> -----Original Message-----
> From:  [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2005 5:41 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 2/15/05
> 
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist	
> Date:               2/15/05
> 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, Feb 15, at 5 p.m.
> 
> Top bird this week is *NORTHERN LAPWING in MD.
> 
> Other birds of interest include GREATER WHITE-FRONTED and 
> SNOW GEESE, ducks, grebes, GREAT CORMORANT, raptors, MARBLED 
> GODWIT, KELP and other gulls, BLACK GUILLEMOT, SHORT-EARED 
> OWL, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, HORNED LARK, 
> HERMIT THRUSH, SNOW BUNTING, and
> PAINTED BUNTING.   
> 
> A *NORTHERN LAPWING was discovered Feb 12 during the 
> Mid-Winter Count in Frederick Co, MD, and the bird has been 
> seen again each day through this morning, Feb 15. This 
> handsome bird--never before reported in MD--has been feeding 
> in fields around Creagerstown (DeLorme 72, C3). It has been 
> seen north of town, off Rte 550 along both sides of Graceham 
> Rd, and west of town, on Blacks Mill Rd, 0.4 mile west of Rte 
> 550. (Graceham does not have enough shoulder to pull all the 
> way off; all cars and scopes should keep to one side of the 
> road. Also, stay back from the rain pond along Graceham Rd, 
> an area the bird favors. Rte 550 itself is high-speed, with 
> virtually no place to pull off, and a dangerous spot to stop.)  
> 
> A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen Feb 13 near Prime Hook 
> NWR, DE; at was in a large flock of geese and gulls near the 
> intersection of Prime Hook and Cods Rds. 
> 
> Two SNOW GEESE continued at Hains Point, SE DC, as of Feb 12.
> 
> A EURASIAN WIGEON was reported Feb 9 from Ridgeway Park in 
> Hampton, VA.
> 
> On Feb 13, the CBB/T's Island #2 (Northampton Co, VA) hosted 
> 5 HARLEQUIN DUCKS and 2 RED-NECKED GREBES, as well as an 
> estimated 25 GREAT CORMORANTS.
> 
> In DE, Herring Point at Cape Henlopen SP had an immature male 
> COMMON EIDER Feb 13. 
> 
> On Feb 11, the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD, hosted 
> both KING and COMMON EIDERS, plus GREAT CORMORANT. 
> 
> At Indian River Inlet, DE, thousands of SCOTERS--almost all 
> SURF and BLACK--have been putting on a spectacular show, 
> actively feeding and vocalizing. A GREAT CORMORANT was seen 
> at IRI Feb 13.
> 
> The calm waters of Rehoboth Bay, DE, as viewed from Tower Rd 
> on Feb 13, held hundreds of HORNED GREBES--and 1 EARED GREBE.  
> 
> The first-winter BLACK GUILLEMOT at Indian River Inlet was 
> last seen on the afternoon of Feb 9.
> 
> Watching a BALD EAGLE soar over the Washington Channel 
> towards East Potomac Park, SW DC, on Feb 11, a recently 
> arrived Brit judged the sight "magnificent."
> 
> An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was spotted Feb 11 in Somerset Co, MD, 
> between Crisfield and Rumbly Point.
> 
> On Feb 9, a PEREGRINE FALCON was seen in College Park, Prince 
> George's Co, MD, west of Paint Branch trail adjacent to the 
> golf course. On Feb 12 and 13, a PEREGRINE was reported from 
> Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA.
> 
> On Feb 13, 2 MERLINS were observed at the golf course on 
> Hains Point, SW DC. 
> 
> Willis Wharf, Northampton Co, continues to draw MARBLED 
> GODWITS, with a flock of 150 or more reported Feb 13.
> 
> A second-basic ICELAND (KUMLEIN'S) GULL was viewed briefly on 
> Feb 12 from the Rte 121 bridge at Black Hill RP, Montgomery 
> Co, MD; this was the third differently plumaged Iceland Gull 
> there this winter. A
> LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL also made a brief appearance.   
> 
> North East Town Park, Cecil Co, MD, held an ICELAND and 2 
> LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS Feb 13.
> 
> Maryland's KELP GULL was again seen Feb 12, as usual behind 
> the Sea Breeze Crab House, Sandgates, St. Mary's Co.
> 
> An "interesting" gull was seen and photographed Feb 10 at 
> Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro, Prince George's Co. The 
> photos of this pale, black-billed bird--a candidate for 
> first-winter SLATY-BACKED GULL--have generated a lively 
> discussion among gull fanciers. Also at Schoolhouse Pond that 
> day: a much less mysterious first-winter ICELAND
> GULL.    
> 
> On Feb 11, Fowler Beach, DE, held an adult ICELAND GULL and 
> an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. 
> 
> On Feb 12, 4 SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen along Port Mahon Rd, 
> DE. On Feb 10, at 10 in the morning. Two SHORT-EARED OWLS 
> were found near Zion Crossroads, Louisa Co, VA; they were 
> along Rte 671, a mile east of Rte 15, north of the I-64 exit. 
> 
> The *RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD at the Smithsonian's Ripley Garden, 
> SW DC, was last noted Feb 8.  
> 
> On Feb 12, 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen from the 
> boardwalk at Huntley Meadows, while 2 HERMIT THRUSHES were 
> found along the hike/bike trail. 
> 
> On Feb 13, a yard in Charles Co, MD, sported all 7 local 
> WOODPECKER species.
> 
> The SNOW BUNTINGS in Queen Anne's Co, MD, were relocated Feb 
> 10; three were in with flocks of HORNED LARKS along Rolling 
> Bridge Rd, near Rte 304. 
> 
> A male PAINTED BUNTING continues to visit a feeder, off and 
> on, in the Deep Creek area of Chesapeake, VA (south of 
> Norfolk). This week it was reported on the afternoons of Feb 
> 10, 12, and 13; it is often seen around 4 p.m. The feeder, to 
> the left of the house, can be viewed from the driveway at 
> 2813 Lambert Trail, which is near the intersection of Rte 13 
> (S. Military Highway) and Rte 17 (George Washington Highway). 
> 
> The See Life Paulagics trip on Saturday, Feb 26, from Lewes, 
> DE, has just one slot--a cancellation. 
> 
> And, in view of the recent inshore alcid sightings, See Life 
> Paulagics has added an inshore trip for Sunday, Feb 27. This 
> 8-hour trip will work the inlets and jetties from Lewes, DE, 
> to Ocean City, MD. For more information, call 215-234-6805, 
> or check their web site at www.paulagics.com.
> 
> Those of you lucky enough to host a winter hummingbird are 
> asked to contact hummingbird bander Mary Gustafson at 
>  Mary is working to document winter 
> hummingbirds in the east.
> 
> 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.
>