> -----Original Message-----
> From:  [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 5:00 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 11/09/04
> 
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               11/09/04
> 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, Nov 9, at 4 p.m.
> 
> Top birds this week are *AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN and *KELP 
> GULL in MD, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER and CAVE SWALLOW in VA, 
> and NORTHERN SHRIKE in DE.
> 
> Other birds of interest include GREEN HERON, waterfowl, 
> raptors, SANDHILL CRANE, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, 
> BONAPARTE'S GULL, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, HORNED LARK, 
> RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, AMERICAN PIPIT, sparrows, SNOW 
> BUNTING, PURPLE FINCH, COMMON REDPOLL, and PINE SISKIN.
> 
> Three *AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were spotted at Point Lookout, 
> St. Mary's Co, MD, on Nov 7, as they flew up the Potomac. 
> 
> Maryland's *KELP GULL was again in place behind the Sea 
> Breeze Crab House, Sandgates, St. Mary's Co, on both Nov 6 
> and Nov 7.  
> 
> An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was observed and photographed Nov 
> 6 at the Eastern Shore of VA NWR, Northampton Co. It was 
> originally seen near a pond off the Butterfly Trail; later it 
> was found near the entrance to the bunker area. 
> 
> A bird identified as a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen Nov 7 at 
> Prime Hook NWR, DE. Early that morning, the Shrike was 
> sitting on top of some dead branches at the west of Island 
> Farm Rd, a gated road posted as a closed refuge area on the 
> south side of Rte 16 (Broadkill Beach Rd), just inland from 
> the impoundments. 
> 
> On Nov 5 two CAVE SWALLOWS circled around the hawk watch at 
> Kiptopeke SP, Northampton Co, for about half an hour. On Nov 
> 6 a single CAVE SWALLOW was observed for about a minute in a 
> field just north of Kiptopeke's Maddux Pond. 
> 
> A GREEN HERON lingered at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD, 
> as of Nov 7; it flushed from the impoundment to the right of 
> the main dike, where the dike approaches the woods.
> 
> A ROSS'S GOOSE, accompanied by a ROSS'S/SNOW GOOSE hybrid, 
> was spotted Nov 2 at Great Oak Pond, west of Melitota in Kent 
> Co, MD. That same day a RICHARDSON'S CACKLING GOOSE was found 
> at the Worton WTP, off Chinquapin Rd northwest of 
> Chestertown, Kent Co. On Nov 5, Great Oak Pond drew 7 BALD 
> EAGLES and 1 GOLDEN EAGLE, as well as a ROSS'S GOOSE.
> 
> Two RICHARDSON'S CACKLING GEESE were reported in Howard Co, 
> MD, Nov 8; they were at a farm pond and field at Lisbon, on 
> the south side of Old Frederick Rd opposite Camden Meadows 
> Ct. Also in Howard Co Nov 8, a RICHARDSON'S CACKLING GOOSE 
> was identified at the intersection of Rtes 155 and 156.
> 
> Two BRANT spent the week at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, with the 
> most recent report from Nov 7. They like to feed on the lawn 
> around the monument, moving into the wetlands area when 
> disturbed by tourists or raptors.
> 
> A REDHEAD was one of 9 species of duck at Perryville 
> Community Park, Cecil Co, MD, Nov 7.
> 
> A first-winter SURF SCOTER surfaced Nov 5 in Carroll Co, MD, 
> on Liberty Lake at the foot of Oakland Rd.  
> 
> At the CBB/T, Northampton Co, 2  HARLEQUIN DUCKS were found 
> on Island # 4 on Nov 8. 
> 
> On Nov 6, a ROSS'S GOOSE was observed at close quarters at 
> the impoundment on Broadkill Beach Rd (Rte 16), DE. Two 
> ROSS'S GEESE were seen at Prime Hook Nov 7, as were 2 BAIRD'S 
> SANDPIPERS. Two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS were also seen Nov 7 on 
> Wye Island in Queen Anne's Co, MD. 
> 
> The surprise of the week at Blue Mash Nature Trail, 
> Montgomery Co, MD, was 2 DUNLIN flushed from the pond along 
> Zion Rd on Nov 6.
> 
> Raptors around town included a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK near the 
> Watergate, NW DC, Nov 4, and, on Nov 6, multiple 
> RED-SHOULDERS and RED-TAILS and BALD EAGLE at Kenilworth 
> Park, NE DC; buteos plus COOPER'S HAWK at the National 
> Arboretum, NE DC; and a PEREGRINE hunting pigeons near 16th 
> and Harvard Sts, NW DC. On Nov 3, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was 
> surprised in a wooded area off Lanham Severn Rd in Bowie, 
> Prince George's Co, MD.
> 
> The hawk watch at Snicker's Gap (on the Loudoun/Clarke Co VA 
> line) saw its first ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK of the season on Nov 5, 
> and was still tallying NORTHERN GOSHAWKS and GOLDEN EAGLES on 
> Nov 8. The hawk watch at Town Hill, Allegany Co, MD, yielded 
> 5 GOLDEN EAGLES on Nov 5 and a close-view NORTHERN GOSHAWK 
> Nov 8. At Washington Monument SP, Washington Co, MD, Nov 2 
> saw NORTHERN GOSHAWK and 3 GOLDEN EAGLES. The hawk watch at 
> Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore Co, enjoyed a good day
> Nov 6, with 6 species and 67 individuals.    
> 
> The Kiptopeke hawk watch was a lively spot on Nov 5. In 
> addition to Cave Swallows, the hawk platform witnessed a 
> RED-TAIL with field marks suggesting a HARLAN'S HAWK, a young 
> SWAINSON'S HAWK, and 6 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS--plus 171 TUNDRA SWANS. 
> 
> Early on Nov 5, 15 SANDHILL CRANES were seen flying over the 
> Eastern Shore of VA NWR.
> 
> Two or three BONAPARTE'S GULLS were present at Beaverdam 
> Reservoir, Loudoun Co, VA, Nov 7. 
> 
> Owl banders have been documenting the migration of saw-whet 
> owls through the area. On Nov 5, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL 
> spent a few hours in a yard in Colesville, Montgomery Co. 
> 
> A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and HORNED LARKS were seen at Hains 
> Point, SW DC, Nov 6. RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue at 
> Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA.
> 
> RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES visited feeders in Cabin John, 
> Montgomery Co, and Sterling, Loudoun Co, VA. 
> 
> FOX SPARROW was spotted at several locations, including Fort 
> McHenry; Woodstock Park on Rte 28 in western Montgomery Co; 
> Lilypons Water Gardens, Frederick Co, MD; and Huntley 
> Meadows. FOX was one of 10 sparrow species seen Nov 6 at 
> Little Bennett RP, Montgomery Co, most in the shrubby field 
> near the parking lot.
> 
> A Nov 6 sparrow trip in DE encountered half a dozen 
> SALT-MARSH SHARP TAILED SPARROWS at Slaughter Beach and an 
> Ipswich race SAVANNAH SPARROW at Big Stone Beach.
> 
> Two SNOW BUNTINGS were seen and photographed Nov 6 at Bombay 
> Hook, as they spent the day foraging--indifferent to their 
> audience--at the parking pull-off at Shearness Pool. On Nov 
> 5, 18 SNOW BUNTINGS were found at the dune at the south end 
> of Fowler Beach Rd in Prime Hook NWR. 
>  
> PURPLE FINCHES and PINE SISKINS appeared at feeders and parks 
> throughout the area. 
> 
> A flock of 9 COMMON REDPOLLS was seen Nov 7, heading south 
> past the lighthouse at Point Lookout. COMMON REDPOLLS were 
> also seen Nov 8 at the CBB/T's Island #3.
> 
> A pelagic trip is scheduled for Dec 11 out of Lewes, DE. For 
> more information, contact See Life Paulagics at 215-234-6805 
> or check their web site at www.paulagics.com.
> 
> 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.
>