Date:         Mon, 3 Apr 2000 21:32:17 EDT
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Steve Huy <NSawwhet@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Snipe Hunt
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I came home today to flush 39 snipe from near my mailbox.  This brought back
memories of my first snipe hunt as a boyscout.  Seems that this was supposed
to be some kind of joke, although I'm not sure who the joke was on.  I lead
the other guys out to a marshy area nearby and we started shining our lights
around looking for eye shine.  We had a good time; finding frogs and toads
and other critters.  We even scared up a woodcock at one point.  We never did
find a snipe, much less catch one.  I wasn't sure we'd be able to catch one
or if we would get in trouble if we did; after all I believe there are
certain seasons when you're allowed to hunt them.

It wasn't until several years later that I learned we were supposed to have
been on a wild goose chase and that snipe weren't supposed to be real.  I
guess I also recall that very few of the scouts, including the senior
members, had the Ornithology merit badge.

Anyone looking for snipe for Frederick county can find them in the area of
Sumantown and Carrol Boyer Roads near Middletown.  There is a marshy field
that attracts quite a few.  This area also had a good covey of quail last
summer.  Harriers have been frequent during migration and grasshopper
sparrows, field sparrows and meadow larks were also plentiful here last
summer.  A pair of kestrels is in my nest box (the one up the hill, the box
in the yard only has starlings) and there is a great horned owl nesting in an
old Red tail nest off Poffenberger Road near the bridge.  I have both a
mocking bird and a starling that do a good imitation of short-eared owl
barks.  I wonder if they learned them nearby.  I've been trying to teach the
mocker to say "how are you" but no luck yet.

Steve Huy
Middletown, MD

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