Hi Everybody:

 After having our grandson spend the night and spending most of the day with him on Sunday my wife and I took a ride out River Road about 6 PM Sunday evening. Our primary goal was to find her an Indigo Bunting (her favorite bird). We found one singing but were unable to see it.

We ventured further out River Road and pulled into the empty paved cul de sac that has become a very interesting grassland species area in the last several years since Winchester Homes has failed in their attempt to build large high-priced homes in the area. This is the same location that Jim Moore recently posted regarding Grasshopper Sparrows.

 We pulled to the top of the road and immediately heard several Grasshopper Sparrows before I even got out of the car and saw one perched on a fence post. I was facing in an easterly direction and heard the "hiccup-like" call of a Henslow's Sparrow in the field in front of me. I mentioned it immediately to my wife and then about 20 seconds later I heard the same call again. I did a quick but thorough scan of the field (the grass is probably 4-6 inches high) and did not see any sign of a perched bird. For the next 10 minutes or so I heard some chip notes coming from the grass in the same direction but did not hear the "hiccup" song anymore. After that I did not hear anything else. When I returned home I played a tape of the Henslow's chip note and it seemed to sound very similar to what I heard earlier in the field. 

I plan on returning tomorrow after work to see if I can get a visual. If anybody has a chance to check this area earlier tomorrow I would be interested to hear if you had any success. Feel free to call me on my cell phone at 301-742-0036. I am guessing that this may be a migrant but you never know. 

There are 29 more days of great birding in May so enjoy the month everybody.



Jim Green
Gaithersburg, MD

Work in moderation, BIRD IN EXCESS!!!