> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 4:51 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 4/26/05
> 
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               4/26/05
> Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
> Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
> Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
>         (email):     
>      (deadline):    midnight Mondays
> Compiler:           Joe Coleman
> 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, April 26, at 5:00
pm.
> 
> Top birds this week are SWALLOW-TAILED KITE in MD and WESTERN 
> TANAGER in VA.
> 
> Birds of interest this week include RED-NECKED GREBE, 
> AMERICAN BITTERN, HOODED MERGANSER, raptors, rails, 
> BLACK-NECKED STILTS, AMERICAN AVOCET, GULL-BILLED TERN, 
> CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOW and WHIP-POOR-WILL, flycatchers, WINTER 
> WREN, warblers, tanagers, sparrows, BOBOLINK, ROSE-BREASTED 
> and BLUE GROSBEAK, and RED CROSSBILL.
> 
> A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was observed flying overhead on April 
> 23 in the area between Hughes Hollow and Sycamore Landing in 
> Montgomery Co, MD.
> 
> The female WESTERN TANAGER that has been in Virginia Beach, 
> VA for the last few months was again seen on April 20.
> 
> A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen close to the shore from Water 
> Street between Mill St and Choptank Ave in Cambridge, MD on April
23.
> 
> AMERICAN BITTERNS were seen in several locations last week. 
> They were observed at Hughes Hollow on April 20 and April 24 
> and at the Milford Mill Park, Baltimore, MD on April 23.
> 
> Female HOODED MERGANSERS with ducklings were seen at both 
> Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD and at Huntley Meadows Park, 
> Fairfax Co, VA on April 24 and April 25.
> 
> On April 20 a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was perched a hundred yards 
> from the junction of Rt. 924 and FS 85 in Rockingham Co, VA.
> 
> A MERLIN was perched in the top of a tree at the Baptist 
> Church in Marshall, Fauquier Co, VA, on April 23.
> 
> The SORA at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD was seen through 
> April 25; it frequents the area close to the bulletin board, 
> in the second impoundment on the right. Hughes Hollow also 
> continued to host a brightly colored VIRGINIA RAIL with 
> reports from April 20; this bird favors the marsh along the 
> cross dike, about 70 yards out from the main dike. There are 
> also at least two SORAS and VIRGINIA RAILS at Lilypons, 
> Frederick Co, MD. They were seen on April 23 and again on April
24.
> 
> KING RAILS were again reported from Prince William Co, VA. 
> One was observed at the Julie Metz wetlands on April 21 and 
> another at the Occoquan NWR on April 23.
> 
> Two BLACK-NECKED STILTS were seen at the Rt. 50 borrow pit 
> west of Salisbury, MD on April 20. A BLACK-NECKED STILT was 
> also seen April 23 towards the end of the wildlife loop in 
> the Chincoteague NWR, Accomack, Co, MD.
> 
> Three AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen in the south impoundment at 
> Craney Island, Portsmouth, VA on April 20 and April 21.
> 
> A GULL-BILLED TERN was also seen at Craney Island on both these
days.
> 
> A CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOW was heard in Dameron, St. Mary's Co, MD 
> on April 22 and another in First Landing SP, Virginia Beach, 
> VA. Two WHIP-POOR-WILLS were calling along Ticonderoga Rd in 
> southeastern Loudoun Co, VA on April 20.
> 
> Several different flycatcher species re-appeared in the area 
> last week. An EASTERN WOOD-PEEWEE was reported from the 
> Dismal Swamp, VA on April 20 and another was heard and seen 
> on April 21 in Elkton, Cecil Co, MD. ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS were 
> heard and seen in St. Mary's Co, MD and Spotsylvania Co, VA 
> on April 21. A LEAST FLYCATCHER was seen at Centennial Lake, 
> Howard Co, MD on April 21. And GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS and 
> EASTERN KINGBIRDS were widely seen.
> 
> A COMMON RAVEN flew over the C&O Canal NP in Montgomery Co, 
> MD between Pennyfield Lock and Blockhouse Point.
> 
> WINTER WRENS were reported from numerous locations throughout 
> the area.
> 
> Warbler reports increased dramatically last week with at 
> least 27 different warbler species reported. The reports 
> included a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER from Cockpit Rd, Prince 
> William Co, VA on April 24. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was 
> seen on April 24 in the vines and tangles near the parking 
> area on Daingerfield Island, south of Four Mile Run, in 
> Alexandria. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS were reported from Hughes 
> Hollow on April 21 and along Lakeview Rd (Lake Brittle), 
> Fauquier Co, VA on April 23 and from parking area 17 in Rock 
> Creek Park that same day. CERULEAN WARBLERS were reported 
> from the visitor center parking area in Rock Creek Park and 
> from the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, 
> Loudoun Co, VA on April 23, and from Milford Mill Park, 
> Baltimore Co, Md on April 24. Two SWAINSON'S WARBLERS were 
> reported from the Dismal Swamp on April 21. 
> 
> A SUMMER TANAGER was seen on April 20 at Hall Creek NRMA, 
> Dunkirk, Calvert Co, MD, another from Dameron, St. Mary's Co, 
> MD on April 22 and still another at Leesylvania SP, Prince 
> William Co, VA on April 23. While a single SCARLET TANAGER 
> was noteworthy last week, there were numerous sightings of 
> them last week.
> 
> A VESPER SPARROW was found April 22 at the Occoquan NWR and 
> another on April 23 at the Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co, MD. 
> GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were reported singing on territory in 
> Lincoln, Loudoun Co, VA on April 19 and at the Blue Ridge 
> Center for Environmental Stewardship's share farm on April 
> 23. A migrant GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was singing at the ball 
> fields at Layhill Park, Montgomery Co, MD on April 26. A 
> LINCOLN'S SPARROW was seen at the Middle Patuxent 
> Environmental Area, Howard Co, MD on April 21.
> 
> Two BOBOLINKS were seen at Soller's Wharf, Calvert Co, MD on April
21.
> 
> A number of ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and BLUE GROSBEAKS were 
> seen at feeders this past week.
> 
> A trip to Reddish Knob in Augusta Co, VA on April 20 found 19 
> RED CROSSBILLS in several different locations in Rockingham 
> Co, VA. Seven of the RED CROSSBILLS were seen from a small 
> parking area on Briery Branch Reservoir with the others 
> further down the road. A second trip to this same location on 
> April 26 found at least three RED CROSSBILLS.
> 
> Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the 
> MDOSPREY and VA-Bird list servers. 
> 
> Finding Birds in the National Capital Area by Claudia Wilds 
> is an excellent source of directions to many birding sites. 
> The ANS Bookstore (301-652-3606 or
> www.audubonnaturalist.org/cgi-bin/mesh/store) is an excellent 
> source for this and many other nature-related titles.
> 
> 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.
>