On and off during the day today Fran and I have been watching a bird feeding on seed heads along the edge of our backyard here in West Ocean City.  I initially tossed it off as a female cowbird but the more we looked at it we both agreed that it wasn't like any cowbird we had ever seen.  Fran was the one who made the identification and I then spoke with Jim Stasz who confirmed the field marks we had noted as pretty much diagnostic of a female Painted Bunting.

The bird is a very nondescript green on the back and a pale whitish-green breast with some very faint streaks on the breast with a slight yellow wash on the flanks and ventral area.  It has a finch-like bi-colored bill, dark above, light below, and a thin but noticeable eye-ring. The bill was smaller than a Blue Grosbeak's bill.  Between the two of us we've taken well over 100 photographs, so I would hope that somewhere in the pile we'll find something to send in to the records committee.

We have seen the bird about 5-6 times today, always in the same location feeding off ripe seed heads on some grassy weeds along the back of our property line.

We will be here until about 11:30 or noon tomorrow.  Give us a call if you want to look for the bird and we'll provide some directions--410-213-9218.

Best,
Norm & Fran Saunders
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Norm Saunders
Colesville & West Ocean City, MD