Nice pics Ed!

Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD






-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Boyd <>
To: 
Sent: Mon, Dec 20, 2010 8:22 pm
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Golden-crowned Sparrow Images


Greetings, 
 
As one of the fortunate ones to see this bird today, I managed to get some images and have posted a couple of them on line at the following location: 
 
http://edboydsplace.com/gcsp_12_20_2010.html 
 
Ed Boyd 
Westminster, MD 
 
On 12/20/2010 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] 
>> ==================================