Hi Folks!

I will go out on a long limb with the belief that the sparrow is here for the Winter. Patience will pay.

Good Birding!

Jim

Jim Stasz
North Beach MD


Dan Haas <> wrote:

>MD birders,
>
>I wouldn't be discouraged just yet.  The sightings / timeline /
>locations for this bird (I think) leave birders with much optimism for
>success.
>
>Here's why (and I hope I have all these details correct):
>
>The bird was found feeding (around 11AM on Sunday) by Bruce Peterjohn,
>back behind the hedgerow in the wooded ravine about 100 yards to the
>East.  He got great looks at the bird, but took the time to walk back
>to his car to get scope views... which were even better and more
>extensive.  ID clinched.  State record.
>
>Winger West and I, covering the neighboring territory, drove over to
>meet others counters for lunch on the main part of Chesapeake Farm
>around Noon.  That is when we met up with Bruce, heard the stunning
>news and lost our collective appetites.  (I can't quite forget about
>that time I was not out on the deck when the SKUA sailed over the bow
>on a Paulagic.  No no no... I just HAD to eat dinner.)  I digress.
>
>Around 12:30 PM, a group of us intensely searched for about an hour in
>that wooded ravine, covering all the spots that the bird was initially
>observed and then some.  Bruce did get another look at the bird at
>this time, but the rest of us missed it.  Being good CBC'ers we
>decided to get back to cover our territory (and maybe find a Brewer's
>Sparrow?)  Okay, perhaps not that... but the other birds did need to
>be tallied.
>
>Around 3:45 PM, we all decided to work the area where the
>Golden-crowned was seen one last time.  There were Songs,
>White-throats galore (the forest floor looked like it was moving with
>all of the leaves jumping) and a White-crowned, but the star of the
>show was absent. I suspect that the Golden-crowned Sparrow was
>spending its time perched on our cars, eating our untouched lunches,
>or working the hedgerow where it was observed this morning.
>
>Back at our cars, the group of us were departing in total darkness to
>listen for owls.  There was one distinctive chip note coming from the
>hedges, but no way of knowing without a spotlight.
>
>Fast forward to sunrise this morning: to say it was amazing to find
>the bird on the portion of this property for all to enjoy was an
>understatement.  Merry Christmas to us. Seed was spread.  Photos were
>taken.  It was spectacular.
>
>So, this is my wild speculation as to what the bird's day-to-day
>schedule might be now that it's a Marylander:
>
>Sunrise - 10AM: Hide in the hedgerow.  Read the paper. Go feed out in
>the open every 25-30 minutes for only a minute or two. Hide.
>10AM-1PM: Stop hiding. Fly. Move to the wooded ravine and perch
>prominently, awaiting Bruce's return.
>1PM-sunrise: Chip once. Hide.
>Sunrise: Repeat.
>
>I remain optimistic that this bird will be enjoyed by many... just
>don't band it!  ; )
>
>Get it?
>
>Good Birding,
>
>Dan Haas
>West Annapolis, MD
>nervousbirdsatgmail.com
>
>
>
>
>On Mon, Dec 20, 2010 at 7:35 PM, Amanda Spears
><> wrote:
>> A note to GCSP chasers...
>>
>> Although the seed is spread along the break, don't particularly focus just
>> on that area....to be really exact, this morning the bird was seen feeding
>> on the ground a little further down the hedgerow near some dead pokeweed. Of
>> course this may change in the future if/when it finds the seed. But
>> definitely prepare to be patient (and frustrated!), as you could wait an
>> hour between 2-minute sightings . Definitely worth it though, awesome bird!
>>
>> Amanda Spears
>> Chestertown
>>
>> On Mon, Dec 20, 2010 at 5:58 PM, Phil Davis <> wrote:
>>
>>> MD Osprey:
>>>
>>> First, thanks to Nancy and Walter for posting the info on the Kent
>>> County/Chesapeake Farms sparrow.
>>>
>>> I was there from 1:15 until 3:15 this afternoon (12/20) and the bird was a
>>> no show. About 6 or 7 other cars were there during my stay.
>>>
>>> I always try to pay attention to the logistics of rarity sightings, so
>>> allow me to pass on some personal observations ...
>>>
>>> 1. Prepare to be frustrated ... not disappointed (as in missing the bird),
>>> but frustrated. Nancy and Walter are correct, only 3-4 cars of birders will
>>> be able to see into the break in the hedgerow where the bird was seen this
>>> morning (and where some bird seed was spread on the ground). Even all of
>>> those four cars may not be able to see both sides of the hedgerow break. So
>>> if you are not one of those four cars, be prepared to be frustrated since
>>> you won't be able to see much.
>>>
>>> 2. Even though the break in the hedgerow is on the left (east) side of the
>>> road (heading in), be sure to park on the right (west) side and look across
>>> the road. Otherwise only one car would be able to see the area and they
>>> would block the view for everyone else.
>>>
>>> 3. You will be frustrated since YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO GET OUT OF YOUR
>>> CAR (I saw birders out of their cars this afternoon ... this will kill this
>>> for everyone!!!); so this makes it difficult to communicate with any other
>>> birders present. Cell phones work, but I would suggest bringing FRS radios
>>> with you so you can all talk with the others about if the bird has been seen
>>> or to pass the word if someone does see it. Years ago, people had proposed a
>>> "birders channel" ... I don't know if people are still using it, but it is
>>> 11-22 (channel 11, subchannel 22).
>>>
>>> 4. Perhaps more people could see the hedgerow break if people parked their
>>> cars perpendicular to the road (there is enough shoulder for this) or parked
>>> at a 45-degree angle. This may allow more cars to see the area, but it may
>>> mean that birders will have to look out through front windows, which are
>>> notoriously distorted, or cause grief for birders in the back seats. I don't
>>> know about this one, just a rambling thought ...
>>>
>>> 5. The people with the prime parking spots will not want to give up their
>>> position, based on first come, first serve. An altruistic policy might be to
>>> periodically rotate, but this will be a tough nut to crack.
>>>
>>>
>>> My impression is that this bird is not showing any site fidelity, so I
>>> don't think I'm going to go back unless I hear that it's been seen again.
>>>
>>> Hope this helps ...
>>>
>>> Phil
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ==================================
>>> Phil Davis      Davidsonville, Maryland     USA
>>>                mailto:[log in to unmask]
>>> ==================================
>>