Date: 1/12/13 8:29 am
From: Leslie Starr <turnstar...>
Subject: [MDBirding] Calvert Sandhill Crane, yes


Inspired by yesterday's sighting, I decided to look for the SANDHILL CRANE which has been seen on and off in the Huntingtown area of Calvert County. When I arrived at the site of yesterday's report, it was so foggy at first I couldn't even make out the goose decoys in the field. I drove around for at least an hour, with no success, though the fog abated.

On Wayne Gibson Rd. a hunter walked out to ask what I was doing. When I said I was looking for the crane, he said "The crane's not here. Don't just be stopping anywhere. Mind your own business."

I continued to drive around looking in fields and yards, but decided to leave after a last pass at Deep Landing Road. As I passed New Enterprise Ct., there was the crane in the back yard of the house on the NE corner. After taking a few pictures, for which I had turned around, I went back to New Enterprise to turn around again and noticed the resident getting into a car. Wanting to appear innocuous, I waved my binoculars at him and pointed at the crane. He pulled up, rolled the window down, and beamed at me. "That's Oscar. He's been here since last summer!"

Leslie Starr
Baltimore & Port Republic

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