As posted earlier, the Golden-crowned Sparrow was present again this morning.  Jeff Shenot, Dave Mozurkewich and I carpooled to the site and saw the bird feed on the ground several times just after 8:30 am.  The bird was a car length or so in front of us, under the Pokeberry bush with a group of White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows.  The bird came out into the open to feed three times over the course of ten minutes or so, twice very briefly, and once for a slightly more extended period.  However, unlike the White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows, who fed in the open (in the grass between the hedgerow and the road) for extended periods of time, the Golden-crowned seemed to stay closer to cover and in the open for much shorter periods.  The entire time we saw the bird, it was near one Pokeberry bush in the grass between the hedgerow and road, feeding with White-crowned Sparrows.

By the time we left, there was quite a line of cars along the shoulder, meaning that people at the other end probably could not see the bird when it was in view for us.  And conversely, we hadn't gotten on the bird at its 7:30 appearance.  There are a lot of WTSP and WCSP to sort through, so its easy to get on the wrong group or be looking the wrong way when the GCSP appears.  So, like posted earlier, patience is key, but the bird continues to be cooperative with periodic, if brief views.  We also got great views of the Rough-legged Hawk at the previously posted location as it hunted over an open field.  Very impressive!

Back in Upper Marlboro, I counted 1,100 Ring-billed Gulls, 23 Herring Gulls, and 1 1st winter Lesser Black-backed Gull.  A large number of birds had flushed just before I arrived.

Fred Shaffer

Crofton, Anne Arundel