Jane Kostenko and I arrived at the gap in the hedgerow just before 0630. There 
was another car there already so we took our place in line behind it. When it 
became light enough to see visible bird movement and actually ID some of the 
birds, we rolled our windows down for the duration. We anxiously awaited the 
bird not knowing that the cars that had moved further down the road had 
apparently seen the GCSP at about 0730, according to a report on MDOsprey. We 
didn't get to see it until after they pulled away around 0900 and we could pull 
forward to the spot where it was coming out hesitantly. 


Thankfully this wasn't a life bird because our looks weren't great. At first, 
when I finally found it, it was lurking in a tangle to the left of the 
one poke weed that droops to the ground. It came out just enough to get a full 
body view and was kind enough to show off the golden wash on the crown, which 
Jane and I both saw. When I reached for the camera, a car went by and that was 
the end of the show for us. We waited for another 10 minutes trying to get on 
the bird for the guy ahead of us who mistook me saying "poke weed" for "opening" 
and didn't get on it. Leo Weigant had been several cars behind us and had also 
seen the bird so we departed at the same time.

A couple of logistical points that would have helped us. First, it appears that 
the poke weed that the bird prefers is further down the hedge row from the gap. 
It's impossible to simultaneously see both the gap and the drooping poke 
weed, so you'll have to choose one spot over the other. Given the choice, in 
retrospect, I'd have pulled forward, seen the wee beastie, and been on our way 
allowing someone else a shot at it.

Second, since quite a long train of cars forms, it would be nice if the folks up 
front who initially see the bird might send some sort of signal. We had an LED 
flashlight along in case we saw it and could use it to alert others but by the 
time we saw it, others in the line behind us knew the bird was there.

Finally, noise. The birds are all flighty and dive for cover whenever a 
car/truck goes by, even at slow speeds of departing birders. Just be aware of 
this and allow for the birds to come back out gradually. The passing through of 
a Sharp-shinned Hawk didn't help matters at all keeping the sparrows in the 
hedge for about 5-10 minutes. As someone said before, be prepared for a chilly 
and frustrating experience!
 
Tyler Bell

California, Maryland 




________________________________
From: Fred Shaffer <>
To: 
Sent: Wed, December 22, 2010 1:39:21 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Golden-crowned Sparrow

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