> Mary Ann Todd and I were able to get a lot closer to Andy Martin's  Dowitcher and take some photos. Based on the scapulars and most wing coverts having narrow chestnut fringes on the sides and distinct white tips, as well as the deep chestnut belly, I think this is a Long-billed Dowitcher. We did not flush it to make it call. The pond is small and it is easy to flush the birds inadvertently.
> 
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/39566052@N06/sets/72157629966567639/
> 
> Dave Czaplak
> 
> 
> 
> On May 4, 2012, at 8:44 AM, Andy Martin wrote:
> 
>> Around 11 AM this morning, there was single Short-billed Dowitcher mixed in
>> with a few Spotted, Solitary, Least Sandpipers as well as Lesser Yellowlegs
>> and Killdeer at the small pond inside the Germantown Soccerplex. The pond
>> is in really good shape for shorebirds, although a decent thunderstorm
>> could fill it up fast and ruin things. Its amazing how long their bills can
>> look sometimes when their not with another 100 of their own kind but I just
>> could not find any other feature to turn it into a Long-billed. Just
>> wishful thinking I guess in that only spring LB Dowitcher record in eBird
>> from Piedmont area is as a bird found back in May '95 by Dave Czaplak and
>> Maryann Todd at now extinct pond along Rt 108 near Olney.
>> 
>> Andy Martin
>> Gaithersburg
> 

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