Hi Everybody: I spent the last week visiting my folks in Fort Myers, Fla. and reading about all of the great birds that were being found in MD while I was gone. Since I had Monday off also before going back to work I decided to see if any of them were still around. I started in WYE ISLAND NRMA (QA CO.) at first daylight and found nothing but very common species.

I then drove down to Blackwater NWR and I was able to locate the 2 HUDSONIAN GODWITS where they have been previously reported. In the same pond were 4 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS & 24 GREATER YELLOWLEGS.

My next stop was to check Tanyard (Rt. 331 - Caroline County). There were alot of gulls: majority were Laughing along with Ring-billed, Herring and Grt. Black-backed. I also found 6 GREATER YELLOWLEGS & 2 DUNLIN.

I then drove over to the Easton Wastewater Treatment Plant off of N. Dover Road (Talbot County), asked and received permission to enter and check the 2 ponds. The first one had Canada Geese and 2 American Coots. As I approached the second one there were gulls circling, landing and constantly flying off from the nearby landfill. The mix were similar to those at Tanyard with no rarities found. The following waterfowl were also here:

    GADWALL    1
    N. SHOVELER    9
    LESSER SCAUP    4
    HOODED MERGANSER   2    
    RUDDY DUCK    375

As I was leaving a male Harrier flew overhead and then once I was back on N. Dover Road I heard some birds flying overhead. I quickly pulled over, located the flock as they were landing in a field. I counted 25 AMERICAN PIPITS ambling through the field.

I headed west on Rt. 50 and then pulled into Sandy Spring State Park. The 8 BRANT & 3 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were stilll there but I could not find any other shorebirds. I then drove down to Sands Road County Park (AA Co.). Other than approx. 60 A. Goldfinch and several E. Blued birds it was very uneventful. 

Overall I picked up 6 new County Birds for the day and the Hooded Mergs at the Easton Wastewater Treatment plant was my 89th Closeout. Thank you to everybody who provided updates on the H. Godwits, Brant etc. for the past week.
Good to be back and birding in Maryland.

Jim Green
Gaithersburg, Md.

work in moderation, BIRD IN EXCESS!!!