I couldn't believe my eyes when I read Jim's post.  I ran the Emmitsburg BBS route today (27 June) and had Dickcissels in two locations a Red-headed Woodpecker and a female Hooded Merganser!  My first Dickcissel was on Harney Road, slightly more than .1 mile west of Bullfrog Rd (N).  Then there were two singing about .45 miles west of Bollinger School Rd.  (not to be confused with Bollinger Rd).  The female Hooded Merganser was actually in Carroll County in a small stream on Bowers Rd. .33 miles west of Piney Creek Rd.  Many years ago I saw a Yellow-cr. Night Heron at this same stop.  I was disappointed to hear only one Red-headed Woodpecker today.  I usually record them on 4 or 5 stops.  Also heard Savannah Sparrows in two places along Harney Rd. and Vespers in 3 or 4 places in both Counties.  Also more Grasshopper Sparrows than I've had in many years.  Couldn't find any Bobolinks unfortunately.

Danny Bystrak
Bristol AA Co.




________________________________
From: Jim Wilkinson <>
To: 
Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2009 8:41:22 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] NE Frederick County: Dickcissels, Red-headed Woodpecker, Hooded Mergansers, Bobolinks

My wife and I traveled backroads in northeastern Frederick County from near Lewistown to Emmitsburg today (6/27). Highlights of an excellent trip were Dickcissels in two spots, a female Hooded Merganser with four ducklings, an adult Red-headed Woodpecker, several Bobolinks and Meadowlarks, a dozen Grasshopper Sparrows and a Blue Grosbeak. 

Our first Dickcissels were two males along Sixes Bridge Road between Grimes and Sixes Roads in large fields at the crest of a hill maybe a third of a mile east of Grimes Road and east of a curve near a yellow house. The birds spent their time traveling between the small planted trees on the south side of the road and larger trees in a windbreak on the north side. We also saw two male Bobolinks at this location.  The second group of Dickcissels consisted of at least 3 singing males and a female in overgrown fields with white flowers bounded by Keysville and Creamery Roads southeast of Emmitsburg. I think this is the most Dickcissels I have seen on one trip in Maryland.  In these fields we also had Grasshopper Sparrows and a Blue Grosbeak. The Creamery Road bridge over Toms Creek was where we saw the female Hooded Merganser with her four young.

The adult Red-headed Woodpecker was along Bollinger Road where it crosses Stony Branch; four Grasshopper Sparrows were heard in fields along Bollinger Road south of this area. Bollinger Road goes north from Motters Station Road east of Thurmont.

We also heard one Bobolink along Blacks Mill Road just southwest of Creagerstown in a hayfield on the north side of the road near a small pond. Eastern Meadowlark and Willow Flycatcher were also singing here. 

Jim Wilkinson
Columbia, MD