Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 16:25:29 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: "Lovelace, Glen" Subject: Oak Grove area (Caroline/Sussex Co.) 6/24 Comments: To: DE-Birds MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Hello All, My Sunday morning rounds produced a very nice day, especially for late June. On Oak Grove Rd, there were 3 Vesper Sparrows sitting on the powerline and singing all at once. One was on the section of line nearest to me and gave full scope views. How often does that happen? This spot is 1 mile north of Reliance, then 1/4 mile east on Oak Grove Rd. This is also the spot of last summer's Reeve. The field is flooded again this year after 4" of rain on the 17th. No shorebirds are back yet, but it could be good in 2-3 weeks if it stays wet enough. This field never got planted this year, so there should be no crops to hinder views of the puddle. Also here was a Kestrel, which is my first June record. Coupled with late May observations, I suspect that a pair nested in the area. 5 Grasshopper Sparrows and 2 calling Bobwhite along OG Rd east of this spot. On Kinder Rd at the sharp bend, there was an immature Bald Eagle sitting on a snag in the cutoff. It was being harassed by a pair of Mockers and was snapping its beak at the one dive bombing it. Also had a flyby Hummer while watching the Eagle. There was a Green Heron sitting on another snag. There is one good puddle by the sharp bend, another in the middle of the field that can be seen by walking down the railroad to the corner of the woods on the left. I am not sure if it will attract any shorebirds since it is surrounded by corn this year. And there was a Horned Lark in the field with 2' high corn. My other interesting find was an odd sounding Ovenbird. Its song was a flat, even chant almost like a Kentucky Warbler. It only seemed to sing the 'chew' part of its usual 'pi-chew, pi-chew' song. The bird moved deeper into the woods as I approached the edge and as it got further away, it sounded more like a KY Warb. I was almost convinced, when it came closer again and I could pick up the Overnbird qualities of the song. Finally, I had to dive into the woods and track the bird down to confirm it as an Ovenbird. It was the first time I have ever noticed any variation in an Ovenbird song. While listening to this bird, I heard my first MD Cuckoo of the year. The have been really scarce in this area this year. There are plenty of other puddles in area fields this summer. I encourage someone other than myself to get out and explore some of these. You might be surprised what turns up. If interested. please contact me off-list and I can provide directions. Good Birding, Glen Lovelace III Seaford, DE glovelace@mail.dot.state.de.us ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================