Hi Ron,

Thanks for bringing to our attention the interesting developments 
at Lake Needwood.  I took you up on your suggestion and went to 
Lake Needwood with my scope this afternoon.  While I was there I 
ran into Woody and Rae Dubois.  They indicated that they found 
online some information indicating that Montgomery county is 
essentially draining the lake.  Sometime next year, they will 
dredge it via bulldozer, apparently to remove silt and create a 
deeper lake.  I worry though that this will also eliminate all 
shorebird habitat.  This may be something the MBC should address.  
Another complicating factor is that apparently toxic algae was 
found in the lake this year.

In any event, my scope survey confirmed your Snipe ID (my FOS).  I 
found the following on the lake (or rather on the extensive mud 
flats where the lake used to be):

Green-winged Teal 2
Killdeer 43
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 2
Solitary Sandpiper 4
Wilson's Snipe 2

I also briefly birded the road along the field that borders the 
main entrance road.  The highlight was a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, 
which is FOS on eBird this year for Maryland outside of Garrett 
County.  Also had a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.

Good birding!
Jim Moore
Rockville, Maryland
PLEASE REPORT YOUR BIRD SIGHTINGS to http://ebird.org/

On 9/26/2010 10:40 AM, Ron Johnson wrote:
> All,
>
> It was a cool and rainy walk around Lake Needwood this morning. The
> water level is very low and the mud flats are extensive near Needwood
> Road. I observed Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper,
> Killdeer, peeps and what I believe to be 2 Wilson's Snipes, a first
> for me (see notes below). There were other birds out of binocular
> range so it might be worth scoping this week.
>
> Ron Johnson
> Derwood, MD
>
> Location:     Lake Needwood
> Observation date:     9/26/10
> Notes:     cool cloudy morning that started dry until showers began at
> about 7:30. first of season ruby crowned kinglets and brown thrashers.
> the lake level is very low with extensive mudflats. the wilson's
> snipes were out in the mud near the center. they were the size of a
> killdeer though very rotund and brownish. the straight bill was 1 1/2
> to 2 times the length of the head. when viewed head-on as they were
> probing the mud, I could see 3 dark stripes along the head and back
> with lighter brown stripes in between. I could not observe the legs or
> rump.
> Number of species:     36
>
> Canada Goose     460
> Mallard     21
> Great Blue Heron     3
> Great Egret     2
> Osprey     1
> Red-shouldered Hawk     1
> Killdeer     10
> Solitary Sandpiper     2
> Greater Yellowlegs     2
> Lesser Yellowlegs     1
> Wilson's Snipe     2
> Chimney Swift     30
> Belted Kingfisher     2
> Red-bellied Woodpecker     4
> Downy Woodpecker     1
> Northern Flicker     3
> Pileated Woodpecker     1
> Eastern Phoebe     2
> White-eyed Vireo     1
> Blue Jay     13
> American Crow     4
> Fish Crow     2
> Carolina Chickadee     10
> Tufted Titmouse     4
> White-breasted Nuthatch     5
> Carolina Wren     2
> Ruby-crowned Kinglet     3
> American Robin     6
> Gray Catbird     13
> Northern Mockingbird     1
> Brown Thrasher     2
> European Starling     1
> Black-and-white Warbler     1
> Chipping Sparrow     5
> Northern Cardinal     5
> American Goldfinch     7
>
> This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.
>