Yesterday, September 11, 2014, we birded several sites (Hidalgo and Cameron Counties) in search primarily of shorebirds, but taking note of whatever of special interest we might find. PROGRESO SOD FIELDS (Hidalgo Co.), late morning: KILLDEER (several); and LONG-BILLED CURLEW (4, foraging as they often do, on a relatively grassy area on the west side of the traversal road); there was no standing water where they foraged, and this species seems more likely than many others to forage in such an area, although it may do so in wetter areas as well. (Shorebird species this site = 2.) WEAVER ROAD SOD FIELDS (Cameron Co.), near noon: LEAST SANDPIPER (3). This site also provided BLACK SKIMMER (5) and FORSTER'S TERN (3). (Shorebird species this site = 1.) RANGERVILLE ROAD (FM-1479; Cameron Co.); pond east of highway and south of Jimenez Road, just south of the single residence on the east side at that intersection, shortly after noon: KILLDEER (several); BLACK-NECKED STILT (5, at least); and LESSER YELLOWLEGS (3). The Black-necked Stilts very aggressively ran toward the Lesser Yellowlegs, chasing them back into more vegetated areas. (Shorebird species this site = 3.) TX-48 BOAT LAUNCH (Cameron Co.) mid-afternoon stay about 1 hour: BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (50+, well east of parking lot on north side in long line amidst sand furrows; varied plumage, including some still in nice breeding plumage); WILSON'S PLOVER (4, at least; widespread, quickly moving, and hard to count); AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER (2, 1 adult, 1 juvenile; they stuck together very closely); BLACK-NECKED STILT (1); AMERICAN AVOCET (1); GREATER YELLOWLEGS (1); WILLET (several; both Eastern and Western subspecies); LONG-BILLED CURLEW (1); RUDDY TURNSTONE (3, incl. 2 adults and 1 very crisp juvenile who posed close at hand for photos, a superb example of a very fresh juvenile with clean white fringes on scapulars and greater coverts); SANDERLING ("everywhere"); and LEAST SANDPIPER (4). A delightful surprise, just as we backed out to head toward Port Isabel, Birgit spotted a lone WOOD STORK, just off the northeast corner of the parking area. It was a seemingly quite young juvenile, all alone, looking about, and we fancied it would greatly have welcomed some of its own kind. Having afforded us one photo, it quickly took off to the east. We hope it found some of its own kind. This site also yielded BLACK SKIMMER (est.55-60), CASPIAN TERN (1) and LEAST TERN (1). (Shorebird species this site = 11.) SOUTH PADRE ISLAND (Cameron Co.) - BAY SIDE SANDFLATS NORTHWEST OF CONVENTION CENTER (ca. 5:45 - 6:30 PM): BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (est. 10-12; wide ranging; hard to count); SNOWY PLOVER (2); SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (est. 20-25); PIPING PLOVER (2); WILLET (many, both eastern and western subspecies); MARBLED GODWIT (4, south margin of beach area); RUDDY TURNSTONE (1); SANDERLING (est. 16-20); WESTERN SANDPIPER (1); LEAST SANDPIPER (several); and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (est.150-165). (Shorebird species this site = 11.) Additionally, this SPI site yielded WHITE IBIS (1, adult, beautiful breeding condition); ROSEATE SPOONBILL (2); REDDISH EGRET (1, dark morph, spectacular breeding plumage); BLACK SKIMMER (numerous, but not counted); SANDWICH TERN (several); and COMMON TERN (1). Total shorebird species for the day = 18. We were very pleased with the diversity of the finds for the day, except for the fact that we still this season have found neither Upland Sandpiper nor Buff-breasted Sandpiper. We will continue to search for them. It still is not too late to give up hope of finding those species. We have been hoping for at least some of the 2400 Buff-breasted Sandpipers found at the Robstown sod farm on August 24, 2014 by Derek Muschalek and Willie Sekula. Most of all, we hope that these two threatened species will find all they need to get safely to their wintering territories in southern South America. If that means bypassing this area, so be it! Wishing everyone the best of birding, Rex and Birgit Stanford McAllen, TX Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List Owner