I went out this morning to see what I could find in the way of field birds in the western part of Montgomery County.  This was only the 2nd time I've been out locally since April.
 
I started birding at the bend on W Offut Rd, just after the junction with Mt Nebo.  Unfortunately this area looks like it will be developed.  It had 4-5 singing Grasshopper Sparrows on either side of the road as well as a silent male Blue Grosbeak.  I thought I heard a Chat once or twice but could not verify it.
 
Next set of stops were along Westerley Ave, heading from the junction from Edwards Ferry Road.  I found two Vesper Sparrow along the stretch of the road a few hundred yards past this junction, which seemed to be frequenting a grassy/weedy patch in a maize field.  One of them spent some time perched on a roadside wire:
 
http://harrisbirds.com/Vesper%20Sparrow2.htm
 
A few hundred yards further on I stopped and immediately heard a Dickcissel singing.  The bird was in a field on the N side of the road, roughly the 20900 block, frequenting some smallish cedars overlooking a weedy part of the field. It too came in close on a wire at one point:
 
http://harrisbirds.com/Dickcissel.htm
 
Both of these spots had decent numbers of Grasshopper Sparrow as well.
 
Further driving around including along River Rd to the Patton turf farm did not turn up much of note apart from another Blue Grosbeak.
 
Good birding
 
Clive Harris
Cabin John MD

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