wanted to set the record straight on
my errant call on a red knot earlier this morning I spent a delightful
several hours starting at daybreak at Governors Bridge and then hurried down
to Brown Station Road before heading off to College Park for a noon
appointment.  Once I arrived I could see that there was a diversity of
shorebirds. I quickly saw both Yellowlegs, several dozen Least and at least
11 Pectorals. On my second scan of the landfill pond I saw a plump looking
shorebird with a somewhat scaly appearance sitting on the small stony island
in the center of the pond.Somehow I quickly jumped to conclusions and for
some reason had in my mind that I was looking at a Red Knot. Before I
completed more careful study of the bird I jumped on the phone and started
alerting others including Bill Hubick who instantly posted the bird at my
request. I also saw 1 Wilson's Snipe and 4 N. Shovelers whil I was there.

Robert Ostrowski showed up shortly after that and pointed out the longer
drooping bill. It was at this point that after restudying the bird and
looking in Sibley that I called Bill and asked him to send out a retraction.
Ten minutes later I decided that I was looking at a Dunlin that had already
reached winter plumage. The head and neck area had a slight light beige
color that faded below the neck except for a few specks of brown that to me
is reminiscent of the more orangish brown that the red knot sometimes
retains on the upper breast. There were also some very fasint streaks on the
upper flanks. I should have realized that when I saw the size of the bird
next to one of the Pectoral Sandpipers that a red knot would have been a
larger species in comparison. I did see the bird fly several times and the
whitish stripe in the wing gained width as it reached the end of the wing. I
tried to alert anybody I called initially so they would not get any speeding
tickets en route. If there is any silver lining in this story it is that the
Dunlin was a county bird for me.

I di have some nice migrants this morning at Governors Bridge. The
sunlit treeline out the road beyond the main gate from the parking area on
the right just around the first bend had alot of activity between 8 & 9 AM.
Highlights included Bay-breasted Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo, Yellow-bellied
Flycatcher; also Chestnut-sided, Black & White, N. Parula and American
Redstart. The first three were also county birds for me.


Jim Green
Gaithersburg, MD

humbled, but STILL BIRDING IN EXCESS!!!




 22, 2010 at 10:51 AM, Bill Hubick <> wrote:

> Hello again, everyone,
>
> Updated from Jim: It appears that a final ID is still being worked for this
> bird, but Red Knot has been ruled out.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill
>  Bill Hubick
> Pasadena, Maryland
> 
> http://www.billhubick.com
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Bill Hubick <>
> To: 
> Sent: Wed, September 22, 2010 10:12:25 AM
> Subject: [MDOSPREY] RED KNOT at Brown Station Landfill Pond
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> Jim Green just called to report a RED KNOT at the Brown Station Landfill
> pond in
> Prince George's Co. Please see the MDOsprey archives for directions.
> Awesome
> P.G. bird, Jim!
>
> Regards,
>
> Bill
>
> Bill Hubick
> Pasadena, Maryland
> 
> http://www.billhubick.com
>
>