En route to my Atlas area near Noland's Ferry in Frederick County 
this morning, I stopped off along Old River Rd. near Patton's Turf 
Farm just south of White's Ferry to look for the Dickcissels reported 
a few days ago by Dave Czaplak and Rob Hilton.  This area is in 
western Montgomery County.

It took at least 20 very hot minutes before I saw a Dickcissel - a 
male perched way out in the soy bean field across from the sod area 
close to 24000 River Rd.  I had not heard him singing (perhaps he 
wasn't) and I only came across him because I was 'scoping for a 
Grasshopper Sparrow that I could hear at a great distance.  But 5-10 
minutes later, the Dickcissel flew into a lone tree that is right on 
the road, on the sod-farm side of the road, and started singing 
vigorously.  I was able to get a few decent digiscoped shots.

I did not see a female Dickcissel nearby, but she may well have been 
somewhere around.

Anyone interested in seeing the photos, please go to:

http://dell.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=65kvqnu.7pilf8k2&x=1&y=qiju4n

If this doesn't work for you (you have to sign in but you don't have 
to be a member of Ofoto), just let me know and I'll send pictures 
directly to you.

Thanks to Dave for finding this bird and to Rob for re-finding it.

Mike Bowen
Bethesda

D. H. Michael Bowen (Mike)
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda MD 20817-3845
Tel/Fax: (301) 530-5764
e-mail: