-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: "Steve Cordle" <>
To:
Subject: DC Area, 7/19/05
Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 21:43:38 +0000
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 7/19/05
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, July 19, at 3:30 p.m.
Top birds this week are MISSISSIPPI KITE in VA and WHITE-FACED IBIS in
DE.
Other birds of interest include TUNDRA SWAN, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL,
NORTHERN GANNET, BROWN PELICAN, GREAT EGRET, BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERON, PEREGRINE FALCON, shorebirds including HUDSONIAN and
MARBLED GODWITS and WILSON'S PHALAROPE, gulls, BLACK and other TERNS,
BLACK SKIMMER, KENTUCKY WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK, and DICKCISSEL.
In southern VA, the pair of MISSISSIPPI KITES near Emporia,
Greensville Co, has definitively been shown to have bred; a young bird
was photographed on the nest, establishing the first breeding record
in Southside VA.
An immature MISSISSIPPI KITE was spotted July 18 at the Eastern Shore
of VA NWR, Northampton Co; it was near the pond on Ramp Rd.
A WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen at Shearness Bombay Hook NWR, DE, on July
15 and 16.
A TUNDRA SWAN turned up at Chain Bridge, NW DC, July 16.
WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS were again observed from shore: in DE, from
Port Mahon Rd, Little Creek WA, July 15; in VA, from the beach at
Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co. Dewey Beach, DE, among other coastal
sites, offered views of NORTHERN GANNET and BROWN PELICAN.
Half a dozen GREAT EGRETS were seen from the stone bridge on the GW
Parkway north of Belle Haven Marina, Fairfax Co, VA, on the evening of
July 17. A GREAT EGRET was seen on the Anacostia River, NE DC, July
19.
A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was spotted July 15 at Lake Royal in
Fairfax, VA.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen July 12 in downtown DC; it was hunting
prey in an alley behind 20th St, between L and M Sts NW.
Two PIPING PLOVERS were found July 14 north of Assateague Island SP,
Worcester Co, MD.
Three UPLAND SANDPIPERS were found in southern Frederick Co, MD, on
the south side of Oland Rd, on the afternoon of July 15. The next day,
however, they were nowhere to be found.
A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was seen at Bombay Hook's Raymond Pool on July 12.
On July 14, a MARBLED GODWIT visited "Skimmer Island" in Ocean City,
Worcester Co.
More than a dozen species of shorebird were present at Bombay Hook
July 15 and 16, including WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and STILT SANDPIPER.
The stars, though, were 4 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, including a
breeding-plumaged female, at Raymond Pool.
A LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was among assorted shorebirds seen along the
Wildlife Loop at Chincoteague July 16.
Closer to town, small numbers of shorebirds are being seen at Paper
Mill Flats, Baltimore Co; the Mason-Dixon farm ponds, Frederick Co;
the lake at the Germantown Soccerplex, Montgomery Co, MD; and Huntley
Meadows Park, Fairfax Co.
Ringing in gull post-breeding dispersal, a RING-BILLED GULL was noted
July 12 at the Westminster Community pond, Carroll Co, MD--and
RING-BILLEDS have returned in numbers to downtown DC, as well.
LAUGHING GULLS have arrived, too; by July 16, a steady stream could be
seen heading up the Anacostia River, NE DC.
Two SANDWICH TERNS were seen July 12 at the Point at Cape Henlopen SP,
DE.
SANDWICH TERN as well as BLACK TERN were also observed at Chincoteague
over the weekend.
Two COMMON TERNS and two FORSTER'S TERNS were noted at Violette's
Lock, Montgomery Co, July 16.
A BLACK TERN was with a flock of FORSTER'S TERNS at Woodland Beach WA,
DE, July 16.
A pair of BLACK TERNS were seen again July 15 at the north impoundment
at Ted Harvey Conservation Area, DE. A BLACK TERN was spotted July 16
at Taylor's Gut, the pond on the west side of Rte 9 north of Woodland
Beach, DE.
Well away from the coast, a BLACK SKIMMER showed up Sandy Point SP,
Anne Arundel Co, MD, July 13.
KENTUCKY WARBLER and BLUE GROSBEAK were the highlights of a walk at
Little Bennett RP, Montgomery Co, on July 13.
The DICKCISSELS in southern Cecil Co were still in evidence July 13,
when at least 3 males were perched and singing along Old Telegraph Rd.
(This is 0.8 mile south of Middleneck Rd, south of Bohemia Mills
(DeLorme 78, D2).
A male DICKCISSEL was found again in southern Caroline Co, MD, on July
13. (This is 0.4 mile east of American Corner on Auction Rd, in a cow
pasture at "Nice Farms.")
Two male DICKCISSELS were discovered in Montgomery Co, a few miles
southeast of White's Ferry, July 17 and 18; these birds were singing
along River Rd, just east of the main entrance to the Patton Turf
Farm.
See Life Paulagics is running a trip out of Lewes, DE, on Saturday,
August 27. For more information, call them at 215-896-6405, or check
their web site at paulagics.com.
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 as well as state, and
include your name and a Tuesday morning contact, either e-mail or
phone.
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. |