Voice of the Naturalist, 28 October 1997

Norm Saunders (osprey@mtolympus.ari.net)
Wed, 29 Oct 1997 19:00:34 -0500


Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 10/28/97
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088
Reports (voice): 301-652-9188 x3101
(fax): 301-951-7179
(email): voice@capaccess.org
(deadline): 8am tuesdays
Compiler: Jane Hill
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle (scordle@capaccess.org)

This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon
Naturalist Society. This tape was made Tue, Oct 28, at 3 pm.

Top birds this week are: EURASIAN WIDGEON, CONNECTICUT WARBLER, and
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW in VA.

Other birds of interest include: RED-THROATED LOON, EARED GREBE,
NORTHERN GANNET, GREAT EGRET, BRANT, SNOW GOOSE, scoters, LESSER
SCAUP, CANVASBACK, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, RUDDY DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD,
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, REDHEAD, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, MARBLED GODWIT,
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, MERLIN, OSPREY, RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH, warblers, EVENING GROSBEAK, SAVANNAH SPARROW and PURPLE
FINCH.

A EURASIAN WIDGEON was spotted at the Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR,
Northampton Co, VA, on Oct 21; it was next to the pond near the
Visitor's Center. Also in Northampton Co that day, a CONNECTICUT
WARBLER was found at Kiptopeke State Park.

A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was reported in a mixed flock of other sparrows
on the shoulder of Rt 653, about 1/2 mile west of its intersection
with Rt 643, south of the Leesburg Airport, Loudoun Co, VA, on Oct 25.
Birders should be alert to the possible pres ence of CLAY-COLORED
SPARROW in other sparrow flocks at this time of year.

Most of the other sightings this week were of coastal and other water
birds.

NORTHERN GANNETs are pushing through our region, with an estimated 500
birds seen winging southward, close to shore, behind Tom's Cove
Visitor's Center, Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA, during a
20-minute period on Oct 25. Farther north, in DE, the sam e day,
smaller flocks of NORTHERN GANNETs were also seen, with at least 15
birds spotted at Rehoboth Beach, and several birds at Indian River
Inlet.

Ninety-five BRANT were seen from the town of Chincoteague, VA, as they
sat on a gravel bar, at low tide, about 100 ft offshore in
Chincoteague Channel on Oct 25; these birds were seen easily from Main
St, about 1 mile south of the causeway entrance into the town. Another
flock of BRANT, estimated to number at least 75 birds, was seen from
the south side of Indian River Inlet, DE, the same day.

Other winter arrivals along the coast this past week included a
RED-THROATED LOON at Dewey Beach, DE, on Oct 25.

Newly arrived winter ducks included six REDHEADs--three males and
three females--in the southwestern part of the reservoir at Black Hill
Regional Park, Montgomery Co, MD, on Oct 25. Reports of other arrivals
included three male BUFFLEHEADs at Dewey Beac h, DE, and three
CANVASBACKs in the Great Marsh area of Mason Neck NWR, Fairfax Co, VA,
all on Oct 25. And the season's first report of RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
came in, with one bird seen at Indian River Inlet, DE, the same day.

Large flocks of scoters were reported, with several hundred BLACK and
SURF SCOTERs spotted flying down the coast at Chincoteague NWR on Oct
22. Chincoteague also hosted a raft of at least 300 scoters about 200
ft offshore, behind Tom's Cove Visitor Ctr, on Oct 25; a few
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERs were noted in this group of mostly BLACK and SURF
SCOTERs. At both Lewes and Rehoboth Beach, DE, flocks of mostly BLACK
SCOTERs, with a few SURF SCOTERs, were seen winging along the coast on
Oct 26.

Farther inland, an EARED GREBE was reported from Musick's Campground,
South Holston Lake, Washington Co, VA, on Oct 25. And a MERLIN was
spotted at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA, on Oct 25--the second
week in a row that this species has been seen there. Other raptor
reports included an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK at Snickers Gap Hawkwatch,
on the Loudoun-Clarke Co line, VA, on Oct 21.

Some migrants continued to linger in our region this week. These
included 21 MARBLED GODWITs spotted in a flock of several hundred
Willets at Oyster, Northampton Co, VA, on Oct 21. Other lingering
shorebirds were a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, working the mudd y bank close to
the Lilypons Rd bridge, at Lilypons, Montgomery Co, MD, on Oct 22; and
a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, seen at Chincoteague NWR, on Oct 24. There were
also reports of lingering OSPREY, with a single bird seen at Jefferson
Patterson Park, Calvert Co, MD, on Oct 23 and 24, and another OSPREY
spotted at Prime Hook NWR, DE, on Oct 26. A few GREAT EGRETs are also
still hanging on, with a single bird spotted at Dyke Marsh,
Alexandria, VA, on Oct 27, and another in the Great Marsh area of
Mason Neck NWR, o n Oct 25.

LESSER SCAUP numbers are building on the Potomac River, with 120 birds
counted from the area around River Farm Drive along the George
Washington Parkway, Fairfax Co, VA, on Oct 27. RUDDY DUCK numbers are
also swelling on the Potomac, with more than 100 birds spotted near
the Great Marsh area of Mason Neck on Oct 25. AMERICAN BLACK DUCKs are
also being reported in large numbers.

SNOW GEESE were present in abundance in DE this week, with many
thousands reported from fields between Rehoboth Beach and Prime Hook
NWR, on Oct 26.

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHes were reported from several locations in
northern VA, including Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, and Clifton
during the week.

Warbler sightings have dropped off sharply as migration winds down,
with only four species reported this week. In addition to the
CONNECTICUT WARBLER already mentioned, a PALM WARBLER was found at
Great Falls Park, Fairfax Co, VA, on Oct 21 and another was seen south
of Leesburg, VA, on Oct 25. A NASHVILLE WARBLER was spotted in Augusta
Co, VA, on Oct 22. And YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERs were reported in large
numbers from Loudoun Co, VA, over the weekend.

Up to 80 SAVANNAH SPARROWs were reported from Dulles Greenway Wetlands
over the weekend, and a single SAVANNAH SPARROW was spotted at
Lilypons, MD, on Oct 22.

Winter finches are beginning to show up, with an EVENING GROSBEAK
reported from a feeder in Monterey, Highland Co, VA, on Oct 23. A
PURPLE FINCH was spotted in Augusta Co, VA, on Oct 22.

There will be a reservations-only trip to Eastern Neck NWR, MD, and
nearby areas, on Sun, Nov 9; call the leader, Paul DuMont of
Arlington, at 703-931-8994, to reserve your spot.

To report bird sightings you can FAX your report to ANS at
301-951-7179, or call 301-652-9188, extension 3101 for a dedicated
answering machine at all hours. Internet users can e-mail reports to:
voice@capaccess.org. Thank you for calling and GOOD BIRDING.