Great bird Fred!
Thanks for posting it, plus thanks to Ed and Jim for sharing a scope and for PR (public relations) conversation with a couple of interested people at Jackson Landing. One was a park volunteer and one was a park vistor, I think from Australia.
I ran into Mikey as he and Jo were leaving Mt Calvert around 5:45, and they mentioned they did not relocate the Ruff. I continued the search, but left Mt Calvert at about 7:10. Unfortunately when it flew from Jackson Landing to the north toward Mt Calvert, I should have been able to see it as it passed our house, but I missed it. Drat, I had a phone conference call and wish I could have got it for my yard list!
The tide level was not favorable this afternoon or eve, it was high, and the mudflat/foraging habitat was marginally low so searching was tough. Still, looking with a scope from Mt Calvert, I could find yellowlegs at various places in the big marsh known as Billingsley Marsh, which is on the north side of Western Branch, between Western Br and the Patuxent River, in PG County. I found about 18 Lessers, 10 Greaters, and 7-10 Yellowleg sp., but saw no Ruff there. As far as I know, it was only seen in AA County. Fortunately, I saw it when it was down at the mudflat at Jackson, along with Jim, Ed, et.al., and it was on AA side of the river then, mostly preening.
Twice while I looked from Mt Calvert I saw smaller shorebirds at Billingsley Marsh. I saw a single peep flying twice, but was unable to identify it due to distance, shimmer, and my lack of ability to id shorebirdas under these circumstances when all you get is a 3-5 second view! But I later saw one which I id'ed as a Snipe (plumage and long bill, also helped that it called twice!), and one was a Pectoral, although I am not absolutely sure. I think it was a Pec due to its bill shape (medium length and straight), plumage (darker breast with light belly, brown wings, and medium/stout body but smaller size than Lessers).
I saw a pair of BW Teal at Mt Calvert, always nice, and lots of Laughing Gulls but no Bonies. A few terns were present.
Cheers!
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD
############################
To unsubscribe from the MDOSPREY list:
write to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
or click the following link:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MDOSPREY&A=1 |