Bob,

Could you tell me how to get to the Mason-Dixon Farm? I'd be coming from
Bethesda, taking 270. Thanks.

Anna Urciolo

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Ringler [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 11:50 AM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Red-necked Phalarope & Dickcissels

   Yesterday I received a second-hand report from the Mason-Dixon Farm
manure ponds in NE Frederick County which included Red-necked Phalarope.
I visited the ponds this morning (5/20/04) and saw the following at the
east pond off Harney Road:

Canada Goose - 10 adults + downy young
Baldpate - 1 male
Mallard - 8
Great Blue Heron - 2
Green Heron - 1
Semipalmated Plover - 8
Solitary Sandpiper - 2
Spotted Sandpiper - 5
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 3
Least Sandpiper - 24
Dunlin - 1
Short-billed Dowitcher - 3
Red-necked Phalarope - 1 male, sometimes swimming, sometimes on one of
the mud bars in the middle of the pond.

   Singing in nearby fields were Field, Vesper, Savannah, Grasshopper,
and Song Sparrows.

   At the west pond off Bullfrog Road I saw one Mallard and heard a
Killdeer.  There is no shoreline on this pond.

   Returning to Carroll County I decided to check one of the fields
where Dickcissels have been found in recent years.  I heard three
Dickcissels singing in the field on Bullfrog Road about 0.3 mile east of
Baumgardner Road.  The birds were not in view.  This site is about three
miles west of Taneytown and there is only one place to pull completely
off the road.  I would like to get a confirmed breeding for these birds.
Since this block is not being atlased yet, if you visit the site look
for a confirm, please.
  The only other birds of note this morning were a pair of Buffleheads
on the Westminster Reservoir.

Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD