DC Area, 5/26/98
scordle (scordle@tidalwave.net)
Tue, 26 May 1998 17:22:58 -0400
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 5/26/98
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088
Reports (voice): 301-652-9188 x3101
(fax): 301-951-7179
(email): voice@capaccess.org
(deadline): midnight mondays
Compiler: Jane Hill
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle (scordle@capaccess.org)
!*^*!*^*!A number of reports were not included this week
because they were not emailed until Tuesday morning: please email
by midnight Monday, and don't forget to include your Tuesday
morning telephone number!*^*!*^*!
This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the
Audubon Naturalist Society. This tape was made Tue, May 26, at
2:30 pm. Please consider joining the Society, especially if you
are a regular user of the Voice (Indiv.$30; Family $40; Nature
Steward $60; Audubon Advocate $100). The membership number is
above,the address is 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815,
and the website is http://www.AudubonNaturalist.org.
Top birds this week are: PACIFIC LOON in DC; WESTERN GREBE
in VA; MISSISSIPPI KITE in MD and VA; and SWALLOW-TAILED KITE in
DE.
Other birds of interest include: LEAST BITTERN, WHITE IBIS,
WHIMBREL, DUNLIN, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, BLACK TERN, LEAST TERN,
RINGED TURTLE DOVE, GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, warblers, and
DICKCISSEL.
Two water birds from western North America spurred local
birders afield this week. The rarer of the two was a PACIFIC
LOON in nearly full breeding plumage, spotted in the Washington
Boundary Channel from East Potomac Park (Hains Pt), SW DC, early
on the morning of May 25. The loon was observed by numerous
birders later that day and throughout the morning of May 26.
Directions to this spot from some DC locations are given on pp.
62-63 of Claudia Wilds' book, "Finding Birds in the National
Capital Area." If you are coming down GW Pkway from the Beltway,
stay left at the signs for the airport and then get in the right
lane to exit at I-395 North. As you cross 14th St Bridge into
DC, you'll need to make another tricky exit from the right lane
as you follow the brown signs for Potomac Park. Once off I-395,
go left at the first stop sign and right at the second stop sign.
This road becomes Ohio Dr, a one-way, clockwise loop around the
point. You will see the channel on your left. Begin searching
the channel when you see the boat marina and restaurants on the
other side. There will be a red brick smokestack on the skyline.
The loon has been seen from there on down southward, almost to
the point, opposite the largest of the War College buildings.
The bird was most recently reported opposite Ft McNair. The bird
has sometimes not been visible, so your patience may be rewarded.
Remember that if the bird is close to the near side of the
channel, it may not be visible from the road. Also note that the
loop drive is closed to vehicles from 3 pm onward on weekends.
The other bird from the West this week was a WESTERN GREBE,
first reported from Lake Thoreau, Reston, Fairfax Co, VA [ADC No.
VA Street Map Pg 6, E-F, 6-7], on May 21. It was observed
closely by numerous birders every day after that, with the most
recent report for 7:45 am on May 26. From the DC Beltway, take
the Dulles Toll Rd (Rt 267) to Exit 13, Wiehle Ave (Rt 828).
After exiting and passing through the toll gate, turn left
(south) at the "T" intersection. At the first stoplight, turn
left (east) on Sunrise Valley Dr. Go about five blocks and turn
right on So Lakes Dr. You'll see So Lakes Shopping Ctr on your
right. Turn right on Harbor Ct, into the shopping center, and
park at the south end. Walk south on So Lakes Dr to a dam on
Lake Thoreau. Look west, towards the large end of the lake. You
may want to go early in the day so you will not be looking into
the sun. The grebe has also been seen from nearby locations,
including Lakeport Way at Lakespray Way. Please observe "private
property" signs posted around the lake.
Kites have been showing up in our region with some frequency
lately. This week, a SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was seen flying
northward, in the company of several Laughing Gulls, over Rodney
Ave in Dewey Beach, DE, on May 20. The bird was not relocated.
MISSISSIPPI KITEs were also reported this week. Closest to DC
was a bird spotted over Huntley Meadows Pk, Fairfax Co, VA, on
May 25. Two immature MISSISSIPPI KITEs were seen at Ft Smallwood
Pk, Anne Arundel Co, MD, on May 22. And two MISSISSIPPI KITEs
were reported from the tip of the Eastern Shore, Northampton Co,
VA, on May 23. Five WHITE IBISes were also reported from this
southern VA location that day.
A LEAST TERN was seen for the second year in a row at
Patuxent Research Refuge, North Tract, Anne Arundel Co, MD, with
sightings from the Wildlife Viewing Area on May 24 and 25. A
LEAST BITTERN was observed at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD,
on May 23. Another LEAST BITTERN and two BLACK TERNs were
spotted by a canoeist paddling in the marshes at Dyke Marsh,
Alexandria, VA, also on May 23. Two more BLACK TERNs were
frequenting Bombay Hook NWR, DE, on May 22.
WHIMBREL were counted in record numbers at Hart-Miller Is,
Baltimore Co, MD, with 242 birds tallied on May 23. DUNLIN
numbers also hit a record there that day, with more than 2,300
birds tallied. At least 15 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERs were spotted
at Craney Is, Portsmouth, VA, on May 22, and two WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPERs were noted in Snow Goose Pool, as seen from the Marsh
Trail, Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA, the same day.
Migrating warblers are still being reported widely.
Highlights this week included several reports of MOURNING
WARBLER: a singing male at Monticello Pk, Alexandria, VA, on May
20; a singing bird at Wakefield Pk, Fairfax Co, VA, each day from
May 23 through 25; a singing bird at Pennyfield Lock, C&O Canal,
Montgomery Co, MD, on May 25; and another bird at Battery Kemble
Pk, NW DC, on May 23.
CANADA WARBLERs were also noted widely, with a report of a
single bird at Monticello Pk on May 20; five birds at Wakefield
Pk, VA, on May 23 and 14 birds there the following day; a single
bird in a backyard in Fairfax, Fairfax Co, VA, on May 25; and
another single bird at Battery Kemble Pk, DC, on May 23.
Battery Kemble Pk also hosted a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, a
TENNESSEE WARBLER, a BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, and more than 15
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERs on May 23. BLACKPOLL WARBLERs are still
much in evidence throughout our region.
A DICKCISSEL was singing from the top of the sign to Bear
Swamp, just past Shearness Pool, Bombay Hook NWR, DE, on May 24.
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH reports included two birds singing at
Lubber Run Pk, Arlington, VA, on May 23; and one bird singing at
Wakefield Pk, VA, on May 22.
Escaped bird of the week is a RINGED TURTLE DOVE, seen
behind Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax Co, VA, on May 21.
An upcoming pelagic trip in our region will depart VA Beach,
VA, on Jun 7; call Brian Patteson at 703-765-4484, for
information.
There will be a reservations-only walk at Huntley Meadows
Pk, VA, on Sat, May 30; call the leader, Ed Eder of Alexandria,
at 703-360-7994, to secure your spot. There will be a
reservations-only trip to DE coastal refuges on Sun, May 31; call
the leader, Paul DuMont of Arlington, at 703-931-8994, to reserve
your place. There will be a reservations-only trip to Shenandoah
Natl Pk, VA, on Sat, Jun 6; call the leader, Kerrie Kirkpatrick
of Falls Church, at 703-560-4950, to secure 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
email reports to: voice@capaccess.org. Thank you for calling,
and GOOD BIRDING.