A fascinating bird it is!  Definitely worth seeing if you can get out there, but as has been said, don't block the road and be very careful along 550!

Mark, was that you providing the play by play commentary: "and now he's paddling with his left foot again.  He seems to favor the left foot.  He was using the right foot more frequently earlier in the day, but now seems like the left is his favorite..."?

you've got a future as a TV golf announcer!

--
J. Steven Huy
Middletown, MD, USA


 
---- Mark Hoffman <> wrote: 
 
=============
The previously reported Northern Lapwing showed very well from the Graceham
Road location, from 1000 to 1400 (when I left) today.  It was north of the
road when I got there a 1000, but then flew off to the west and we did not
see if for about an hour.  I then spotted it in flight and landing very
close to Route 550, near a relatively large rain pool, that is just were the
corn field starts if you are headed west from the town.  The bird was here
for 20 minutes, then flew to its favorite pond on Graceham Road.  I then
worked away from the pond to the back part of the field (near the hay bails)
and disappeared.  It was relocated after about 20 minutes back at the Rt.
550 location, and then eventually flew back to the Graceham road "pond" as
was quite close.

 

We talked to the landowner of the fields and the women who owns the house
down the lane past the Graceham Road pond.  Everyone was very nice.   There
is not enough shoulder to get off the road safely, but just everyone stay on
one side of the road and keep the scopes out of the middle of the road.
Graceham Road is fine, but Rt. 550 is high-speed with no shoulder also.

 

ALSO, DO NOT PARK REAL CLOSE TO THE POND ON GRACEHAM ROAD.  THIS IS CLEARLY
ITS FAVIORITE FEEDING AREA AND FLEW DIRECTLY TO THIS SITE TWICE, AND IT IS
SOMEWHAT SPOOKED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC, PEDESTRIANS, ETC.  WATCH FROM A
DISTANCE. It was getting a lot of small inverts from the pond, by shaking
one foot in the mud and seemingly stirring things up.

 

I will post my pictures and let folks know when they are up.

 

Mark L Hoffman