Hi Everyone,

As posted by Matt Hafner yesterday afternoon, a group of us found a WESTERN MEADOWLARK near Hurlock in Dorchester Co., Maryland. Jim Brighton, Ron Gutberlet, Mikey Lutmerding and I were trying for the August Big Day record and spotted the bird while scanning for American Golden-Plovers. The bird was the closest meadowlark in the short grass, and we noted that it was making soft "chuck" notes, which are diagnostic for Western Meadowlark. A flurry of photos, scoping, video, and phone calls ensued, followed by hours of grins and high-fives. 

By 8:00 p.m., we were relaxing in Jim Brighton's yard with bottles of summer ale. We ended the day with 151 species, eight species below the August Big Day record of 159 set by Jim Stasz, Ed Boyd, Matt Hafner, and Zach Baer. It was time to celebrate, and then to sleep.

I've posted a few photos and, more importantly, links to Mikey Lutmerding's video here:

http://www.billhubick.com/new_set.html

I'll post a separate message about the Big Day results sometime soon. 

Location details: Middle of the southernmost turf field on the west side of Shiloh Church Road (Rte. 331), south of Hurlock, Maryland. 

Good birding!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com