> -----Original Message-----
> From:  [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 5:56 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 10/26/04
> 
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               10/26/04
> 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, Oct 26, at 6 p.m.
> 
> Top birds this week are SWAINSON'S HAWK, SELASPHORUS 
> HUMMINGBIRD, and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD in VA and *KELP GULL 
> and *LAZULI BUNTING in MD.
> 
> Other birds of interest include GEESE including ROSS'S and 
> CACKLING, BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, MERLIN, 
> KING and VIRGINIA RAILS, HUDSONIAN and MARBLED GODWITS, RED 
> PHALAROPE, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, 
> WESTERN KINGBIRD, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, 
> BICKNELL'S THRUSH, AMERICAN PIPIT, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, 
> SPARROWS including AMERICAN TREE, CLAY-COLORED, VESPER, 
> HENSLOW'S, NELSON'S and SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED, SEASIDE, and 
> FOX, DICKCISSEL, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, PURPLE FINCH, and PINE SISKIN.
> 
> An adult light-morph SWAINSON'S HAWK flew over the hawk watch 
> at Kiptopeke SP, Northampton Co, VA, on Oct 22.
> 
> Maryland's *KELP GULL--showing some wear--was seen at its 
> usual haunt behind the Sea Breeze Crab House, Sandgates, St. 
> Mary's Co, on the morning of Oct 22. 
> 
> A SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRD is visiting a feeder in James City 
> County, near Williamsburg, VA. This is possibly the same 
> bird, banded as a female Rufous in Jan 2002, that has been 
> observed there during the past three winters. 
> 
> A *LAZULI BUNTING was a surprise find on Maryland's Eastern 
> Shore Oct 24. The Bunting provided several excellent looks as 
> it flew in and out of a hedgerow at an orchard in Somerset 
> Co, west of Pokomoke City. Despite diligent searching, 
> however, it could not be relocated on Oct 25.
> 
> A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was again found in Henrico Co, east 
> of Richmond, Oct 21. It was among large flocks, mostly 
> Cowbirds, moving around the area of Curles Neck Farm, on the 
> east side of Turkey Island Rd just south of Rte 5. 
> 
> Early on Oct 25, a large flock of geese at Great Oak Pond, 
> near Melitota in Kent Co, MD, held 1 adult ROSS'S GOOSE and 3 
> CACKLING GEESE. They were joined by a HUDSONIAN GODWIT.
> 
> A ROSS'S GOOSE was seen Oct 25 at the Easton WWTP, Talbot Co, 
> MD, and a family of 5 ROSS'S GEESE was observed along 
> Broadkill Beach Rd, DE, Oct 23. Another CACKLING GOOSE was 
> reported from the Eastern Shore NWR, Kent Co. 
> 
> An adult Black (Western) BRANT was found Oct 23 in a flock of 
> BRANT feeding at the campground at Indian River Inlet, DE.
> 
> An in-town BALD EAGLE was in the vicinity of Walter Reed Army 
> Hospital, near 16th and S Sts, NE, on Oct 23.
> 
> Snicker's Gap Hawk Watch (on the Loudoun/Clarke Co VA line) 
> enjoyed a banner day on Oct 23. The 457 raptors counted that 
> day included 1 GOLDEN EAGLE and 6 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS. The 
> Kiptopeke Hawk Watch inaugurated its GOLDEN EAGLE season with 
> 1 bird on Oct 23 and 2 on Oct 25.
> 
> A KING RAIL was heard at Occoquan NWR, Prince William Co, VA, 
> Oct 23. A VIRGINIA RAIL was present at Lilypons Water 
> Gardens, Frederick Co, MD, Oct 22, in the large impoundment 
> near the pink house. 
> 
> On Oct 23, both MARBLED and HUDSONIAN GODWITS could be found 
> at Raymond Pool, Bombay Hook NWR, DE.
> 
> A RED PHALAROPE was flying and feeding off Island #4 at 
> CBB/T, Northampton Co, on Oct 23. 
> 
> A first-winter BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE flew by the mouth of 
> Indian River at close range, early on Oct 23.
> 
> Between 30 and 50 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS flew past the Turkey 
> Point Hawk Watch, Cecil Co, MD, Oct 24. Several RED-HEADED 
> WOODPECKERS were observed Oct 23 at Huntley Meadows Park, 
> Fairfax Co, VA. On Oct 23, an immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER 
> visited a feeder in Howard Co, MD. Another RED-HEADED 
> WOODPECKER did not fare so well; it was seen Oct 19 in the 
> talons of MERLIN in Darnestown, Montgomery Co, MD.
>  
> A WESTERN KINGBIRD was again seen on wires less than a mile 
> north of the Eastern Shore of VA NWR, Northampton Co, on Oct 
> 22. One or more CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS were also visiting the
refuge.
> 
> A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was reported from the parking lot at the 
> Blue Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery Co, Oct 22. A PHILADELPHIA 
> VIREO and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER were good finds at 
> Assateague Island's oceanside campground, Somerset Co, MD, Oct 24.

> 
> RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES showed up in yards in Cape St. 
> Claire, Anne Arundel Co, MD; Colesville, Montgomery Co; and 
> Arlington Co, VA. 
> 
> Birders at Hope House in Talbot Co enjoyed prolonged scope 
> views of a BICKNELL'S THRUSH on Oct 24.
> 
> Some 80 AMERICAN PIPITS festooned utility wires along Harney 
> Rd, west of the Monocacy River, in northern Frederick Co Oct 
> 22. On Oct 23, PIPITS were seen at Kenilworth Gardens, NE DC. 
> In Prince William Co, PIPITS were in evidence at the 
> privately owned North Fork Wetlands and at the pond on Belvoir Rd.

> 
> Reports of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER came from Audrey Carroll 
> Audubon Sanctuary, Frederick Co, Oct 22; the Russian Olive 
> grove at Morgan Run Natural Environment Area, Carroll Co, MD, 
> Oct 24; North Fork Wetlands Oct 24; and Blue Mash Oct 24. 
> 
> An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW visited a feeder in Cecil Co Oct 24. 
> 
> VESPER and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were 2 of 9 sparrow species at 
> Occoquan NWR Oct 23--along with RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. 
> 
> A HENSLOW'S SPARROW was seen near the Blue Ridge Parkway, at 
> Syon Abby, Franklin Co, VA, Oct 23.
> 
> Four SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS and one NELSON'S 
> SHARP-TAILED SPARROW, as well as a SEASIDE SPARROW, were 
> found at Taylor's Landing, Somerset Co, on Oct 23. 
> 
> A FOX SPARROW was spotted at Audrey Carroll Oct 22 and at 
> Blue Mash Oct 26.
> 
> A male DICKCISSEL was enjoying a feeder in Cape Charles, 
> Northampton Co, Oct 24 and 25.
> 
> A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was found Oct 24 at Hughes Hollow.
> 
> PURPLE FINCHES appeared at feeders throughout the area. In 
> Talbot Co on Oct 25, they were joined by 2 PINE SISKINS. 
> 
> 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, 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.
>