Hi Everybody: 

After work this evening I headed out to see if I could find any more evidence of the Henslow's Sparrow I reported from Sunday evening. I was at the site from 5:40 to 6:40 PM. I spent 30 minutes scoping and listening from the top of the cul de sac. At no time did I hear the "hiccup-like" song and the ensuing chip notes that I had heard from the field the previous night. In fact I did not hear the song or any chip notes of any kind coming from the field while I was there.

Bob Ringler had sent me a very interesting email earlier in the day. He cautioned me by saying that years ago he had what he thought was a Henslow's Sparrow. After initially getting very excited he was finally able to see the bird in question that was sounding very much like a Henslow's Sparrow. The bird in question was actually a Grasshopper Sparrow. He watched it sing the same song that had Henslow's written all over it.

With this information in mind I can not absolutely feel confident that it was a Henslow's Sparrow that was in the field last night because I never saw the individual that was vocalizing. After completely striking out tonight and not being able to gather any other evidence (either vocal or visual) I am downgrading my report to a possible Henslow's. I will continue to check this area in the next week or so and if I hear anything or see the bird I will report my findings immediately.

It IS possible that I heard a Henslow's; it did not sound near as loud as the one I found at the NIH center near Poolesville in June of 2008. It sounded more like the very muted songs of those I have heard up in Garrett in recent years.
The grass in the field is very thick and quite long with little or no point where a sparrow could perch so it very easily could have been  Grasshopper Sparrow. The interesting thing tonight was that even though there were 2 different grasshopper sparrows in the same part of the field I heard nothing that reminded me of the "hiccup" or chip notes that I heard last night. The only song that I could verify was that of the Grasshopper Sparrow.

I did have one Savannah Sparrow as well (never heard it but was scoped on top of a fence railing post). Also heard one E. Meadowlark and a one time very distant warbling song that reminded me of Bobolinks in the very distant part of the field straight ahead of me at the end of the paved road. 

It will be very sad to see this area become domesticated as houses slowly are built. There is now work being done on the first lot that has been sold. Enjoy it while you may. Any others that check this area please report on MDOsprey.

Jim Green
Gaithersburg, MD

Work in moderation, BIRD IN EXCESS!!!

Thank you Bob for your email regarding your previous experience.