Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 17:11:06 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Fred Shaffer Subject: Merkle Grasshopper Sparrow I visited several spots along the Patuxent River in Prince George's County this afternoon, including Mount Calvert and Merkle. At Mount Calvert, I did not see anything unusual, but there were 5+ Osprey in the area of the marsh, 1 male Wood Duck, several Tree Swallows, 1 Rough Winged Swallow, 1 Red Tailed Hawk, several Common Yellowthroats, and one tern species (possibly a Forsters). At Merkle, I walked a section of the yellow trail along one of the tall grassy fields behind the park office. I saw 4 Chipping Sparrows, several Bluebirds, Barn Swallows, Purple Martins (near the office), and 2 Osprey. After about 15 minutes of searching unsuccessfully for a unfamiliar warbler song in the adjacent woods, I returned to the field and checked the owl box on the barn for signs of life (a starling came out). Then I saw a sparrow sitting at the edge of the dirt road which runs through the field, which I believe was the Grasshopper Sparrow. I got good looks at close range of the bird's unstreaked buffy breast and flanks, white belly, dark brown cap (with central median stripe), and was even able to see the small spot behind and below the eye. The sparrow than flew off into the surrounding grassy field. Fred Shaffer Crofton, MD Pamthept@aol.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================