I am posting this for Jeff Culler, who found a singing male Dickcissel in
his Woodbine NW Atlas block on Tuesday, June 22nd.  The bird has been seen
daily since then and was upgraded to Atlas status of Probable on Sunday.

 

On Monday a crew of backhoes and trucks perked the field extensively, but
fortunately the bird was singing again this morning about 8 am, and there
have been no workers or activity there today.

 

The owner of the land has refused permission to access, so please adhere to
that request.  The bird is in Howard County, DeLorme block 56, B3.  It is
across the street from the St. Paul's Episcopal Church, which is on the
south side of Old Frederick Rd, maybe a quarter of a mile east of East
Watersville Road.  

 

From the church area, if you look across the road perpendicular to the road
itself and in a generally NNW direction into a large overgrown field, you
will see be a long power line (only two wires, one upper and one lower).
The power line goes generally SE to NW from Old Frederick Road to a distant
farm with three large white silos.  The farm is along East Watersville Road.
The bird may be 300 yard away from the road.

 

The bird favors the top wire about 20 yards to the west of the large middle
pole in the middle of the field, although he does move around.  He sings
vigorously while on the wire and occasionally dives to the ground, only to
reemerge soon afterwards.  I would definitely recommend a scope.  If the
bird is up, you should have no problem finding him.  Sometimes it may take
30 minutes before he appears.

 

If you go look for this bird, I would recommend taking the Woodbine Rd/Rt.
94 exit (exit 73) north from Route 70, and then take your first left onto
Old Frederick Road.  Go west on this road until you see St. Paul's Episcopal
Church on your left.

 

Please do not approach this bird!  We hope to be able to confirm breeding
and do not want it disturbed.  The only time this species was known to have
ever bred in Howard County was in 1972.

 

Thanks,

-Joe