Date: 5/29/13 6:44 am
From: Warblerick <ricksussman1955...>
Subject: [MDBirding] Grasshopper Sparrow in backyard
Morning all,
For some reason I decided to reverse directions for this mornings walk around the yard. When I got towards the back "meadow" I saw a small drab brownish bird fly out from it to the trees along the back edge. I thought it might be a female Indigo Bunting, as I saw one chipping yesterday after a male had flown off. Anyway, I tried spishing to draw it out, but then saw it fly off and into my neighbors (uncut) hay field. As it flew over the field, it looked more like a Grasshopper Sparrow, with its very fluttery wingbeats. After a bit, it came out of the field, and flew across it, and I lost track of it and continued my walk. Then, suddenly, I saw it fly back into my little meadow, so I went back and tried playing GRSP calls from my cell phone (Cornell labs). Finally it came out and beagn to sing, but it took a long while before I could locate it (my directional hearing is terrible). It was sitting up in weeds, singing, and stayed there for a really long time, long enough for me to try to get some photos through my binoculars. I managed to get a few good shots this way, though they are by no means great photos. I have never tried this before, and its really difficult. But with cropping, I got one pretty good side view.

This whole episode took perhaps 45 minutes, and I finally left the bird to its perch. I think my neighbor is getting ready to mow his fields today or tomorrow, so maybe it'll stay around in my little field. Either way, pretty neat to see it in the middle of my backyard, singing! That's why I let the meadow grow in!

Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD

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