Today I learned from the Park staff that the Ruff was seen yesterday (Tuesday), in the afternoon at about 4:00.  It was seen by Park naturalists Greg and Stephanie (she was first to spot it).  They found it roosting in the spadderdock, near the same location it was at the day before, during high tide (there wasn't much mudflat).  Greg said it was with about 30 yellowlegs, 5 Dunlin, and several Pectorals.  He said after Stephanie spotted it, it was behind some spadderdock, and it took him several minutes of vigilant watching to see and confirm it, and at first all he had was a partial but eventually got a nice clear look at it. 

I looked around Jackson Lndg (above and below) before work this morning, and the conditions were great (lots of mud flat), but did not see any group of shorebirds.  Nor the Ruff.  I only saw 2 G and 1 L Yellowlegs, and 1 Spotted.  I am guessuing if you can find the large group of Yellowlegs, it may still be here since it may be associating with them.

Who knows.  I will look again later today, and post whatever.

On another note, I tried both last eve and this morning for the Kentucky Warbler reported by Peter K (great PG Co bird!), along the entire length of road he mentioned.  I looked carefully between both streams which cross the entrance road.  There is one stretch of it with an exceptionally nice (well developed) understory, which I am guessing is where the Kentucky may have been.  Regardless, I had no luck.  Last eve when I was therre it was breezy and pretty quiet birdwise, but this morning was rocking.  In just that stretch, I found 16 Ovenbirds, 8 N Parulas, 1 B&W warbler, MANY Yellow-rumps (I would guess at least 30; it seemed like second week in May! they were exceptionally noisy and very active), 3 Wood Thrushes, 1 BH Vireo, 1 Red-eyed Vireo (FOS), and was almost surprised to not find a flycatcher, tanager, or oriole given the extent of early arrivals.

P.S.  I also saw (at the river) a FOS Bank Swallow, RT Hummer (nectaring on honeysuckle), and E Kingbird.

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