> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 7:05 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 11/29/2005
> 
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               11/29/2005
> 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 29, at 6
p.m.
> 
> Top birds this week are *Selasphorus HUMMINGBIRD, 
> *WHITE-WINGED DOVE, and *ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in VA and 
> HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER in MD. 
> 
> Other birds of interest include ROSS'S GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, 
> TUNDRA SWAN, REDHEAD, COMMON EIDER, grebes, raptors, COMMON 
> MOORHEN, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 
> EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, SHORT-EARED OWL, RUBY-THROATED 
> HUMMINGBIRD, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, HORNED LARK, 
> BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, AMERICAN 
> PIPIT, AMERICAN TREE and other sparrows, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, 
> SNOW BUNTING, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, and PINE SISKIN. 
> 
> The *Selasphorus HUMMINGBIRD continues to frequent a yard in 
> Cape Charles, Northampton Co, VA. It was seen at 9 Randolph 
> Ave as recently as Nov 28.
> 
> After an absence of 2 weeks, the WHITE-WINGED DOVE was found 
> again in Cape Charles on Nov 28; it perched in a linden tree 
> in front of the house at 11 Randolph Ave.
> 
> A HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, making a rare East Coast appearance, 
> was discovered Nov 23 in Monkton, northern Baltimore Co, and 
> it was seen several times each day thereafter through Nov 28; 
> on Nov 29, it made a fleeting appearance around 9 a.m. Its 
> location was the North Central Railroad Trail (DeLorme 75 
> C5); the NCRT parking lot is on the north side of Monkton Rd, 
> a little east of where it crosses Gunpowder Falls. To look 
> for the bird, take the trail about half a mile north to a 
> large abandoned stone building. The bird has been seen 
> feeding on the berry trees north of the building, and in the 
> mountain laurel behind and uphill from the building.
> 
> A cooperative *ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER continues to visit the 
> hawk watch platform at Kiptopeke SP, Northampton Co, with 
> reports from Nov 25 and 26. 
> 
> A ROSS'S GOOSE was seen Nov 26 at Bombay Hook NWR, DE, across 
> from Shearness Pool.
> 
> At least 3 CACKLING GEESE were present Nov 26 in the 
> impoundments along Broadkill Beach Rd, DE.
> 
> Some 57 TUNDRA SWANS were resting and preening in the cove 
> off of the Dameron Marsh Natural Area, near the bottom of the 
> Northern Neck, Northumberland Co, VA; the swans were easily 
> seen from the public viewing area. Fifty TUNDRA SWANS were 
> seen Nov 25 at Snow Goose Pool, Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA.

> 
> On Nov 26, birders on the ANS trip to Eastern Neck NWR, Kent 
> Co, MD, saw thousands of waterfowl, including 1,000 TUNDRA 
> SWANS and 17 species of duck, among them 40 male REDHEADS. 
> 
> In the District, the McMillan Reservoir (at Michigan Ave and 1st
St,
> NW) hosted a nice assortment of waterfowl, including 
> REDHEADS. And a REDHEAD was found Nov 26 a Kingstown Lake, 
> Alexandria VA. 
> 
> In Carroll Co, MD, Piney Run Reservoir featured 10 duck 
> species, plus EARED, HORNED, and PIED-BILLED GREBES, as 
> recently as Nov 28. 
> 
> On Nov 27, the waters of Accotink Bay and Pohick Bay, Fairfax 
> Co, VA, were filled with thousands of waterfowl, many close 
> the shore; these flocks, too, included a REDHEAD and a CANVASBACK.
> 
> On Nov 25, 9 COMMON EIDERS flew northward past the Point at 
> Cape Henlopen SP, DE. On Nov 27, a COMMON MOORHEN was noted 
> at Accotink Bay.
> 
> A loose flock of about 30 GANNETS flew past Scientists 
> Cliffs, overlooking the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert Co, MD, on Nov
25.
> 
> Three NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were tallied Nov 24 at the hawk watch 
> at Harvey's Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Roanoke, VA. 
> A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was reported from a yard in Beltsville, 
> Prince George's Co, MD, on Nov 27.
> 
> Kiptopeke scored a NORTHERN GOSHAWK Nov 27, one GOLDEN EAGLE 
> on Nov 23, and 2 GOLDEN EAGLES Nov 26.
> 
> Two light-phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were spotted Nov 26 in 
> Garrett Co, MD, about 1 mile north of Cranesville Swamp.
> 
> Four SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen Nov 26 in Garrett Co, from 
> Aaron's Run Rd.
> 
> On Nov 24, the District hosted three falcon species: AMERICAN 
> KESTREL at McMillan Reservoir, MERLIN at Hains Point, SW DC 
> (halfway down the loop on the Washington Channel side), and 2 
> PEREGRINES, on the wires of the RR bridge adjacent to the 
> 14th St Bridge over the Potomac.
> 
> On Nov 22, 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS were observed as they flew 
> past an office building at Bailey's Crossroads, Fall Church, 
> Fairfax Co. On Nov 25, a MERLIN was seen at Ben Brenman Park, 
> Cameron Station, Alexandria, perched high in a tree near the 
> end of the lake nearest the houses.
> 
> Four SANDHILL CRANES flew over the Kiptopeke hawk watch 
> platform on Nov 25.
> 
> On Nov 26, a pair of AMERICAN WOODCOCKS was foraging along 
> the Hike/Bike trail at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co.
> 
> Four LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were resting along the beach 
> at Chincoteague on Nov 25.
> 
> It is reported that the population of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES 
> in the Sandbridge area of Virginia Beach continues to expand. 
> Some 27 were seen Nov 27, 19 of them side-by-side on 
> telephone wires along the 2800 block of Sandpiper Rd.
> 
> A hummingbird, thought to be a female or juvenile 
> RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, has been frequenting a yard in 
> Silver Spring, Montgomery Co, for the past two weeks, with 
> the most recent sighting Nov 28. Initially it fed on flowers; 
> now, post-freeze, it is relying on a feeder.
> 
> A Myiarchus flycatcher, identified as a GREAT CRESTED 
> FLYCATCHER on the basis of its relatively bright and 
> contrasting plumage, was observed Nov 25 along the C&O Canal 
> in Montgomery Co; it was a short ways upstream from Sycamore
Landing.
> 
> 
> BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES continue. Reports this week come from 
> the Pilot Town Rd Serpentine Barrens in extreme NW Cecil Co, 
> and Webster-Lapidum Rd, just south of Susquehanna State Park, 
> Harford Co, MD. A BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE was found at Battery 
> Kemble Park, NW DC, on Nov 26. 
> 
> RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES continue to flit through the area, 
> with reports from Piney Run, Upper Marlboro in Prince 
> George's Co, and Darnestown in Montgomery Co, and Pohick Bay 
> Park, Fairfax Co. 
> 
> At least 70 AMERICAN PIPITS were seen Nov 26 in the vicinity 
> of Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD; they were near the 
> intersection of Key Wallace Drive and Egypt Rd. Dozens of 
> AMERICAN PIPITS were found Nov 27 at the Easton WWTP, Talbot Co,
MD.  
> 
> AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was reported Nov 26 from Mason Neck SP, 
> Fairfax Co, and the Blue Ridge Center in western Loudoun Co, 
> VA, as well as the Oakington Farm and Perryman areas in 
> Harford Co, MD. On Nov 25, AMERICAN TREE was one of 7 species 
> of sparrow seen at Julie Metz wetlands in Prince William Co. 
> On Nov 26, AMERICAN TREE was one of 7 species--along with FOX 
> and WHITE-CROWNED--at the Blue Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery 
> Co. FOX SPARROWS were also noted at Kenilworth Aquatic 
> Gardens, NE DC, on Nov 23, and Huntley Meadows Nov 26. 
> 
> Ten or more SNOW BUNTINGS, plus at least 3 LAPLAND LONGSPURS, 
> were observed Nov 26 along Cartanza Rd, just northwest of 
> Little Creek, DE (Cartanza runs between DE 8 and DE 9). On 
> Nov 25, a dozen or more LAPLAND LONGSPURS and 3 SNOW BUNTINGS 
> were found with a flock of 100 HORNED LARKS in Culpeper Co, 
> VA; these birds were along Myers Mill Rd
> (623) at the intersection of Springs Rd (802), just past the 
> Rappahanock River and the Fauquier Co line.
> 
> A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was seen at Kiptopeke Nov 26. That 
> same day a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was found in Virginia 
> Beach; it was in a
> newly tilled field at the corner of Morris Neck and Munden Rds.   
> 
> A PINE SISKIN visited a feeder in Silver Spring Nov 23.
> 
> See Life Paulagics is running a trip out of Lewes, DE, on 
> Saturday, Dec 10, looking for alcids and other winter 
> seabirds. For more information, call 215-234-6805 or see 
> their web site 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 either the MD/DC Records Committee
> (www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html) or the VA Records 
> Committee (www.virginiabirds.org).
>