Subj: [BIRDEAST] DC Area, 5/18/99 Date: 99-05-18 14:47:27 EDT From: scordle@CAPACCESS.ORG (Steve Cordle) Sender: BIRDEAST@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU (National Birding Hotline Cooperative (East)) Reply-to: scordle@CAPACCESS.ORG To: BIRDEAST@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist Date: 5/18/99 Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE Telephone: 301-652-1088 Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2 (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) !!Check www.sitesbysteve.com/nvbc/vguide.txt for guidelines on reporting your sightings!! This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon Naturalist Society. This tape was made Tuesday, May 18, at 1:30 pm. Please consider joining ANS, 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: MISSISSIPPI KITE in VA; MOURNING WARBLER in DC; WHITE-FACED IBIS and OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER in MD; and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE in DE. Other birds of interest include: COMMON LOON, LEAST BITTERN, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, BLACK-NECKED STILT, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, sandpipers, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, BLACK TERN, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, nightjars, WILLOW and LEAST FLYCATCHERs, SEDGE WREN, thrushes, vireos, warblers, BLUE and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKs, sparrows, DICKCISSEL, BOBOLINK, orioles, and tanagers. An adult WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen again southeast of Snow Hill, Worcester Co, MD [DeLorme Pg 27, B4], 11-12 a.m., Fri, May 14. Directions: From Snow Hill, take MD Rt 12 south, and after crossing US Rt 113, go 1.8 miles and turn left (east) on Cherrix Rd. After 1.3 miles, bear right on Truitts Landing Rd (unmarked). After 1 mile, continue onto a dirt road, which will lead through woods into a marsh. Look for the bird in a flock of Glossy Ibises. An adult MISSISSIPPI KITE was spotted flying over Huntley Meadows Pk, Fairfax Co, VA, the morning of May 16. It was seen again the following day, between about 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. Directions: From the parking lot, take the trail into the woods, then bear left at the fork. The bird was in the arm of the marsh that you will come to, on your right. Both a RED-NECKED and a WILSON'S PHALAROPE were spotted along DE Rt 16, Prime Hook NWR, the morning of May 16. Both birds were in breeding plumage. Directions: After crossing the small bridge on Rt 16, continue around the sharp curve to the left. The WILSON'S PHALAROPE was in the large pool on the right, at the gravel pull-off. The RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was in the marsh on the opposite side of the road. Four WILSON'S PHALAROPEs were on the back side of Raymond Pool, Bombay Hook NWR, DE, on May 15; they were seen from the base of the central tower in Little Creek Wildlife Area. Three WILSON'S PHALAROPEs and three BLACK TERNs were reported from the third dike at Craney Island, Portsmouth, VA, on May 17. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was spotted on snags in the parking lot at Violette's Lock, C&O Canal, Montgomery Co, MD, about 8 a.m., May 12. The same day, a WILLOW FLYCATCHER was seen at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD; it was at the back of the second impoundment on the right. A LEAST FLYCATCHER was frequenting the vicinity of the W&OD Trail and Glencarlyn Pk, Arlington, VA, on May 14. Two LEAST FLYCATCHERs and a single WILLOW FLYCATCHER were noted at Huntley Meadows Pk, VA, on May 16. A male MOURNING WARBLER was spotted at the upper end of Glencarlyn Pk, Arlington, VA, on May 17. The same day, a male MOURNING WARBLER was reported, second-hand, at a water feature in a yard in Wheaton, Montgomery Co, MD. A male MOURNING WARBLER was also spotted on Roosevelt Island, where the footbridge reaches the island, at about 6:30 a.m. on May 11. Sixteen other warbler species were also seen at Roosevelt Island that day. Thrushes were also well represented at Roosevelt Island, and at many other area locations, this past week. High counts at Roosevelt Island were two GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHes on May 14 and 16, and seven VEERYs and 18 SWAINSON'S THRUSHes on May 16. In DC, a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was seen at the War Memorial, south of the reflecting pool, on May 17. A total of 28 SWAINSON'S THRUSHes were noted along the W&OD Trail and in Glencarlyn Pk, VA, on May 14. In addition to thrushes, Roosevelt Island hosted SCARLET TANAGER and both BALTIMORE and ORCHARD ORIOLEs during the week. Four WARBLING VIREOs were noted there on May 16. A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was spotted in woods near Finis Pool, Bombay Hook NWR, DE, on May 15. Other vireos reported in our area this week included WHITE-EYED, RED-EYED, and YELLOW-THROATED. A BLACK-NECKED STILT was frequenting Allen's Fresh, Charles Co, MD, on May 15 and 16. A LEAST BITTERN was seen at Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA, on May 16. A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was heard singing on private property across River Road from the KPC Buddhist Temple, Poolesville, Montgomery Co, MD, on May 11. Another BLACK- BILLED CUCKOO was seen in Ashton, also in Montgomery Co, on May 14. Shorebird sightings included a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, along the wildlife drive, Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD, on May 16; and 14 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERs flying over fields 5 miles east of US Rt 301, off MD Rt 300, Queen Anne's Co, MD, on May 13. Small numbers of a variety of shorebirds, including SEMIPALMATED PLOVER; LESSER YELLOWLEGS; and SOLITARY, SPOTTED, LEAST, and PECTORAL SANDPIPERs were frequenting Huntley Meadows Pk, VA, during the week. COMMON NIGHTHAWKs were seen widely in evening skies. Reports included up to 20 birds spotted flying around the U.S. Capitol building, DC, on May 14. Other nightjar reports included a WHIP-POOR-WILL heard along Mt Ephraim Rd, near Sugarloaf Mtn, Frederick Co, MD, the morning of May 12, and WHIP-POOR-WILLs heard throughout the week in a backyard in Waldorf, Charles Co, MD. Rounding out the nightjar reports was a CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW, noted along Old Marshall Hall Rd, Accokeek, Prince George's Co, MD, on May 12. Up to five DICKCISSELs and numerous BOBOLINKs were observed in the vicinity of the intersection of Lilypons and Oland Rds, southern Frederick Co, MD, on May 16. Also there that day were a VESPER SPARROW and four GRASSHOPPER SPARROWs. More than 60 BOBOLINKs were observed at the NIH Animal Ctr, Poolesville, Montgomery Co, MD, on May 11. An immature male BLUE GROSBEAK and a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW were noted along Triadelphia Lake Rd, near Sunshine, eastern Montgomery Co, MD, on May 15 and 16. BOBOLINKs were also seen at this spot, on May 16, and in Ashton, MD, on May 15. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was seen on the border of "sparrow swamp", along the W&OD Trail, Arlington, VA, on May 17. A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and a VESPER SPARROW were noted in the Lucketts area, Loudoun Co, VA, on May 15; the GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was along Rt 656 (Hibler Rd), and the VESPER SPARROW along Rt 661, near the equestrian center. Other sparrow reports this week included a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW on private property across River Road from the KPC Buddhist Temple, Poolesville, MD, on May 12. A SEDGE WREN was heard singing in a marsh opposite Pickering Beach, Little Creek Wildlife Area, DE, on May 15. Ten SUMMER TANAGERs were noted at and near a nature preserve along Bear Swamp Rd at Wango Rd, behind the Salisbury, MD, airport, on May 16. Another SUMMER TANAGER was noted on private property across River Rd from the Buddhist Temple, Poolesville, MD, on May 12. Two ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKs were frequenting a feeder in Springfield, VA, during the week. A total of 32 warbler species were reported this week. Highlights included a WILSON'S WARBLER at the War Memorial, south of the reflecting pool, DC, on May 17; and a CONNECTICUT WARBLER at the entrance to Dickerson Regional Park, Dickerson, Montgomery Co, MD, on May 11. Sixteen warbler species were noted between Violette's and Pennyfield Locks, C&O Canal, Montgomery Co, MD, on May 15. Small numbers of COMMON LOONs and wintering ducks were still being reported. Sightings included a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER at Seneca Creek St Pk, Montgomery Co, MD, on May 12. *Of interest to the Maryland/DC Avian Records Committee. See Species Review List, at www.mdbirds.org/mddcrc/rcreview.html. Submit documentation to: mddcrc@mdbirds.org. There will be a walk at ANS' Webb Sanctuary, Clifton, VA, on Thurs, May 20; call the leader, Cliff Fairweather of Clifton, at 703-803-8400 (o), for more information. There will be a 2-hour walk for beginning birders on Sat, May 22; meet at Cleveland Park Metro, DC, at 9 a.m. The trip to DE coastal areas that also was scheduled for Sat, May 22, has been cancelled. There will be a reservations-only walk at Little Bennett Regional Park, MD, on Sun, May 23; call the leader, Dick Cleveland of Gaithersburg, at 301-926-7109, to secure your place. There will be a walk at Hughes Hollow/Sycamore Landing, MD, on Wed, May 26; call the leader, Mike Bowen of Bethesda, at 301-530-5764, for more information. There will be a reservations-only walk at Nolan's Ferry/Lily Pons, MD, on Sat, May 29; call the leader, Ann Mitchell of Rohrersville, MD, at 301-432-2021, to reserve your spot. There will be a walk at Chinquapin Park, VA, on Sat, May 29; call the leader, Ginny McNair of Fairlington, at 703-820- 8376 (o), for more information. An upcoming pelagic in our region will depart Lewes, DE, for MD and DE waters on Sat, June 19; call FONT, at 1-800- 362-0869, for information and reservations. To report bird sightings, you can email your report to voice@capaccess.org, or fax it to ANS at 301-951-7179. You may also report by calling 301-652-1088 and selecting menu option #2. Please post email reports before midnight Monday, and be sure to include your name and a Tuesday morning phone number. Thank you for calling, and GOOD BIRDING. ____________________________________________________________________ Todd Day BlkVulture@aol.com Jeffersonton, VA