Driving over to the Catoctins this AM I spotted a bird along the edge of
Long's Mill Road between New Cut Road and a little spot on the map named
Creagerstown. My first reaction was 'oh goodie - a Piedmont bobwhite. Nice'.
Then as I got to the bird I saw very clearly that it was no bobwhite.
Clearly a chukar, which I've never seen before but since I had Sibley's with
me, I had no problem making an identification.
    The book says they are game farm releases for hunting, but so far have
failed to become established anywhere. The Maryland Atlas doesn't even
mention the bird. Any further insight out there?  Any body know the history
of these birds in Frederick Co.? Would anybody add it to a list if they saw
one?
    Jerry