VAbirders,
This morning (19 August) at around 11:00 I found a juvenile Baird's
Sandpiper at the Dulles Wetlands. I was able to view the bird closely for
some time because I had permission to enter the property for some ongoing
survey work. Unfortunately, the wetlands are not open to the public and
trespassing is apparently taken quite seriously. Given the height of the
vegetation along Oatland Mills Road, viewing will be extremely difficult.
Nevertheless, I thought some would at least like a fighting chance to see
the bird. The only strategy I can reccomend is walking back and forth along
the road scoping through each small break in the bushes from as many
different angles as possible. At that distance (and with heat shimmer) I
seriously doubt that plumage details will be obvious, but the bird is
structurally distinctive. It will look incredibly long and low to the
ground. If it helps any I haven't had any White-rumps out there all season,
and the only other shorebirds were a few Solitary, Spotted, Semipalmated,
and Least Sandpipers along with many Killdeer and a Greater Yellowlegs.
Good Luck (it will be needed),
Alex
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alex Merritt
Oak Hill, VA
cerulean182@xxxxxxxxxxx
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