-------- Original Message --------
From: "Steve Cordle"
Date: Aug 7, 2012 2:47:54 PM
Subject: DC Area, 8/7/12
To: <BIRDEAST...>
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 8/7/2012
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE/WV panhandle
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports, comments, questions:
(e-mail): <voice...>
(voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
Compiler: Helen Patton
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the
Central Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle (<scordle...>)
Please consider joining ANS, especially if you are a regular user of
the Voice (Individual $50; Family $65; Nature Steward $100; Audubon
Advocate $200). The membership number is 301-652-9188, option 12; the
address is 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815; and the web
site is http://www.AudubonNaturalist.org.
This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon
Naturalist Society. This report was completed Tuesday, August 7, at
12:15 PM.
Dominating the reports this week are migrating SHOREBIRDS.
Other birds of interest include NORTHERN BOBWHITE, possible NEOTROPIC
CORMORANT, ANHINGA, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, herons, MISSISSIPPI KITE,
MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON, WHITE IBIS, shorebirds, terns, EURASIAN
COLLARED-DOVE, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, warblers,
sparrows and DICKCISSEL.
On August 5, two NORTHERN BOBWHITE were on Egypt Road, Dorchester Co,
MD.
A possible NEOTROPIC CORMORANT was at Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co,
MD on August 1. An ANHINGA first observed more than a week ago at
Chamberlayne Marsh on the outskirts of Richmond, VA, was relocated on
August 1.
Five AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS continued sporadically with a sighting
off Fowler Beach Road, DE, on August 3.
Assortments of HERONS-GREAT BLUE, LITTLE BLUE, GREEN, NIGHT-HERONS,
and GREAT, SNOWY, and CATTLE EGRETS-are enlivening marshes throughout
the area, including Lilypons, Frederick Co, MD, Herrington Harbor
Marina, Anne Arundel Co, MD, Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD, Skimmer
Island, Worcester Co, MD and Tydings Park, Harford Co, MD.
On August 2, five MISSISSIPPI KITES were hunting over a field, viewed
from the church parking lot on Smith Grove Land in Dinwiddie Co, VA. A
MISSISSIPPI KITE was soaring over Hamilton Blvd in South Boston,
Halifax Co, VA on August 5. A MERLIN flew over Brown's Bridge Road,
Howard Co, MD, scattering the shorebirds, on August 2. On July 31, a
PEREGRINE FALCON, apparently a baseball fan, buzzed Nationals Park,
DC. Another PEREGRINE FALCON was on Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co,
MD on August 6.
An immature WHITE IBIS was on the C&O Canal near North Branch,
Allegany Co, MD on August 5.
A WESTERN SANDPIPER along with SEMIPALMATED, LEAST and PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS were at Brown's Bridge, on the Howard Co, MD side on July
31. The WESTERN SANDPIPER was refound on August 3.
On July 31, a HUDSONIAN GODWIT rested in a large Dowitcher flock in
Raymond Pool at Bombay Hook NWR, DE. On August 5, Raymond Pool hosted
3500 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 2500 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 200
AMERICAN AVOCETS, 250 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS along with WESTERN, LEAST
and STILT SANDPIPERS and GLOSSY IBIS.
A periodic survey of Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD on July 31 reported
12 shorebird species including BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, WILLET, STILT
SANDPIPER and WILSON'S PHALAROPE.
On August 5, WESTERN and STILT SANDPIPERS were at the Triadelphia
Reservoir, Montgomery/Howard Cos, MD.
The dredge cells at Swan Creek, Anne Arundel Co, have drawn hundreds
of shorebirds, although distance and heat shimmer makes ID a
challenge. A lunch break survey on August 1 tallied 9 species,
including WESTERN, WHITE-RUMPED, and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. On August 5,
the species included: WHITE-RUMPED, STILT, WESTERN, LEAST and PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS.
Two UPLAND SANDPIPERS were at the Bristow Sod Farms on the NW corner
of Split Oak/Gallop Lane and Bristow Road, Prince William Co, VA on
August 4. Two UPLAND SANDPIPERS were at the Central Sod Farm, Queen
Anne's Co, MD on August 4.
The weekly shorebird survey at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA, on
August 3 uncovered 21 shorebird species including: 98 BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER, 606 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER,4 PIPING PLOVER, 481 WILLET, 28
WHIMBREL, 13 MARBLED GODWIT, 107 RED KNOT, 8.955 SANDERLING and 795
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER plus 9 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER.
A trip to Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD on August 6 tallied 9
shorebird species including: 40 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS plus AMERICAN
AVOCETS.
The south side of Indian River Inlet, Sussex Co, DE hosted COMMON,
ROYAL and SANDWICH TERNS on August 1.
The previously reported EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was refound on August
1, this time west of Marsh Pike on Reidtown Road, Washington Co, MD.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS were widely reported.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was on West Robbins Road at the edge of the
Redden State Forest, Sussex Co, DE on August 1.
Richmond, VA, is enjoying a PURPLE MARTIN extravaganza; each evening
some 16,000 Martins swirl though the air prior to diving at high
speeds into a stand of Bradford Pear trees on 17th St near the Farmers
Market. This spectacle is likely to continue until mid-August. O
August 7, the PURPLE MARTIN count increased to 19,500.
A BLUE-WINGED WARBLER was on the trail near Jackson Landing at Jug Bay
Natural Area, Prince Georges Co, MD on August 1. A GOLDEN-WINGED
WARBLER was in New Germany SP, Garrett Co, MD on August 5. Warblers
were spotted in Idylwild WMA, Caroline Co, MD: YELLOW and PRAIRIE
WARBLERS and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT on August 2 and PINE, WORM-EATING
and PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS and AMERICAN REDSTART on August 3.
A VESPER SPARROW was on Ponder Road, Sussex Co, DE on August 1, 2 and
3. Seven HENSLOW'S SPARROWS were on Russell Road, Garrett Co, MD on
August 5. A DICKCISSEL was singing mightily on Cods Road, Sussex Co,
DE on August 1.
This week's reports have been gleaned from the MDBirding, VA-Bird,
West Virginia Birding List, and Delaware Birds list servers.
The Audubon Sanctuary Shop (301-652-3606,
http://www.audubonnaturalist.org/default.asp?page=511) is an excellent
source for guidebooks and many other nature-related titles.
To report bird sightings, e-mail your report to
<voice...> or call 301-652-1088. Please post reports
before midnight Monday, identify the county as well as state, and
include your name and a Tuesday morning contact, either e-mail or
phone.
Thank you for calling, and GOOD BIRDING.
*Of possible interest to the records committees
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