[MDOsprey] (Fwd) DC Area, 12/14/99
Norm Saunders (osprey@ARI.Net)
Wed, 15 Dec 1999 04:05:50 -0500
------- Forwarded message follows -------
From: scordle@capaccess.org
To: birdeast@listserv.arizona.edu
Subject: DC Area, 12/14/99
Date sent: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 15:46:24 -0500
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 12/14/99
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(fax): 301-951-7179
(email): voice@capaccess.org
(deadline): midnight mondays
Compiler: Lydia Schindler
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 Tuesday, Dec 14,
at 3:00 pm.
Top birds this week are SNOWY OWL in DE, NORTHERN SHRIKE in
MD and VA, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in VA, and HARRIS' SPARROW* in both
MD and VA.
Other birds of interest include: DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT,
AMERICAN BITTERN, ducks, including COMMON TEAL, ROUGH-LEGGED
HAWK, BALD and GOLDEN EAGLES, NORTHERN HARRIER, NORTHERN
BOBWHITE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, SHORT-EARED OWL, HORNED LARK,
SWAINSON'S THRUSH, COMMON RAVEN, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, BREWER'S
BLACKBIRD, sparrows, DICKCISSEL, SNOW BUNTING, and PURPLE FINCH.
The SNOWY OWL discovered Dec 5 on Port Mahon Rd, Little
Creek Wildlife Area, DE, has been seen throughout the week, with
the most recent reports from Dec 13. The bird has been perching
atop a pole near the old bait shop or on a pile of rubble behind
the bait shop. Be mindful of owl etiquette, and view the bird
from a discreet distance.
An immature NORTHERN SHRIKE has been observed repeatedly
this week in western Fairfax Co, VA. The bird frequents a field
on Bull Run Post Office Road, 2.8 miles north of Rte 29 (ADC 10,
H7-8). A gravel driveway on the right leaves room to pull off and
park, but this is private property; please don't block the gate
or enter the field.
Bull Run Post Office Rd turned into something of a hotspot
this week. The field with the Northern Shrike also holds NORTHERN
HARRIERS and, near dawn and dusk, up to 5 SHORT-EARED OWLS. Just
a little further along the road, a HARRIS'S SPARROW was discovered
Dec 10, and it's been seen repeatedly through Dec 13. The sparrow
is sometimes in a field on the west side of the road, between the
mailbox at 6001 and the pulloff by the power line. Other birds
found nearby include NORTHERN BOBWHITE and AMERICAN WOODCOCK as
well as WHITE-CROWNED and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and PURPLE
FINCH.
Another HARRIS'S SPARROW* continues to visit a yard in
Sykesville, Carroll Co, MD, with reports through Dec 11.
Yet another NORTHERN SHRIKE,* this time an adult, was
spotted Dec 11 north of Thurmont, Frederick Co, MD. The bird was
hunting a field behind the "T" intersection where Orndorff Rd
runs into Old Frederick Rd (DeLorme 72, B3).
Where there used to be one RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in Vienna,
Fairfax Co, now there are two. These birds are visiting feeders
throughout the day at 2503 Jackson Parkway. From the intersection
of Gallows Rd with Cottage St, take Cottage west 2 blocks, turn
right on Drexel, and drive north 4 blocks to Stonewall Drive, a
stop sign. Turn left on Stonewall. A short block will bring you
to Jackson Parkway, where you again turn left. Please remember
this is private property.
A flock of 13 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS was reported from
the Tidal Basin, DC, on Dec 11; this is an unusually high number
so late in the year. A group of 4 cormorants was seen at
Anacostia River Park, DC, on Dec 7.
Waterfowl reports this week included 13 species at Black
Hill Regional Park, Montgomery Co, MD. Ducks at Lake Frank,
Rockville, also in Montgomery Co, included CANVASBACKS and
AMERICAN WIGEON as well as HOODED MERGANSERS. At Dyke Marsh,
Fairfax Co, birders spotted GREEN-WINGED TEAL and BUFFLEHEAD.
A COMMON TEAL--the Eurasian form of Green-winged Teal--was
seen in the rear pond at Vaughn WMA near Girdletree, Worcester
Co, MD, Dec 11 and 12. This hereabouts uncommmon teal shows a
horizontal white bar rather than a vertical stripe on the side.
Port Mahon Rd in DE showcased several birds of interest this
week, in addition to the Snowy Owl. An AMERICAN BITTERN put in an
appearance Dec 11, alongside the road, just past the tank farm,
approaching the first small bridge. One, sometimes two, ROUGH-
LEGGED HAWKS have been seen along Port Mahon Rd between Dec 7 and
13. One or the other bird is often perched on a utility pole or
hovering over the marshy fields. As many as 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS
have been quartering the fields, in daylight, while NORTHERN
HARRIER numbers there may reach 20 or more.
Closer to home, a dark-morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was located
near Luckett's, Loudon Co, VA, Dec 11. The bird was seen from Rte
661 (Limestone Rd), 0.8 mile southwest of the intersection of 661
with Rte 656 (Hibler Rd). The hawk was in a field with 2 new
white houses, on the NW side of the road.
A juvenile GOLDEN EAGLE was identified at Bombay Hook NWR,
DE, Dec 11. This bird, along with a juvenile BALD EAGLE, was seen
at Shearness Pool, in flight and perched in trees at the far back
side.
A report of AMERICAN WOODCOCKS, peenting and displaying,
came from Brandywine, Prince George's Co, MD.
A SWAINSON'S THRUSH was discovered at Brookside Gardens in
Wheaton, Montgomery Co, on the morning of Dec 12. More seasonable
HERMIT THRUSHES have been reported from several locations.
A COMMON RAVEN was spotted flying over Amissville,
Rappahannock Co, VA, on Dec 9.
Six or seven BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS were found near Leipsic,
DE, south of Bombay Hook, Dec 8. The blackbirds were along Texas
Rd, in a barnyard filled with cows. About 1.5 miles further down
the road, a corn stubble field on the left held a flock of 50 to
60 SNOW BUNTINGS, along with a smattering of HORNED LARKS and
MEADOWLARKS.
An adult female DICKCISSEL made an unexpected appearance at
Lake Elkhorn, south of Columbia, Howard Co, MD, on Dec 9, and was
found again on Dec 10. It was in vegetation near the edge of the
water on the north side of the lake, not far from the dam. It was
in the company of a couple dozen House Sparrows.
To report bird sightings, you can e-mail 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 e-mail reports before 10 am Tuesday, and be sure to
include your name and a Tuesday morning phone number. Thank you
for calling, and GOOD BIRDING.
*Of interest to the MD/DC Avian Records Committee. For more
information, visit: http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcreview.html
------- End of forwarded message -------
===============
Norm Saunders
Colesville, MD
osprey@ari.net