Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 18:33:30 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Steve Sanford Subject: Easy Lincoln's Sparrows MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I did some casual local birding that was surprisingly decent. The best sighting by far was two virtually drive-in Lincoln's Sparrows at Alpha Ridge Park in northern Howard Co. (Rt 99 just west of Marriottsville Rd.) They were in the willows just beyond the end of the first left-hand side road after you enter the park. These gave me by far the best looks I ever had at these species in MD with all the classic features: a distinct buffy breast-wash extending up the "submoustachial stripe", delicate streaking and facial markings, distinct eye-ring, and occasional ruffed-up crown. And there was no need to go slogging thru any weeds at all (which I basically am unable to do.) And they popped into view the first time I pished. This clump of willows is about 100 easy steps from the parking area. I saw a Lincoln's there about this time last year, and I know Bonnie Ott and others have reported them there a number of times. Otherwise, at Powell's Run Rd (W Balto Co off Marriotsville Rd) there were lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Myrtle Warblers, two Black-throated Greens, a colorful Cape May and a Tennessee. The latter two I haven't seen for years. Of course I'm envious of Bonnie Ott's weed-sloggers with there Nelson's Sharp-tail. Steve Sanford tanager@bcpl.net Randallstown MD ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================