Around noon today I checked for Dickcissels  calling in the meadow near
Easton where they were found last year, and I heard at least two of them
along with at least one Meadowlark.  The meadow is adjacent to the north
side of the White Marsh Cemetery (sometimes called the 'hole-in-the-wall'
cemetery) beside Rte 50 and to the south of Easton.

 

For anyone coming from the direction of Easton, you will encounter lots of
road construction at the intersection beside the cemetery, so will have to
proceed farther south until you find an intersection where you can make a
U-turn to go back north on Rte 50 to reach the cemetery.

 

The birds stayed down in the grass during the brief time of my visit, but
were quite clearly heard.  Best location to hear them was from beside the
cemetery fence near the east end of the road that goes along that fence.
Road noise is a bit of a problem, from Rte 50, but  the Dickcissel call
seems to carry pretty well.

 

The Dickcissels were thought to have successfully nested in that field in
2009.  The field does not get mowed until long after nesting season is over.
The land owner is intentionally maintaining that field for the birds and
other wildlife and was pleased to learn that the Dickcissels found it in
2009.

 

Les Roslund

Talbot County

Easton, MD