Great find guys, and adequate documentation of this very ratty molting bird.
George

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Hubick" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2008 1:22 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] WESTERN MEADOWLARK--Photos and Video


> 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
>