Hi Everyone,

With the interesting weather, Ed Carlson and I completed an afternoon survey at Swan Creek. We didn't have any luck relocating the juvenile RED KNOT photographed by Stan Arnold (congrats, Stan!), but we did have a very productive visit. Although numbers were relatively low and birds were sometimes difficult to detect, today must rank high in terms of shorebird diversity recorded at Swan Creek. See the following abridged list from eBird with in-line comments.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL (American)--3. * First of the season locally.
Hooded Merganser--1. Continuing in north cell
Semipalmated Plover--9
Killdeer--19
Spotted Sandpiper--5
Lesser Yellowlegs--9

RUDDY TURNSTONE--1. * Rare. Juvenile. Foraging in south cell near two Sanderlings.
http://www.billhubick.com/images/201109/ruddy_turnstone_swan_creek_md_20110905.jpg

SANDERLING--2. * Uncommon but regular during migration. Two juveniles in the south cell. One was also seen in the north cell. Both large shorebirds with crisp delineation of black on white; one bird retained some warm tones in the nape, which originally alerted us to the fact that there were two birds. Both seen together near the end of our visit.

Semipalmated Sandpiper--93. Overwhelmingly juveniles now.

WESTERN SANDPIPER--1. * First juvenile of the fall. North cell. Longer-billed than SESA with drooping, thinner tip (though smaller than some WESA). Much rufous in the scapulars, overall crisp, neat pattern on scaps and coverts indicate juvenile. At this date, our adult Westerns are already well on their way to basic plumage (if not complete). 
http://www.billhubick.com/images/201109/western_sandpiper_juvenile_swan_creek_md_20110905.jpg

Least Sandpiper--12. Mostly juveniles. 

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER--1. * Rare in general locally, but regular here this season. Adult in south cell. 
http://www.billhubick.com/images/201109/white-rumped_sandpiper_swan_creek_md_20110905.jpg

Pectoral Sandpiper--1

STILT SANDPIPER--1. * Rare. One of few September records for the county in eBird. Tentatively aged as juvenile by white edgings to coverts retained despite basic scaps coming in. North cell. 
http://www.billhubick.com/images/201109/stilt_sandpiper_swan_creek_md_20110905.jpg

Laughing Gull--3
Ring-billed Gull--1
Caspian Tern--1
(no roosting islands in the south cell with recent rain.)

BANK SWALLOW--45. * A high count here. Impressive flock dropped in and fed over the south cell. Very vocal as they circled overhead; at one point they gathered into a tight group overhead, allowing a pretty good count.

House Wren--1
Common Yellowthroat--1
Magnolia Warbler--1

*** NOTE: Swan Creek/Cox Creek is an active industrial site and mitigation project in northern Anne Arundel Co. Access is at the end of Kembo Road off Fort Smallwood Road near 695. The site is open ONLY Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please be in your car and leaving at 3:30 p.m.. Remember to always sign in at the office, to be on your best behavior (people have worked hard to coordinate this access), and to stick to permitted areas. This Swan Creek map linked here details where you are and aren't allowed to walk. http://www.billhubick.com/docs/swan_creek_map.jpg. ***

Good birding!

Bill


Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com

________________________________
>From: stan arnold <>
>
>Hi Folks,
>
>I spent some time at Swan Creek this morning, visiting most of the habitats
>there, and tallying 60 species for the visit.  Most noteworthy among them
>was a RED KNOT  in the north cell, a very pale bird in basic plumage. 

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