> -----Original Message-----
> From: jim brighton [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Monday, October 25, 2004 11:46 AM
> To: 
> Subject: Lazuli Bunting
>
>
> Hello all,
>
>       I'm sending this to Norm because I'm still having
> problems with my
> e-mail and Mdosprey, so I appreciate Norm forwarding this to
> the Listserve.
> Sunday, October 24, Hans Holbrook, John Hubbell, and myself
> were birding the
> lower hedge rows at Vessy Orchard in Somerset County.  We had
> come here on
> Jim Stasz's recommendation that this area was good for
> sparrows.  Right off
> we had Vesper, White-throats, Savannah, Field, Song, Swamp,
> and White-crown
> working the hedge rows.  John and Hans were walking back to
> the car while I
> was trying to get a sparrow into view which resulted in
> scaring up a small
> dark bird (which I didn't notice) that flew past Hans and
> John catching
> their attention.
>       They both noticed the blue color and white in the wings
> which sent
> Hans into a "Get over here quick Jim!!!"  The bird was moving
> around in the
> back of some brambles.  Catching quick glimpses of color we
> couldn't get
> decent looks.  Then the bird flew out in the open with its
> back to us.  We
> all noticed the molting blue back and nice white wing bars.
> We now realized
> that we had something note-worthy.  We still hadn't gotten
> good looks at the
> breast and chest of the bird so we couldn't rule out
> Lazuli/Indigo Hybrid.
> We then lost the bird.
>       We quickly regrouped, checked out the references and
> came to the
> conclusion that we couldn't make a definent call on whether
> the bird was or
> wasn't a hybrid without getting a good look at the breast.
> We called Jim
> Stasz and Matt Haffner and relayed what we were seeing and
> told them we'd
> call back if we got confiirmed looks.  We set up scopes and
> waited.  About
> 15 minutes later the bird started feeding low on the edge of
> the hedge
> rewarding us with outstanding looks.  We saw the nice orange
> wash across the
> breast (which was what we needed) and called Jim and Matt
> back letting them
> know that we definently had a Lazuli Bunting.
>      While we waited for Jim and Matt to arrived we observed
> the bird every
> so often feeding along the hedge but never giving us really
> great looks.
> When Jim and Matt arrived it took a good while before they
> both got looks
> that left no question on identification.  When Mike Burchett
> showed up the
> bird flew out in the open and allowed wonderful looks.
>       It was a really exciting moment and sharing the bird
> with everyone was
> also quite rewarding.  Hopefully the bird will stick around
> so others can
> get to see it.  Remember the orchard is private property with
> the owners
> allowing birders so please be respectful so we won't loose
> access to this
> great area.  I also want to thank Jim Stasz for turning us on
> to the place.
> Hans, John, and myself need White-crowns for our Somerset
> list and he said
> to go there and as usual he was right.  County birding ROCKS!!!
>
> Jim Brighton
> Oxford, Md
> 
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Don't just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search!
> http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/
>