[mou] stymied in Maple Grove

[Thomas Maiello]

Ner my townhouse is a mowed grass field with tall native grasses  
growing along one side with a marshy area and cattails on the other  
side of the native grass strip.  There are woods on either end with  
some taller shrubs in the mix zone between the native grasses and the  
cattails.  The is a yellow breasted and possibly yellow throated bird  
with a deep brown back and wings - no clear eye ring.  I have only  
been able to get glimpses of the bird as it flits along the grass  
stems and then disappears into the lower portion of the native grass.   
I never see it in the cattails.  The yellow on this bird is a nice  
deep yellow.  The size is the same as a Song Sparrow which was  
nearby.  I stood for over an hour getting these little glimpses then  
it would dart across the tops of the grasses to the edge of the woods  
and flit into sight and out.  No calls.

I am looking for possible IDs so I can begin looking for  
distinguishing characteristics in the brief seconds I have to look at  
it.  The brown back and wings are nearly chocolate compared to the  
delightful deep yellow.  It isn't a Chat for there are no eye markings  
like that.  I am bamboozled and would like to have some direction to  
begin my sorting.


Thomas Maiello
Angel Environmental Management, Inc.
Maple Grove, MN