> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 2:55 PM
> To:
> Subject: DC Area, 8/16/2005
>
>
> Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
> Date: 8/16/2005
> 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 $40; Family $50; Nature Steward
> $75; Audubon Advocate $150). 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, August 16, at 3
p.m.
>
> Top bird this week is YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER in VA.
>
> Other birds of interest include WILD TURKEY, CLAPPER RAIL,
> LEAST BITTERN, LITTLE BLUE HERON, COMMON MOORHEN, AMERICAN
> COOT, SANDHILL CRANE, shorebirds including UPLAND, BAIRD'S,
> and BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE;
> SANDWICH and BLACK TERNS, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, RED-HEADED
> WOODPECKER, SEDGE WREN, warblers, HENSLOW'S SPARROW,
> ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL, and BOBOLINK.
>
> A brightly-colored YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was found Aug 13
> during the monthly bird walk at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve
> in central Loudoun Co, VA; it was on the recently opened
> bottomland trail.
>
> Two WILD TURKEY hens were foraging at Quantico Marine Corps
> Base, Prince William Co, VA, Aug 10.
>
> As many as 2 dozen LITTLE BLUE HERONS, including 21
> juveniles, have been frequenting the pond on Williams Rd near
> Elkton, Cecil Co, MD.
>
> CLAPPER RAILS were plentiful over the weekend in the marshes
> adjoining Delaware Bay, in the vicinity of Slaughter Beach
> and Mispillion.
>
> A family of COMMON MOORHENS--2 adults and 4 young--were seen
> August 13 at the Tanyard Marsh, along Rte 331 in Caroline Co, MD.
>
> Breeding AMERICAN COOTS--this week, five adults and three
> young--were seen Aug 13 at Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co,
> MD. Also at
> Hart-Miller: 3 LEAST BITTERNS, 17 species of shorebird,
> including 5 WHITE-RUMPED and 70 STILT SANDPIPERS.
>
> A bird thought to be a juvenile SANDHILL CRANE paid a visit
> to a yard in Colesville, Montgomery Co, MD, on August 9.
>
> UPLAND SANDPIPERS--at least 11--continue in the fields of
> southwestern Fauquier Co, VA, with reports through Aug 14.
> The Woodward Turf Farm is located south of Remington on
> Sumerduck Rd (Rte 651) and Rte 654. On Aug 14, the area also
> offered a juvenile RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, as well as the
> occasional DICKCISSEL.
>
> A BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was reported Aug 12 from Craney Island,
> Portsmouth, VA; the bird was seen from the south dike, just
> past the entrance.
>
> A juvenile BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was discovered the evening
> of Aug 15 in Caroline Co, MD; it was with other shorebirds in
> the newly harvested portion of a cucumber field at the corner
> of North Oak Grove and Kinder Rd.
>
> On Aug 13, shorebirds were plentiful at Bombay Hook NWR, DE
> (so were the bugs); the assortment included WHITE-RUMPED
> SANDPIPER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, and WILSON'S PHALAROPE.
> Waders were abundant, too.
>
> Other DE sites with lots of shorebirds were Cape Henlopen SP,
> Prime Hook NWR, and the Slaughter Beach bayshore.
>
> On Aug 11, the ongoing survey of Poplar Island in Chesapeake
> Bay (Talbot Co, MD) turned up both WILSON'S PHALAROPE and
> RED-NECKED PHALAROPE.
>
> For most of the week the pond on Williams Rd in Elkton held a
> rich cache of shorebirds--including WHITE-RUMPED, PECTORAL,
> and STILT SANDPIPERS. However, the habitat was wiped out, at
> least temporarily, by rains on the evening of Aug 14.
>
> On Aug 14, 3 BLACK-BILLED TERNS were present at Cape Henlopen
> SP and 1 each at Gordon's Pond and Prime Hook. Cape Henlopen
> also held a SANDWICH TERN, while Gordon's Pond featured 5
> SANDWICH TERNS, including a juvenile with an all-yellow bill.
>
> COMMON NIGHTHAWKS have begun their nocturnal acrobatics over
> the bright lights at Tyson's Corner, Fairfax Co, with reports
> from Aug 11, 13, 14, and 15.
>
> Singing SEDGE WRENS were again found at the Logan Lane Tract
> of Ted Harvey Conservation Area, DE, with reports on Aug 10 and
13.
>
> Two singing SEDGE WRENS were relocated Aug 13 in Allegany Co,
> MD, near the intersection of Bald Knob and Blank Rds outside
> of Savage River. The area also held some singing HENSLOW'S
> SPARROWS and calling BOBOLINKS.
>
> A sprinkling of WARBLERS migrated through this week,
> including YELLOW, BLACKBURNIAN, and CANADA, as well as
> AMERICAN REDSTART.
>
> A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was spotted Aug 16 at Lake Fairfax
> Park; it was near group campsite G9.
>
> As recently as Aug 13, 2 DICKCISSELS were singing in western
> Montgomery Co, southeast of White's Ferry; these birds favor
> fields across from the Patton Turf Farm at 24000 River Rd.
>
> Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the
> MDOSPREY, VA-Bird, and DE Birds 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
> But please do not submit
> photographs. 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.
> |