MD Osprey:

Mark Hoffman reported earlier about trying to relocate this bird this 
morning at Hurlock. Mark arrived at 6:30 and I arrived at 6:45. Carol 
Broderick joined us about 9 am. Mark left around 9:15 and I left 
around 9:30, leaving Carol on "meadowlark watch."

Mark and I had basically split up and covered the north and south 
ends of the "south" turf field early, when the 20-some meadowlarks 
were still pretty At one point, I checked the north turf field, but 
the turf itself is apparently too sterile for the birds, but I did 
stir up three birds in the crop right next to road, they eventually 
flew down to the south field to join the others. vocal. By about 9 
am, they all became quiet and hunkered down.

As Mark reported, neither of us heard any "chuk" calls of a Western. 
Also, many of the birds were moulting and I found it difficult to key 
on plumage differences as clues to presence of a Western (e.g., less 
contrast, colder vs. warmer, overall lighter, yellow malar, etc.). 
However, I wish I had been able to see Bill and Mikey's images before 
I left. This bird is pretty bright one (lots of yellow) despite the 
condition of its molt. I only saw one bird that was close to this 
appearance but it was rather late (closer to 9 am) and it way far in 
the back of the field; too far to hear any vocalizations or too see 
any details.

However, one thing people should look for if birds are found closer 
to the road: the dark barring on the inner rectricies and tertials is 
diagnostic of Westerns and this can be seen quite clearly, especially 
in Bill images. On Easterns, the darker tail and tertial patterns are 
thicker and are connected together, not showing distinctive barring, 
as does this bird. These characteristics are easier to see when a 
bird is close, as when the guys found this one the other day (great 
luck!). Most of the birds present this morning were a bit too 
distant, and were often down in longer vegetation, making it 
difficult to see these details.

Also, on yesterday's bird, the lighter and more "spotted" side and 
flanks are different from the darker and more connected streaking of 
the Eastern.

The songs of meadowlarks are learned and Easterns and Westerns do 
learn each others; therefore songs are not diagnostic. Calls, 
however, are innate and the "chuk" of Western is generally regarded 
as diagnostic vs. the "zreee" of the Eastern.

Hope this helps ...

Great find, guys!

Keep looking ...

Phil


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Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee
2549 Vale Court
Davidsonville, Maryland  21035     USA
301-261-0184
mailto:[log in to unmask]

MD/DCRC Web site:  http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
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