Hi Folks,

Looks like a lot of us were out in western Maryland this weekend, and I
enjoyed the reports from John Hubbell, JB Churchill, and Bill Hubick.  On
our way to a family reunion in Indianapolis this weekend, Elaine and I spent
a couple days atlasing in Washington & Garrett Counties, and then made a few
stops in Allegany Co. on our way home this morning.  I'll begin this epistle
with a report on Blank Road in northern Allegany Co. this morning (1 Aug),
pretty much echoing what Bill Hubick had to say in his report.  NEVER have I
seen or heard so many HENSLOW'S SPARROWs in my life, and I've seen and heard
a lot (well...I've heard a lot, at least).  Along the 1/4 mile stretch of
Blank Rd. just south of Bald Knob Rd. were seemingly dozens of these birds;
they were by far the most common bird in the area during our visit, and
seemed to outnumber Song Sparrows about 10 to 1.  Several of them were in
the paved road collecting grit, and I got to see my first ever Henslow's
fledgling in the road--a puffy, rather confused little tyke that wasn't sure
if it should fly away from us or just stand there.  At one point we saw
three Henslow's together in the gravel drive where an abandoned white pickup
truck sits.  I did not attempt to make a count of these birds, but having
seen so many in the road, there were obviously many more than could be
heard, and there were an awful lot (8?, 10?) being heard--they were the most
vocal of any bird in the area.

When we first came to the area, driving northward along Blank Rd., besides
the numerous Henslow's Sparrows, we could hear a single SEDGE WREN  in the
field south of the (grown-over) manure pile by the road, singing away
unabashedly, but never giving us a glimpse.  This was the location described
to us by several other folks.  Having parked our car around the corner along
Bald Knob Rd. by the mailboxes, a few dozen feet from Blank Rd., a pickup
pulled up beside us, and we spent the next 10 to 15 minutes chatting with
Charlie Geary, who owns most of the property in the area, and lives in the
small green/white house on Blank Rd. around which most of the bird activity
is centered.  Charlie described several of the birds he had been seeing in
the area, and understood that he "had a lot of Winslow's Sparrows in the
area."  "Oh, you mean Henslow's Sparrows" I countered; "Yea, that's the one"
he said.  Someone had taught him something about the prized birds he had on
his property, and he described some short fellow from the Washington DC area
with a short last name who had been out there taking some pictures.  "Oh,
George Jett!" I offered, and he grinned and said "Yeah, that's the guy:
J-E-T-T he spells his name."

Elaine had gotten our copy of Sibley out of the car, and we spent some time
showing Charlie pictures of all of the birds he had described to us, and
others that were on his property.  While we were talking with Charlie, a
second SEDGE WREN began chattering from the field across the (Bald Knob)
road from the mailboxes.  This one was closer to the road than the first,
but was similar in habits, and never did show itself for us.  This was a
life-bird for Elaine, but she'll just have to look at George's and Bill's
photos to see what it looks like.  Elaine and I spent about 30 minutes
walking along Blank Rd., and that's when we saw all the Henslow's and where
we spent some time hoping, in vain, for a look at the Sedge Wren.  Other
birds in the area were many E. Meadowlarks, Bobolinks, a Savannah Sparrow, a
Yellow-billed Cuckoo calling from the distant woods, and two hummingbirds
visiting the feeders at the front of the house.

Back on Wednesday, 27 July, we began our day early in Washington Co., doing
work mostly in our Smithsburg CE block, where we were in sore need of some
confirmations.  I decided to bring out the big guns today--yeah, a screech
owl tape--and really cleaned up with the confirms.  There is a nice railroad
crossing along Edgemont Rd. where one can easily park a car off the road,
and that for some reason seems to be very birdy.  We stopped there, put the
boom box with owl tape on top of the car, and spent the next 45 minutes
enjoying the activity.  The birds were all over, and it sounded like feeding
time at the Cincinatti Zoo.  We were able to observe fledglings of ten
species (Downy Woodpecker, Flicker, Great-crested Flycatcher, Blue Jay,
Titmouse, WB Nuthatch, Gnatcatcher, Robin, Scarlet Tanager, and House
Finch), eight of them being new for the block.  What a display!

In our Smithsburg CW block, we were entreated to excellent looks at
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER close to where they nest, where Durberry Rd. ends at
Poplar Grove Rd.  A pair of kestrels perched on various trees in the same
area.

We spent Wed. evening, 27 July, and all day Thursday, 28 July, atlasing in
Garrett Co., mostly doing work in two under-covered blocks:  Avilton CE
(stradling I-68, just west of Finzel Swamp and containing Piney Run Res.)
and Barton SW (in the middle of nowhere, with very few roads).  We found
HENSLOW'S SPARROW in four different locations--three of them traditional,
and one in a (slightly) new area.  Last year I had found a single Henslow's
Sparrow singing along Green Lantern Rd. while doing an atlas mini-route, a
few tenths of a mile south of the fork that this road makes with Sam Crow
Rd.  This year on both 7/27 and 7/28 there were three of these birds singing
in the same area.  A drive along Pea Ridge Rd. on 7/28 produced 10 Henslow's
singing, alternating sides of the road as we drove along, with 5 on one side
and 5 on the other.  We heard a single Henslow's for the first time on
Lancaster Hill Rd., a few tenths of a mile beyond (south/east of) the Pea
Ridge location, where Pea Ridge makes a precipitous turn to the south.
Finally, on 7/28 we heard one or possibly two Henslow's singing along Aaron
Run Rd., which has been a fairly well-known spot for finding these birds for
several years.

On 7/27 we found a fledged VESPER SPARROW along the edge of Church Run Rd.,
north of US 40, and an adult was heard singing along Green Lantern Rd. on
7/28.  While fledged Barn Swallows dot the power lines across the state (and
probably across the nation), we were pleased to find fledged CLIFF SWALLOWs
on Green Lantern Rd. on 7/27 and along Blocher Cemetery Rd. on 7/28.  A hen
WOOD DUCK with a single half-sized duckling was found at a small pond where
US 40 crosses Twomile Run on 7/27; I find these ducks to be quite uncommon
out here.  Our only other interesting find of the visit was a N. HARRIER,
flying over a field along Blocher Cemetery Rd. on 7/28, just missing safe
dates by three days.

Oh, and I have to mention the GREAT HORNED OWL, that flew into the Carey Run
Sanctuary the evening of 7/27 while it was still quite light out.  I was
able to carry on a nice 45-minute conversation with this bird, as it circled
around the farm house, perching in various trees around the property,
including the big hemlock right next to the back porch.  It called
throughout the evening, and around 10 p.m. the local Barred Owl began its
hollering, and the Great Horned could still be heard in the background.
What a sweet medley of sound they produced!

I never tire of visiting this beautiful section of the state, with its
exciting birdlife.

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie