> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 3:47 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 10/18/2005
> 
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               10/18/2005
> 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, October 18, at 4
p.m.
> 
> Top birds this week are *BARNACLE GOOSE, MISSISSIPPI KITE, 
> *CURLEW SANDPIPER, REEVE, and *BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, all in
MD.
> 
> Other birds of interest include CACKLING GOOSE, RING-NECKED 
> PHEASANT, RED-THROATED LOON, BROWN PELICAN, SHARP-SHINNED 
> HAWK, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, KING RAIL, shorebirds, 
> LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, RED-HEADED 
> WOODPECKER, WESTERN KINGBIRD, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, BLUE-HEADED 
> VIREO, THRUSHES including BICKNELL'S, kinglets, warblers, 
> VESPER and other SPARROWS, DICKCISSEL, PURPLE FINCH, and PINE
SISKIN.
> 
> A *BARNACLE GOOSE, in the company of CACKLING GEESE, was 
> discovered Oct 13 at Great Oak Pond in western Kent Co. This 
> handsome bird was there again on Oct 16, both in the morning 
> and the early afternoon. (From Rte 213 in Chestertown, turn 
> left on MD 291 and proceed to MD 20 [High St]. Turn right on 
> Rte 514 [Flatland Road]. In about 4 miles, 514 bears sharply 
> left. Past Fish Hatchery Rd, 514 splits; stay left toward 
> Great Oak Landing. The pond is 100 yards ahead on the left. 
> Stay off the road; park in the grass.)
> 
> On Oct 15, a MISSISSIPPI KITE became species #284 for 
> Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore.
> 
> The CURLEW SANDPIPER found last week at the West Ocean City 
> Pond, Worcester Co, was seen again Oct 12 and 13. It was on 
> the far side with a flock of peeps. A "good candidate" was 
> noted Oct 14, but mist and wind impaired the viewing. 
> 
> An immature REEVE was discovered Oct 15 in Dorchester Co, MD, 
> and relocated Oct 16. This bird was with a mixed flock that 
> included yellowlegs and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS along Rte 50 just 
> east of Linkwood, between mileposts 88 and 89. 
> 
> A *BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER was seen Oct 15 at Little 
> Bennett RP, Montgomery Co. It was with a flock of kinglets at 
> the start of Dark Branch trail, at the end of Prescott Rd, 
> where Prescott is accessed from Lewisdale Rd, back of the golf
course.
> 
> Seven CACKLING GEESE were reported Oct 13 at Governor's 
> Bridge Natural Area, part of Patuxent River Park in Prince 
> George's Co, MD.
> 
> A RING-NECKED PHEASANT was a surprise Oct 15 at Cromwell 
> Valley Park, Baltimore Co.
> 
> An adult RED-THROATED LOON was spotted Oct 15 from the 
> eastern shore of the  Chesapeake Bay, just above Hooper's 
> Island in Dorchester Co.
> 
> Five BROWN PELICANS were observed Oct 15 at Assateague 
> Island, Worcester Co.
> 
> SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS dominated the hawk watches this week. On 
> Oct 16, Snickers Gap, on the Clarke/Loudon (VA) Co line, 
> tallied 228, while Turkey Point in Cecil Co, MD, registered 
> 697. On Oct 15, Snicker's Gap saw its second NORTHERN GOSHAWK 
> of the season.
> 
> A GOLDEN EAGLE was well seen from the hawk watch at Cape 
> Henlopen SP, DE, on Oct 17.
> 
> KING RAILS were seen at Occoquan NWR, Prince William Co, VA, 
> Oct 15--four on East St close to Deephole Point, and another 
> near the maintenance shed.
> 
> On Oct 15, the impoundments along Broadkill Beach Rd, DE, 
> held 4 HUDSONIAN GODWITS and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. That 
> same day a MARBLED GODWIT was seen at Bombay Hook's Shearness
Pool.
> 
> An adult LESSER-BLACK BACKED GULL was spotted at Dyke Marsh, 
> Fairfax Co, VA, Oct 16; it rested on pilings along the shoreline.
> 	
> A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was found Oct 17 in the section of 
> Seneca Creek SP, Montgomery Co, that borders Riffleford Rd.
> 
> An immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was noted at Banshee Reeks 
> Nature Preserve, Loudoun Co, VA, on Oct 15. On Oct 18, an 
> adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was found in the maintenance yard 
> of Rock Creek Park, NW DC.
> 
> A WESTERN KINGBIRD visited Kiptopeke SP, Northampton Co, VA, 
> on Oct 16.
> 
> A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen Oct 15 at Sky Meadows SP, 
> Fauquier Co, VA, near the main field east of the bridle area. 
> 
> Rock Creek Park was particularly active Oct 15, with the 
> appearance of BLUE-HEADED VIREO, both kinglets, and half a 
> dozen warblers. BLUE-HEADED VIREO and both kinglets were 
> noted at numerous area locations.
> 
> The Kiptopeke Banding Station had a banner day Oct 15, 
> processing 30 species and 661 individuals (512 of them 
> YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS). The bounty also include 4 species of 
> thrush, including a late VEERY. On Oct 16, Kiptopeke banded 
> their first HERMIT THRUSH of the season, and on Oct 17 they 
> added two BICKNELL'S THRUSHES--as well as 8 WOOD THRUSHES. 
> This gave them all six of the spotted thrushes over the three
days.
> 
> It was a hatching-year male BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER that 
> flew off with the golden leg band Oct 17, as the Kiptopeke 
> Banding Station celebrated its 300,000th bird. Established in 
> 1963, Kiptopeke has banded more birds during fall migration 
> than any other station in North America. 
> 
> In DE on Oct 15, a possible CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen at 
> Prime Hook NWR, near the entrance to the maintenance area. A 
> SALT-MARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was found at Mispillion Light.
> 
> VESPER SPARROWS were reported from two sites at Manassas 
> National Battlefield Park, Prince William Co, Oct 15. That 
> same day, the bridle path area of Sky Meadows held a VESPER 
> SPARROW, 5 or 6 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, and a dozen WHITE-CROWNED 
> SPARROWS. 
> 
> LINCOLN'S and/or WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS put in an appearance 
> at several locations, including, in Montgomery Co, Blue Mash 
> Nature Trail and the Greenway Trail of Seneca Creek SP; 
> Jefferson Patterson Park, Calvert Co, MD; a yard in Oakton, 
> Fairfax Co; and--as recently as Oct 18--at Occoquan NWR.
> 
> DARK-EYED JUNCOS showed up this week, with reports from a 
> yard in Arlington, VA, Oct 15; Fort C.F. Smith Park, 
> Arlington, Oct 16; and, on Oct 18, yards in Herndon, Fairfax 
> Co, and Potomac, Montgomery Co.
> 
> A DICKCISSEL visited a yard in Charles Co, MD, Oct 16.
> 
> PURPLE FINCHES were spotted at Rock Creek Park as well as at 
> Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, NE DC; Huntley Meadows Park, 
> Fairfax Co; and Layhill Park, Montgomery Co. 
> 
> And ending where we began, at Great Oak Pond, a PINE SISKIN 
> was observed flying over on Oct 16.
> 
> On Oct 22, See Life Paulagics is running a trip out of Lewes, 
> DE. For more information, contact them at 215-234-6805 or 
> check their web page at paulagics.com. 
> 
> 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 no photographs, please. You 
> may also report by calling 301-652-1088 and selecting menu 
> option 2. Please post 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.
>