> -----Original Message-----
> From:  [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 2:37 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 4/13/04
> 
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               4/13/04
> Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
> Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
> Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
>         (email):     
>      (deadline):    midnight Mondays
> Compiler:           Lydia Schindler
> Sponsor:            Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
>                       Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
> Transcriber:        Steve Cordle ()
> 
> Please consider joining ANS, especially if you are a regular 
> user of the Voice (Individual $30; Family $40; Nature Steward 
> $60; Audubon Advocate $100). 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 tape was made Tuesday, April 13, at 3
p.m.
> 
> Top birds this week are AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN and 
> SWALLOW-TAILED KITE in MD.
> 
> Other birds of interest include COMMON LOON, RED-NECKED 
> GREBE, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, TRICOLORED HERON, waterfowl, 
> raptors, rails, RUFF, FRANKLIN'S and other GULLS, CHIMNEY 
> SWIFT, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, PURPLE MARTIN, ROUGH-WINGED 
> SWALLOW, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, woodpeckers, WINTER and SEDGE 
> WRENS, HERMIT THRUSH, warblers, VESPER, LINCOLN'S, and other 
> sparrows, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, PURPLE FINCH, 
> and PINE SISKIN.
>  
> Two AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen April 11, flying over 
> Fort Washington, Prince George's Co, MD; they were headed SE 
> towards Piscataway Creek. 
> 
> A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was reported April 9 from Blackwater 
> NWR, Dorchester Co, MD. It was seen over an open field from a 
> point about midway between the two ends of Old Field Road, 
> which in turn is about 3 miles north of Key Wallace Drive and 
> the Visitor Center.
> 
> Good numbers of COMMON LOONS again congregated on inland 
> bodies of water, including 20 at Loch Raven Reservoir, 
> Baltimore Co, April 8, and 28 on the North East River, Cecil 
> Co, MD, April 10. 
> 
> A RED-NECKED GREBE was spotted April 8 on Seneca Creek near 
> Riley's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD; two RED-NECKED GREBES were 
> found at nearby Violette's Lock Apr 9. Two were present Apr 7 
> on the Georgetown Reservoir, NE DC, and two were again seen 
> at Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel Co, MD. Also Apr 9, 7 
> RED-NECKED GREBES were seen on Liberty Lake in Baltimore Co.
> 
> On Apr 10, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS by the hundreds were 
> fishing up and down the Potomac in the vicinity of Little 
> Falls Dam; from Turkey Run Park, Fairfax Co, VA, many could 
> be seen sitting on nests. Earlier that morning some 175 
> DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS created a feeding frenzy in tiny 
> Woodglen Lake in Fairfax Co.  
> 
> A TRICOLORED HERON was an unusual find for Prince George's 
> Co; it was seen April 9 in a limited-access area of Jug Bay's 
> Patuxent River Park. A TRICOLORED HERON was seen April 9 at 
> Indian River Inlet, DE. 
> 
> A SURF SCOTER and 3 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were observed from 
> Hains Point, SW DC, on the morning of April 11. LONG-TAILED 
> DUCKS also dropped in at Black Hill Regional Park, Montgomery 
> Co, Apr 11 and at Liberty Lake in Carroll Co, MD, Apr 10, as 
> well as North East Park in Cecil Co, April 11. 
> 
> Five HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen at Island #4 of the CBB/T, 
> Northampton Co, VA, April 8. 
> 
> The Fort Smallwood hawk watch in Anne Arundel Co enjoyed an 
> extraordinary tally April 7, with  more than 500 
> hawks--including 193 SHARP-SHINNED,102 COOPER'S, 54 
> RED-SHOULDERED, 26 BROAD-WINGED, and 80 RED-TAILED HAWKS, as 
> well as 76 AMERICAN KESTRELS. On Apr 9, they registered 387
KESTRELS.
> 
> A KING RAIL was encountered at the Julie Metz Wetlands Bank, 
> Pr William Co, Apr 10. Observers granted special access to 
> the Dulles Greenway WMP, Loudoun Co, found 3 VIRGINIA RAILS 
> and a SORA early on the morning of April 10. 
> 
> A RUFF was seen Apr 7 at Patuxent River Park. On April 8, 
> this area produced a breeding-plumaged FRANKLIN'S GULL and on 
> April 10, a likely LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. On April 10, a 
> LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at the Bladensburg marina, 
> Pr George's Co, and one was found at
> Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, April 11.   
> 
> On April 9 and 10, 2 or 3 LITTLE GULLS could be found in a 
> vast flock of BONAPARTE'S GULLS in the Back River at Diamond 
> Point, Baltimore Co, downstream of the Eastern Ave Bridge. A 
> possible immature ICELAND GULL was noted Apr 11 at North East
Park.
> 
> CHIMNEY SWIFTS appeared at multiple locations, including 
> Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, NE DC, and Alexandria and Fort 
> Belvoir, Fairfax Co, all on Apr 10, and Bethesda, Montgomery 
> Co, Apr 11. Other spring arrivals include BLUE-HEADED VIREO, 
> PURPLE MARTIN, ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER.
> 
> A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues at KAG. Five RED-HEADED 
> WOODPECKERS and eight YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS were tallied 
> at Huntley Meadows Apr 10. 
> 
> WINTER WRENS, many of them singing, have been noted, 
> including one near the FDR Memorial, SW DC, April 7. Well to 
> our south, 5 SEDGE WRENS were singing at Back Bay NWR in 
> Virginia Beach--but views were hard to come by.
> 
> HERMIT THRUSHES have also been raising their voices in song.  
> 
> Warbler sightings are accelerating, with multiple reports of 
> PINE and PALM WARBLERS and singing LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES. 
> In the District, the ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was still at the 
> National Arboretum Apr10, while the overwintering NASHVILLE 
> WARBLER was found there Apr 11. On
> Apr 11 a NORTHERN PARULA turned up at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

> 
> The YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS on the Capital Crescent Trail 
> north of Fletcher's boathouse, NW DC, were enjoyed again 
> April 10. That same day, further north along the C&O Canal in 
> Montgomery Co, a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was singing in the 
> vicinity of Cabin John (MP 7.5). YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS 
> were also singing in Pr William Co--at Leesylvania SP and in 
> the mix of 7 species found in the Possum Point Rd area, along 
> with BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and OVENBIRD.
> 
> CHIPPING SPARROWS are on the scene, too. 
> 
> Four VESPER SPARROWS  spotted along Elmer Schoolhouse Rd on 
> April 8 were among 9 sparrow species found that day in far 
> northwestern Montgomery Co. A VESPER SPARROW was found at 
> Patapsco Valley SP, Catonsville, Baltimore Co, April 9.
> 
> A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was found April 10 in the vicinity of 
> Allen's Fresh, Charles Co, MD. 
> 
> EASTERN MEADOWLARKS and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were noted at 
> several locations. 
> 
> There are still lots of PURPLE FINCHES around, stoking up at 
> feeders not only in backyards but also at Huntley Meadows 
> Park and the Nat Arboretum. A feeder in Ijamsville, Frederick 
> Co, hosted a leucistic PURPLE FINCH, pure white on the upper 
> parts and bill--but with a lovely pale rose wash over the 
> breast, vent, and upper tail coverts. 
> 
> PURPLE FINCHES were accompanied by PINE SISKINS at feeders in 
> western Loudoun Co as well as, in MD, in Howard, Kent, and Talbot
Cos.
> 
> Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the 
> MDOSPREY and VA-Bird list servers.
>  
> Claudia Wilds' book, "Finding Birds in the National Capital 
> Area," is an excellent source of directions to many birding sites.
> 
> To report bird sightings, you can e-mail your report to 
>  You may also report by calling 
> 301-652-1088 and selecting menu option 2. Please post e-mail 
> reports before midnight Monday, and be sure to include your 
> name and a Tuesday morning phone number. 
> 
> Thank you for calling, and GOOD BIRDING. 
> 

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