Folks

Today I went looking for birds on the corner of Blank road and Bald Knob Road outside of Savage River, MD. thanks to a tip from John Churchill.  This spot which was hard to find since the Bald Knob Road sign was missing, was a goldmine for nitch birds.  I found a host of interesting grassland birds.  

DNR should be praised for their efforts to protect habitat for rapidly declining species. The property is under CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) with DNR, and will not be cut until August 15 per the property owner.  Consequently excellent numbers of  Henslow's, a few Savannah, Song, and Field Sparrow are doing fine at this location.  Had the damn young Henslow Sparrow perched up when I had the camera in hand I could have photographed #221 species for the year in Maryland. Cute little critter.

Also Bobolinks were well represented, as well as Eastern Meadowlark.  At the farm were also numerous Barn, a few Tree, and many Cliff Swallow.  Both Barn and Cliff nest at this location with young present on the wires.  

JB Churchill and other may well have had a Dicksissel on territory at this location, but none was found today.  Instead I found and photographed a Sedge Wren singing.  Generally Dicksissel sit up when singing and this bothered me.  Sedge Wren don't.  The song can be tricky and sound similar.  Last year what I thought was a Dicksissel in Allen's Fresh turned out to be a Sedge Wren as well.  

Along Bald Knob Rd. I flushed an American Kestrel just before the turn.  Hopefully a successful nester.

Many other good birds and too little time to write.  What have I missed?

Good atlasing.

George