Spent my afternoon looking for Dickcissels in Frederick Co, inspired by
several recent posts. Thanks to those who posted for the location
information--I found Dickcissels at two spots! Where Sixes Rd branches off
of Sixes Bridge Rd I had several Grasshopper Sparrows. Further up, just
southwest of the intersection of Sixes Rd and Grimes Rd (along Grimes, in
the field next to the house there) I heard a Dickcissel calling--or thought
I did, as this was a life bird for me and the call didn't quite match the
one on my Stokes CD. I continued to the site mentioned near the intersection
of Dern Rd and Sixes Br Rd, and there was fairly certain I heard another. To
be sure, I backtracked the route and when I returned to Grimes/Sixes there
was a male singing on the power line. I was able to get out and walk right
underneath him for point-blank photos. Gorgeous bird! As I headed back
toward Thurmont along Mumma Ford Rd I saw a Vesper Sparrow (also a life
bird) foraging in a field on the north side of the road about a half mile
west of the Sixes Br Rd intersection. I was confused by the bird at first,
but its size, white eye ring, rufous patch on the wing, and white outer tail
feathers sealed the ID for me. Was able to get good photos of this bird too.
So, not a bad day! (Except for the heat exhaustion I got hiking the Old
Misery Trail at Cunningham Falls SP after the birding, but that's another
story...)

-Jake Hall
 College Park, MD