The birding at the Sixes Bridge Road location must have deteriorated  
rapidly after the field on the south side was mowed late last week. On Sunday I  
found only one singing DICKCISSEL there, hanging out in the young oak  trees 
along the road and the taller trees on the north side. But no other good  
field birds, unless you count the Red-winged Blackbirds that were using the  
remaining weedy field on the north side.
 
But, the Creamery Road location was another story. The near constant  
singing of DICKCISSELS and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS was a real treat. I counted 5  
male Dickcissels, 2 on the west side and 3 on the east, but there could have  
been more. There was also a female BLUE GROSBEAK in the copse of trees at 
the  intersection, and a BROWN THRASHER singing from the hedgerow near the 
house on  the west side of the road.
 
 
Finding a BLGR in Frederick County was one of my objectives for  the day, 
so it was good to check that one off. I was also hoping for  Bobolink in 
Carroll County and my first Vesper Sparrow for year, in  addition to seeing the 
Dickcissels and the widespread Red-headed Woodpeckers. I  finally saw a RHWO 
in the park-like woods along Sixes Road just south of Rt.140  west of 
Taneytown. Continuing on to Harney Road I came across a singing VESPER  SPARROW 
on a wire overlooking a soybean field, about .3 miles east of Bollinger  
School Road. Amazingly there was no traffic so I was able to stop and give this  
bird a good look. My last destination was Walnut Grove Road in Carroll 
County.  It had been several weeks since Bobolink was reported here, and the 
sight of  fresh hay bales was not encouraging. But I stopped at the right angle 
bend and  scanned the brown weedy field to the NW, just as a male BOBOLINK 
on the far  side made a couple of flights to harass a Mockingbird. Always 
satisfying to  head home on a high note.

 
Thanks to all on MDOsprey who have posted their sightings from this  part 
of the state. It's been a great season up there.
 
Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD
 (mailto:[log in to unmask])  




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