Hi all, 

I guess it is third time lucky, at least for Barry (my second attempt). Reading the various reports it seemed that later in the day was a bit more reliable, and the sunny warm day seemed the best opportunity so we went for it! 

We arrived at Pickering Creek Sanctuary about 11 AM to learn that the warbler had been seen about an hour earlier, in groundsel bushes along the edge of the field which abuts the parking lot. (That is, not along the grassy track). The bird was last seen to have flown to the right and out of sight. We and about 4-6 other birders then did the usual "haunting" of the grassy track, the field edge and the edge of the pond for several hours with no sound or sight of the bird. It was fairly breezy, albeit sunny and pleasant. Just before 1 PM, the wind died a bit and there began to be more bird activity -- singing Bluebirds flying about, a couple of dueling Mockingbirds, and some sparrows sat up. Several Field Sparrows were flitting in the grassy areas between the small cedars and groundsel bushes, about 100 feet from the trail. I moved up the track a bit and tried to examine them -- first bird - Field, second bird - another Field, third bird -- whoops! That's not a Field Sparrow! It was the VIRGINIA'S WARBLER, sitting up in a bush and then, scrambling about in the twigs as it fed. It was, interestingly, completely silent. I called to the others and most of us got at least brief looks before the bird did a flit. We then saw it again, this time close to the single 8-9' pine near the field edge. Barry and I walked around there and got 3-4 more good looks, some very close at eye level, as the bird fed in the groundsel. It did call, but only a few times and then (as has been noted) just before it flew from one site to another. I would say we had it in view, off and on, for about 20 minutes. The bird finally flew some distance, up along the grassy track (where other birders saw it) and then disappeared. We left at about 2 PM so not sure if it was relocated; there were still about 5 people there when we left. 

No sign of the Golden Eagle but 4-5 Balds were soaring along with Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks. 

Anyway, two state birds in two days so pretty satisfying!! 

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper 
Colesville, MD 

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