My son Ken and I were quite successful in searching for Saltmarsh
Sharp-tailed Sparrows (life bird for Ken, since they don't get to Texas)
on Elliot Island Road today. We saw one or two, along with some Seaside
Sparrows, then played a recording briefly, trying to get them closer.
That worked great: about 4-6 more came out and gave us some great looks.
That all happened 5.7 miles south of the intersection @ Henry's
Crossroad, about 200 meters before the big "Fishing Bay" sign, in the
short bright green grass on the right (west) side of the road. Other
notables on EI Rd were 2 Bald Eagles, an alternate plumage Dunlin
hanging out with a Semipalmated Sandpiper, and a Red-winged Blackbird
hassling a Red-tailed Hawk, several times actually landing on the back
of the hawk for 2-3 seconds.
Since that all took less time than we feared, we had time to stop by
Pickering Creek on the way home. The most interesting birds there were
a pair of Blue Grosbeaks talking to each other, a singing Grasshopper
Sparrow, a (somewhat scruffy) singing Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and a
juvenile Prairie Warbler.
Bob Hartman
Silver Spring/Colesville |