I went to the Aquasco area of southern P.G. Co today, and found ten sparrow
species, possibly eleven.  However, I was only able to positively identify
9 of them!  I went there specifically to look in the big open fields for
winter passerines, but had no luck with the target species (horned lark,
longspurs, Am. pipit, and snow bunting).  I was kind of shocked not to find
any of these, the habitat was ideal and conditions seemed very favorable.
I had some nice consolation prizes though.

One field that was more or less open except for a couple areas of taller
weeds and broom sedge in narrow rows that paralleld the field was a jackpot
for sparrows.  I found seven species in it; the third bird I put the bins
on was the most exciting.  I thought it was a lark sparrow at first; its
facial pattern jumped right out.  The cheek patch was noticeably
highlighted by the white stripes with black edging, but something was wrong
for lark.  It had no breast spot, but that didn't convince me it wasn't a
lark until it flew.  I noticed it had no white edging on the tail when it
got nervous and flew to another clump of brush about 75 feet away.
Fortunately it did not hide completely when it landed, it was still
visible.  I got my scope out and found it again.  The most prominent
feature in my mind was in it's unusual back color, which was a prominent
and very light tan-color (like soil; is this where it got its name?) with
dark streaks, which was really beautiful.  And the wings were also
distinctive with a sort of rust on the primaries and black border on the
coverts above it.

I know I have not seen this species before, and after carefully looking in
my field guides I am pretty certain it was a clay-colored sparrow, but sure
wish someone else with ability to confirm this had been with me. I watched
it for about a minute before it dove down into the thicker cover, and it
did not emerge again.

Oh well, I still got another great bird about three minutes later.  I had
been standing there very quietly looking at the others, when one with an
unusual shape jumped up.  I put my scope on it and to my great surprise had
a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW.  It was a very handsome adult, with no breast
streaking and a distinct yellow spot in front of the eye, and yellow edging
on the outer and upper edge of its wings. I got great looks at it in the
scope at a distance of only about 30 feet!

I also found many field and song sparrows, juncos, and white-throateds in
the same field, with a couple towhees calling at the edge.  Later, in
another field I found some savannahs and in another I found fox and swamp
sparrow.  Down at the river (Patuxent) I failed to find anything
identifiable except a savannah.  However, at three different occasions I
jumped a small single sparrow that immediately dove for the thick stuff
(Phrag/other marsh cover) before I could even get bins up to look at it.
Twice (of the three), a bird jumped essentially at my feet, waiting until I
nearly stepped on it before flushing.  I got enough of a look at one, to
see the body shape was an Ammodramus sp. that may have been a sharptail.
I'll never know.  They did not respond to pishing and I could not get
another look.  Oh well.

No target birds found, but the surprises made for a great day!

Jeff Shenot
Croom