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Subject:

Dickcissel, sparrows, life-frog in Carroll Co

From:

Stephen Sanford

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Mon, 31 May 2004 09:54:33 -0400

Saturday, May 29, Pete Webb, Gail Frantz and I got killer close-ups of a
singing Dickcissel on Bull Frog Rd in far west Carroll Co, approximately
where Bob Ringler reported hearing three on May 20 but near address 3145
(between Roop and Baumgardner). The location is across from where there is a
wide area one can pull off on the west side of the road. At first it was way
off in the field scarcely audible, but discernable with a scope. Then it (or
another?) flew in and settled in a tree about 20 feet away, singing for a
minute or two. Then it went from weed to weed within 50 to 100 feet.
Unfortunately, we were told the fields would be mowed within 2 weeks.

We also had 3 Red-headed Woodpeckers on Feeser Road between Trevanion and
Otterdale Mill Roads where power lines cross the road. Two were very
actively working on holes in a group of three wooden poles right by the road
(east side) while a third was calling from small woods nearby.

On John Shirk Road we had a very close singing Grasshopper Sparrow right
outside the car window. (Several others at various other locations too).

The other day I had picked up Lang Elliot's wonderful frog CD and book,
which I
proudly played samples of while we were driving. It's a great CD with lots
of familiar sounds I can now put a name to. So, on John Shirk Road, a fairly
large frog obligingly hopped into the middle of the road and sat their
patiently while I got out the book and ID'd it as a pickerel frog. A life
frog sighting already, without even trying! Admittedly it's not hard for me
to get life-frogs since my strict life-sightings frog list is now 2, as best
I can remember.

Other birds were heard-only Vesper Sparrow on Jasontown Rd plus Grasshopper
Sparrow and heard-only Bobolink (Pete). Several Meadowlarks (Stoneseifer Rd,
and Keysville-Bruceville?). Keysville Road and Hagerstown Lane failed to
yield any seen Bobolinks as in years past. (Pete heard one in the area.)

All these locations are fairly close to Taneytown except Jasontown Rd which
is between Westminster and Uniontown.

Steve Sanford
Randallstown, Baltimore County