I arrived at Meadowood about 8 o'clock this morning, took the counter-clockwise
trail where I found the Dickcissel yesterday, didn't find anything and so I
started down the counter-clockwise trail and ran into David Boltz, Sherman
Suter and Rich Reiger, who were kind enough to tell me that they had just seen
the Dickcissel down the hill in the direction I was going, on the other side of
the field from where I saw it yesterday. I headed on down the trail and was
soon joined by my friend Seth, who had also come looking for the bird.
We soon found the Dickcissel, down by the bluebird boxes. It was
energetically calling and flying around. We had excellent looks and
photographed the bird sitting on a variety of approaches low to the ground.
Further down the trail we saw a female Blue grosbeak, at least two male Blue
Grosbeaks and got some OK photographs of that bird as well. We had some
stunning views of male Indigo Buntings, sitting on low preaches out in the
bright sunshine. Down at the corner where the trail separates by the old
horse barn, I had an added treat when a Yellow-breasted Chat flew in to eat
cherries on the cherry tree about 30 feet away, and then flew and perched
nicely in the tree right above me. Super photo op !!
We had more nice looks at the Dickcissel on the way back up the trail.
Overall the bird probably perched and sang for us for at least 30 minutes or
more. There may well have been two Dickcissels.
In the tall forest trees on the far side of the field, maybe 150 yards away,
I heard several Scarlet Tanagers and what I think was a Summer Tanger singing.
There have been Summer Tanagers found at this location in past years.
All in all a very nice morning.
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Virginia
Sent from my iPad
