> -----Original Message-----
> From:  [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 4:19 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 8/31/04
>
>
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               8/31/04
> 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, August 31, at 1
p.m.
>
> Top birds this week are *WHITE-FACED STORM PETREL in MD and
> CURLEW SANDPIPER in DE.
>
> Other birds of interest include assorted seabirds, LITTLE
> BLUE and TRICOLORED HERONS, EURASIAN WIGEON, BROAD-WINGED
> HAWK, SANDHILL CRANE, shorebirds including UPLAND, BAIRD'S,
> and BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, BRIDLED and other TERNS,
> EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, OLIVE-SIDED
> FLYCATCHER, SEDGE WREN, GOLDEN-WINGED and other warblers,
> LARK SPARROW, and BOBOLINK.
>
> The highlight of an Aug 28 pelagic out of Lewes, DE, was a
> *WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL. In MD waters, it was well seen by
> all aboard.
>
> A molting CURLEW SANDPIPER was seen briefly at Raymond Pool,
> Bombay Hook NWR, DE, on Aug 28.
>
> The Aug 28 pelagic from Lewes also garnered CORY'S and
> AUDUBON'S SHEARWATERS, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, and RED-NECKED
> PHALAROPE, as well as BLACK and BRIDLED TERNS. An overnight
> fishing trip out of Lewes Aug 26/27 tallied SOUTH POLAR SKUA
> and LONG-TAILED JAEGER, as well as ARCTIC TERN. Five
> RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were found during fishing trip out of
> Ocean City, Worcester Co, MD, on Aug 24.
>
> An immature LITTLE BLUE HERON was still at Huntley Meadows
> Park, Fairfax Co, VA, Aug 30. Seven TRICOLORED HERONS were
> discovered Aug 28 at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center,
> Grasonville, Queen Anne's Co, MD. On Aug 24, 3 TRICOLORED
> HERONS frequented the mudflats behind the Ocean City marina
> (between 21st and 22nd Sts).
>
> On Aug 28, a EURASIAN WIGEON became the 281st species on the
> list at Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD.
>
> On Aug 29, 61 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS passed over the Rockfish Gap
> hawk watch at Afton, Augusta Co, VA. That same day, the hawk
> watch at Snickers Gap on the Clarke/Loudoun Co, VA, line,
> tallied 32 BROAD-WINGS.
>
> A SANDHILL CRANE was spotted Aug 26 as it flew over Rte 81,
> north of Roanoke, VA.
>
> The ANS Shorebird Workshop Aug 28 and 29 identified 24
> species of shorebird at Bombay Hook, including AMERICAN
> GOLDEN-PLOVER, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, and
> WILSON'S PHALAROPE.
>
> This week birders looked unsuccessfully for the Curlew
> Sandpiper at Assateague Island SP, Worcester Co--but on Aug
> 25 the consolation prize came in the form of 2 BUFF-BREASTED
> SANDPIPERS. Also in the vicinity this week were BLACK-BELLIED
> and PIPING PLOVERS, RED KNOT, and BLACK TERN. On Aug 28, the
> ORV zone at Assateague Island National Seashore held a
> WILSON'S PHALAROPE.
>
> At Craney Island, Portsmouth, VA, shorebirds on Aug 27
> included AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER as well as UPLAND, BAIRD'S,
> and BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, HUDSONIAN and MARBLED GODWITS,
> and WILSON'S PHALAROPE.
>
> Two AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were found Aug 28 just south of
> Hurlock, Dorchester Co, MD; they--and many KILLDEER--were in
> a large plowed field on Rte 331.
>
> AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were seen Aug 28 and 29 in sod farm
> fields along Bristow Rd, south of the Manassas Airport,
> Prince William Co, VA. These fields are best viewed from a
> gravel road (Split Oak Lane) at the north end, especially in
> the afternoon; be very careful not to trespass on this property.
>
> A BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was found Aug 28 on the limited-access
> Dulles Wetlands territory, Loudoun Co.
>
> At the Mason-Dixon Farm off Harney Rd near Emmitsburg,
> Frederick Co, MD, the east pond held a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER,
> along with 7 other species of shorebird, Aug 27 and 29.
>
> At Hog Island State WMA, Surry Co, VA, fields across from the
> last observation platform featured 4 UPLAND and 2
> BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS on Aug 27, and 3 BUFF-BREASTEDS Aug 29.
>
> A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was found Aug 28 at the Salisbury
> turf farm, Wicomoco Co, MD. Shorebirds are also gathering at
> Lake Roland and Paper Mill flats, both in Baltimore Co.
>
> A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was spotted Aug 26 in Isle of Wight
> Co, VA; it sat on wires near the intersection of Longview Dr
> and Oliver Dr. By Aug 29, the  number of COLLARED-DOVES at
> this location had swelled to 5. [This is a heavily trafficked
> area lined with residences and no place to park; the
> recommended mode of viewing is a relatively slow
> drive past.]
>
> COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were noted at Rock Creek Park, NW DC; in
> Montgomery Co and Howard Co, MD; and, in VA, at Ft. F. C.
> Smith, Arlington, and
> Van Dyck Park in Fairfax City.
>
> An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was sighted at Rock Creek Park, NW
> DC, Aug 26; it was on a snag at the entrance to the
> Maintenance Yard. On Aug 28, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was
> found at the Blue Ridge Center in Loudoun Co, along the power
> line cut. On Aug 29, one was spotted at the Dulles Wetlands.
>
> A SEDGE WREN was still present in Augusta Co, VA (in a field
> along Rte 876 near its intersection with Rte 602) on Aug 26,
> but there was no
> sign of this species by Aug 29.
>
> The warbler story is one of nice variety but small numbers.
> GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was again seen in Rock Creek Park, NW
> DC, Aug 30, near the police stables. On Aug 25, a
> GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was seen in Rock Creek Park near Lake
> Needwood in Montgomery Co. And a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was
> banded at Kiptopeke SP, Northampton Co, VA, Aug 30.
>
> Small flocks of warblers were also reported from Little
> Bennett RP, Montgomery Co, and the New York Monuments area of
> Manassas National Battlefield Park, Prince William Co.
>
> A LARK SPARROW was tracked down on Assateague Island National
> Seashore Aug 28; it was first seen at the eastern part of the
> campground, then along the B loop.
>
> A flock of 45 BOBOLINKS was flitting along Port Mahon Rd,
> Little Creek, DE, on Aug 30.
>
> Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOSPREY,
> VA-Bird, and Delaware Birds list servers.
>
> Claudia Wilds's book, Finding Birds in the National Capital
> Area, is an excellent source of directions to many birding
> sites. And the ANS Bookstore is an excellent source for this
> and many other nature-related titles: 301-652-3606.
>
> 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, identify the county and
> state, and include your name and a Tuesday morning phone number.
>
> Thank you for calling, and GOOD BIRDING.
>
> * Of interest to the MD/DC Records Committee. For more
> information, visit www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html.
>