Message:

[

Previous   Next

]

By Topic:

[

Previous   Next

]

Subject:

Western Meadowlark: Maybe?

From:

Dan haas

Reply-To:

Dan haas

Date:

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:29:43 -0400

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