What Joel forgot to add was his rescue of an American Goldfinch that had
it's leg caught in some kind of prickly plant.  He was able to get the
birds leg free and we happily watched the Goldie fly off to join it's
kin folk.

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Joel Martin
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 11:02 PM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Lilypons Again, 10/26 + Siskins


Thanks to those who posted the scoop on access to Lilypons, I went back
this morning for another attempt at the Virginia Rail. Dave Harvey was
already there doing some recon when I arrived. Eventually we found what
appeared to be "the spot." I played a series of "kidik" calls from a
small voice recorder and got an immediate response of "wep-wep-wep"
grunts from about 15 feet away in the reeds. One bird, an adult, soon
moved into an opening while another, same size but unidentified, slipped
through the reeds behind it and never reappeared. The adult remained in
view for about 10 minutes, giving grunts interspersed with the "kicker"
call, a high, sharp, chirping series ending in a trill: "ki-ki-ki-ki
kiterrrr" (Bob, maybe this was the King Rail-like sound you heard?). We
enjoyed great views from less than 10 feet away, and I shot some good
video. Though I have heard these birds many times and had some fleeting
glimpses, I was waiting for a sighting like this to add it to my life
list, my 400th ABA species.

After this Dave and I split up to do some sparrowing. Some highlights:

Wood Duck - 22
VIRGINIA RAIL - 1-2
Wilson's Snipe - 1
Brown Creeper - 2
MARSH WREN - 2
Catbird - 1
Field Sparrow - 10
FOX SPARROW - 1 (f.o.s.)
Swamp Sparrow - 20
White-throated Sparrow - 20

When I got home there were 4 Goldfinches and one PINE SISKIN at the
thistle feeder. Around 5:30 this evening there were 3 Siskins. Still no
Purple Finches.

Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD