I left the house in Annapolis at 4:30AM this morning and drove over to
the sod farm just South of Hurlock, MD. I arrived around 6AM. The
traffic quickly got busy, but at approximately 6:45AM, I distinctly
heard 3 soft 'chucks' coming from the area Phil Davis described in a
recent post. I got in my car, turned around and drove a quarter mile
back towards the middle of that higher part in the field, just North
of the goal posts where I had been scanning. Again, I scoped all of
the many meadowlarks enjoying the field. There were a few strong
contenders, but I was not sold on any one particular bird as the
WESTERN.
Around 8:45 AM, I again heard three more 'chucks', but this time
coming from where I had been earlier in the morning (around the goal
posts). I scanned some more and then got distracted (see "Added
Highlights"). At 9AM, I got back in the car and headed home to
Annapolis to get some work done.
Anyway, while I would love to report that the Western Meadowlark is
still present, I did not get a positive visual identification.
Unfortunately, I was the only birder dodging the traffic this morning
from 6-9 AM. It would have been nice to have someone else's ears and
eyes on the field with me this morning. Schedule permitting, I'll
give it another shot next week.
Added Highlights:
-An AMERICAN KESTREL, then two American Kestrels harassing one, then
two MERLINS. 4 falcons flying all over the fields... very cool. They
were on the farm sprinklers to the South of the sod fields. It was
quite the aerial display.
-One BANK SWALLOW mixed in with an enormous passing flock (200-300
easily) of Tree Swallows and a few Barns.
My suggestion for those seeking this bird on a weekday morning: the
road got relatively quiet just after 8:20. Perhaps that is when the
morning rush ends in Hurlock?
Good Birding,
Dan Haas
West Annapolis, MD
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