Hi all --

Enticed by the many reports of good field birds in the Emmitsburg area,
Barry and I drove up there this morning. We also had a great time with
mind-blowing looks at multiple Dickcissels, Grasshopper Sparrows and other
goodies. We went to three sites, Sixes Road east of Grimes Rd., Bollinger
Road south of Sixes Rd. and Creamery Rd. near its intersection with
Keysville Rd.

Sixes Road:

The birds were in the earlier-reported grassy field on the south side about
1/3 mile beyond Grimes Rd., the male Dickcissels singing from the row of
small oaks and also, telephone wires.

Dickcissel (4 male, 2 female)
Eastern Meadowlark (~10)
Grasshopper Sparrow (2)
Indigo Bunting (1)
Orchard Oriole (1)

Also, heard a Pheasant crow all the way across the field towards the farm
buildings. Wild bird? Cage bird? Lots of these farms seem to have an
assortment of exotic critters such as Guineafowl so who knows? But it has
been so many years since I have heard a pheasant in MD that I find it hard
to believe it was a wild one.

Bollinger Road:

Red-headed Woodpecker (1 adult) at crossing of Stony Branch as per earlier
report, it was on telephone pole, on ground at road edge (!) and then flew
to a dead tree across the field on the west side of the road.

Grasshopper Sparrow (2, on fence posts along the fields beyond the farm with
all the guineafowl, south of the woodpecker spot)

Creamery Road:

Dickcissel (4 singing males)
Bobolink (1 singing male)
Meadowlark (1-2)
Grasshopper Sparrow (3)
Indigo Bunting (2)
Field Sparrow (only 1!)
Brown Thrasher (1)

Also, along Harney Road, 2 Blue Grosbeaks and 1 Kestrel, and a *possible*
Vesper Sparrow on telephone wires about 1/2 mile east of Harney Rd. Pond; it
was flushed by a large vehicle before we got a good look but when it flew
down into the crop field we thought we saw the white outer tail feathers.
Waited a while but it never reappeared.

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD