John Todd IV discovered what he thought might be an American Golden-Plover
in basic plumage among the numerous Killdeer at Leonard's Pond in southern
Rockingham County on Sunday morning, October 9th. Greg Moyers and I found it
that same afternoon and through our scopes were able to eliminate
Black-bellied
Plover, and European and Pacific Golden-Plovers. The bird fed pretty much
away from the shoreline and up in the pasture on the west side of the pond.
Other birds present at the pond included single Pectoral, Western, and Least
Sandpipers; a single Greater Yellowlegs, and 29 Killdeer plus a few Tree
Swallows.
When I got back home to the Highland Park subdivision my wife spotted a
large accipiter sitting in a tree atop the hill opposite our house. Through
the
scope it turned out to be a female Cooper's Hawk, nicely topping off the
afternoon.
John Irvine
Harrisonburg, VA
