> -----Original Message-----
> From:  [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 4:40 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 3/22/05
> 
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               3/22/05
> Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
> Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
> Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
>         (email):     
>      (deadline):    midnight Mondays
> Compiler:           Helen Patton
> 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.
> 
> Welcome to the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the 
> Audubon Naturalist Society.  This tape was made on Tuesday, 
> March 22 at 3:15 pm.
> 
> Top birds this week are CALIFORNIA GULL* in VA and COMMON 
> RAVEN* in MD.
> 
> Other birds of interest include waterfowl, WILD TURKEY, 
> RED-THROATED LOON, grebes, shorebirds, SHORT-EARED OWL, 
> RED-HEADED WOODPECKER,
> NORTHERN SHRIKE, sparrows, PAINTED BUNTING and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.   
> 
> An adult CALIFORNIA GULL, reported last week on the Potomac 
> River mudflats of Hunting Creek, Fairfax Co, VA was seen 
> again on March 20. The viewer was located on the stone bridge 
> of the GW Parkway just north of the Dyke Marsh picnic area.
> 
> A COMMON RAVEN paid a visit to a yard in Waldorf, Charles Co, 
> MD on March 18.  Another COMMON RAVEN was observed soaring 
> over Patapsco Valley SP, Carroll Co, MD on March 19.
> 
> The EURASIAN WIGEON continues to be seen at the Eastern Shore 
> of Virginia NWR, Northampton Co, VA.  HARLEQUIN DUCKS were 
> spotted from the CBBT on March 17 and 19.
> 
> Ninety-two WILD TURKEYS, including a displaying tom, were 
> seen on the back roads between Blackwater NWR and Elliott 
> Island Road, Dorchester Co, MD on March 18. An early morning 
> foray at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA surprised five WILD 
> TURKEYS from their roost on March 20.
> 
> Plenty of RED-THROATED LOONS provided "up close and personal" 
>  looks at Kiptopeke SP, Northampton Co, VA on March 16 and 
> 19.  A large flock of 416 RED-THROATED LOONS were in the 
> Potomac River, Charles Co, MD on March 18.  The observer was 
> located on Muses Beach at the end of Rte 624 in Westmoreland 
> Co, VA.  Two RED-THROATED LOONS were in the Nanticoke River 
> at Bivalve, Wicomico Co, MD on March 20.
> 
> Two RED-NECKED GREBES were noted at Rocky Point Park, 
> Baltimore Co, MD on March 16.  A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen in 
> the Triadelphia Reservoir from Greenbridge Road on March 18; 
> another was spotted in from a boat on the way to Poplar 
> Island, Talbot Co, MD and another on Island 3 of the CBBT on 
> March 19.  An EARED GREBE was spotted in the Middle Branch 
> River from Fort McHenry, Baltimore, MD on March 17.
> 
> A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen on Maple Dam/Shorter's Wharf 
> Bridge Roads between Andrews and Seward in the Blackwater NWR 
> on March 20. A first-year GOLDEN EAGLE soared over the 
> parking lot at Pickering Creek Audubon Center, Talbot Co, MD 
> on March 18.
> 
> A MERLIN was in a yard at the southeast corner of South 19th 
> St and South Edgewood Road in Arlington, VA on March 20.  It 
> has been there for the better part of this winter.
> 
> A PEREGRINE FALCON was spotted on the ship hulks at Kiptopeke 
> SP on March 16. Two PEREGRINE FALCONS were on the north side 
> of the Harry Nice Bridge, Charles Co, MD on March 19.  One 
> PEREGRINE FALCON put in an appearance at Ft. McHenry on March 20.
> 
> One hundred plus MARBLED GODWITS were at Willis Wharf, 
> Northampton Co, VA on March 16. A drawdown of the water level 
> at Centennial Lake, Howard Co, MD has resulted in the 
> creation of large mudflats, boding well for shorebird 
> sightings, starting with WILSON'S SNIPE viewed on March 16 
> and 19.  WILSON'S SNIPE were also noted in many locations 
> including near the pond on Harrison Road, Fauquier Co, VA, at 
> the Paint Branch Stream Valley Park, College Park, Prince 
> George's Co, MD, Cornfield Harbor Road, St. Mary's Co, MD,  
> Blackwater NWR, Elliott Island Road and Lake Roland, Baltimore Co,
MD.
> 
> The peenting of AMERICAN WOODCOCK continues to be heard 
> throughout the region.
> 
> A SHORT-EARED OWL was seen hunting at the end of Cornfield 
> Harbor Road near Point Lookout SP during the week.  Two or 
> three SHORT EARED OWLS were noted on Elliott Island Road on March
18.
> 
> Two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were reported from Sky Meadows SP, 
> Fauquier Co, VA on March 19.  Two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were 
> seen at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on March 21.
> 
> The NORTHERN SHRIKE reported last week on Fisherman's Island, 
> Cape Charles, VA was seen again on March 19 and 20.  The 
> NORTHERN SHRIKE previously spotted at Pickering Creek Audubon 
> Center was seen again on March 18 and 20.  Please observe the 
> No Trespassing signs and stay out of the private property of 
> the Pickering Creek neighbors.  Another NORTHERN SHRIKE was 
> seen between two ponds along Belle Grove Avenue, Anne Arundel 
> Co, MD on March 20.  See Delorme 58-C2.
> 
> Migrating FOX SPARROWS have been sighted throughout the area 
> this week.  A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW appeared across the road 
> from Allen's Fresh, Charles Co, MD on March 19.
>  
> The male PAINTED BUNTING continues at the previously reported 
> site in Chesapeake, VA with a sighting on March 15.
> 
> A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen at Pickering Creek Audubon Center 
> on March 18. Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA hosted a 
> flock of about 100 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS on March 19 and another 
> flock of 30 on March 21. Four RUSTY BLACKBIRDS highlighted a 
> trip to Paper Mill Flats, Baltimore Co, MD on March 21.
> 
> See Life Paulagics is running a pelagic trip out of Lewes, DE 
> on April 16.  Targets include alcids, Sooty and Manx 
> Shearwater, Northern Fulmar and Red Phalarope.  For more 
> information, contact them at (215) 896-6405 or see 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.
>