Today at lunchtime I ticked my annual Vesper Sparrow at the Mears Farm area of Patapsco State Park. It was in the usual area, a flat, sparse grassy spot where the gravel path begins, and flushed into a small stand of bamboo. Eventually it perched in the tree overhead where I got great looks at the eye ring, streaked crown, dark-framed cheek, etc. This is the third year in a row I've found it here between 4/5 and 4/16. It was alone today -- no Savannahs or Chippies.
 
It's hard to say how much longer this opportunity will exist. As I watched the Vesper, four park staff came over the hill and joined me, where two of them (carrying bins) also saw the sparrow. Unfortunately, they are in the process of planting trees over almost all of the meadow acreage. The man who seemed to be in charge wasn't especially happy about it either, but apparently the park will not maintain the grassland and I guess would rather plant a forest than leave it to natural succession.
 
Other notables:
 
Canade Goose - 2 in field, 1 on pond
Wood Duck - 6 on pond
Black Vulture - several high migrants
RS Hawk - resident pair
Belted Kingfisher - 1 at pond
Blue Jay, doing a great RS Hawk impression
Eastern Bluebird - 5
Palm Warbler - 1 (yellow) at pond
Song Sparrow
 
Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD