Having been away for a couple of weeks I have been catching up with what's
around in my neighborhood which is about 2 miles from Bluemont and 4 miles from
Snickers Gap in western Loudoun Co.
I've been astounded by the many active and vocalizing GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS (10
to 12) and EASTERN MEADOWLARKS (15 to 20) along Ebenezer Church Rd (Rte 779)
since I got back but this morning was thrilled to also find at least 2, and
possibly 3, male BOBOLINKS in one of the farm fields near my house where they
have nested, sometimes successfully in past years. While they would
occasionally share perches with the meadowlarks and sparrows on the paddock
fences and horse jumps, they kept ducking into the high grass where they
completed disappeared. Hopefully there are some females on nests in the high
grass (previous experience reminds me they are much less visible until the
young are hatched). With several fields still uncut this year I have my
fingers crossed that they will be successful before the fields are mown.
While it was also nice to see the resident RED-HEADED WPs, one of which was
actually drumming this morning, it would be great to also find a couple of
nesting Dickcissels along Ebenezer Church Rd.
Joe Coleman, near Bluemont, Loudoun Co
