> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 3:37 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 11/01/2005
> 
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               11/01/2005
> 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, November 1, at 1
p.m.
> 
> Top birds this week are *NEOTROPIC CORMORANT and CAVE SWALLOW 
> in MD and RED PHALAROPE, RUFOUS/ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD, and LE 
> CONTE'S SPARROW in VA. 
> 
> Other birds of interest include SNOW GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, 
> ducks, EARED GREBE, raptors including NORTHERN GOSHAWK and 
> GOLDEN EAGLE, CHIMNEY SWIFT, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, COMMON RAVEN, 
> BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, ORANGE-CROWNED 
> WARBLER, VESPER and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, DICKCISSEL, RUSTY 
> BLACKBIRD, PURPLE FINCH, COMMON REDPOLL, and PINE SISKIN.
> 
> A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT spent much of the week on the Potomac 
> River just upstream from Violette's Lock in Montgomery Co, 
> MD--and it occasionally made forays over the shoreline into 
> VA. This bird--obviously smaller than the Double-crested 
> Cormorants in the vicinity--had been observed briefly in 
> August; it was spotted again Oct 25 and 26, and photographed. 
> The bird was not always present, but it frequently returned 
> to a favorite perch, a fallen log about three-quarters of the 
> way across the river. This cormorant was seen from Violette's 
> daily through the morning of Oct 30. That afternoon, it was 
> spotted several miles down river, from Riverbend Park, 
> Fairfax Co, VA. 
> 
> A basic-plumaged RED PHALAROPE was reported Oct 30 at Craney 
> Island, Portsmouth VA. It was in the middle cell of the 
> western side, along with the EARED GREBE. 
> 
> A RUFOUS or ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD made daily visits to a feeder 
> in Cape Charles, Northampton Co, VA, from Oct 26 through at 
> least Oct 29. [The location is 9 Randolph Ave.]
> 
> A CAVE SWALLOW was seen Oct 27 at Maryland Rock (Beauvue 
> ponds) southeast of Leonardtown, St. Mary's Co, MD. This 
> bird--and perhaps a second Cave Swallow--was/were in the 
> company of 1-2 Barn Swallows and
> about 500 Tree Swallows.   
> 
> A "glowing" LE CONTE'S SPARROW was discovered Oct 30 at 
> Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA, and relocated Oct 31 
> and Nov 1. This cooperative bird frequents field and 
> shrubbery along the Bayview Trail, just short of its 
> intersection with Charlie Rd.
> 
> SNOW GEESE have returned in force, with an estimated 30,000 
> seen at Bombay Hook's Shearness Pool during the ANS field 
> trip ON Oct 29.
> 
> A CACKLING GOOSE was reported Oct 27 at Meadow Park, Cecil 
> Co, MD--as expected, with a flock of Canadas.
> 
> Birders seeking the Neotropic Cormorant at Violette's Lock 
> also found AMERICAN WIGEON, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and a 
> WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, as well as 2 HORNED GREBES. 
> 
> RED-TAILED HAWKS ruled on Oct 26 at the hawk watch at 
> Snicker's Gap, on the Clarke/Loudoun Co (VA) line, with a 
> count of 172. On Oct 29, the hawk watch at Rockfish Gap, 
> Augusta Co, VA, counted 590 RED-TAILS and 2 GOLDEN EAGLES.
> 
> Snicker's Gap closed out October with a total of 5 NORTHERN 
> GOSHAWKS and 8 GOLDEN EAGLES. During October, the hawk watch 
> at Harvey's Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA recorded 4 
> NORTHERN GOSHAWKS and 4 GOLDEN EAGLES.
> 
> A GOSHAWK was also spotted from a hawk blind at Short Hill in 
> northern Loudoun Co, VA, on Oct 26--along with nearly 300 
> other raptors, including more than 200 RED-TAILS. 
> 
> On Oct 26, an adult GOLDEN EAGLE soared over Ft. C. F. Smith 
> Park, Arlington, VA. On Oct 30, the hawk watch at Turkey 
> Point, Cecil Co, tallied its first GOLDEN EAGLE of the 
> season. On Oct 30, a GOLDEN EAGLE flew over Trappe, Talbot 
> Co, MD, heading in the direction of Blackwater NWR. 
> 
> The Sunday morning walk at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, was 
> treated to a MERLIN fly-by on Oct 30.  
> 
> CHIMNEY SWIFTS were still in evidence at numerous locations, 
> including Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD, on Oct 30.
> 
> A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was discovered Oct 29 at Sky Meadows SP, 
> Fauquier Co, VA, and refound Oct 30. It was near the fishing 
> pond, across Rte 17 from the entrance to the Bridle Trail. It 
> was in field and bushes just past a group of willows by a stream. 
> 
> A group of 6 COMMON RAVENS was observed Oct 29, as the birds 
> circled the summit of Old Rag Mt in Shenandoah NP, VA. On Oct 
> 29, a COMMON RAVEN flew over Blue Ball Rd in Cecil Co. 
> 
> RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were in good supply, with 3 at a 
> feeder in Potomac, Montgomery Co, on Oct 28; 6 observed on a 
> walk on Loudoun Co, Oct 29; and 3 at Blandy Experimental 
> Farm, Clarke Co, Oct 30. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was 
> discovered Oct 30 at the National Arboretum, NE DC.
> 
> As many as 10 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES were found Oct 30 and 
> 31 at Turkey Point. The birds were scattered between the 
> parking lot and the hawk watch.
> 
> An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was spotted on Oct 29 along 
> Montresor Rd near Lucketts, Loudoun Co. 
> 
> A VESPER SPARROW was found Oct 28 at Southwest Area Park, 
> Baltimore Co; it was along the edge of the road as it nears 
> the boat ramp. Three LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were found at Sky 
> Meadows Oct 30. 
> 
> A DICKCISSEL was discovered Oct 27 at Turkey Point, in the 
> vicinity of the lighthouse.  
> 
> Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, NE DC, hosted a RUSTY BLACKBIRD 
> and 2 PURPLE FINCHES on Oct 28. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were also 
> observed at Hughes Hollow on Oct 30.
> 
> As many as a dozen PURPLE FINCHES visited a feeder in Kent 
> Co, MD, on Oct 26. 
> 
> On Oct 29, a COMMON REDPOLL flew over Snicker's Gap in a 
> flock of goldfinches. 
> 
> Two PINE SISKINS were seen at Blandy Oct 28. One PINE SISKIN, 
> and 2 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, came to a feeder in 
> Darnestown, Montgomery Co, Oct  29 and 30.
> 
> 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.
>