> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 5:21 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 12/06/05
> 
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               12/06/2005
> Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
> Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
> Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
>         (email):     
>      (deadline):    midnight Mondays
> Compiler:           Joe Coleman
> 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 report was completed at 3:30 p.m. on 
> Tuesday, December 6.
> 
> Top birds this week are *PACIFIC LOON, *WESTERN GREBE, 
> *SANDHILL CRANE, *Selasphorus HUMMINGBIRD, *WHITE-WINGED DOVE 
> in VA and HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER in MD.
> 
> Other birds of interest include ROSS'S GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, 
> EURASIAN WIGEON, REDHEAD, HARLEQUIN DUCK, RED-NECKED and 
> EARED GREBES, AMERICAN BITTERN, PEREGRINE FALCON, SORA, 
> GLAUCOUS and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, EURASIAN 
> COLLARED-DOVE, SHORT-EARED OWL, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, 
> LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, HORNED LARK, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, SNOW 
> BUNTING, and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. 
> 
> A *PACIFIC LOON was observed in the ocean just beyond the 
> surf at Back Bay NWR, Virginia Beach, VA on Dec 4.  On the 
> same day another *PACIFIC LOON was observed, this one at the 
> other end of the state in South Holston Lake, Washington 
> County, VA near Washington County Park. It was well into the 
> mouth of the Spring Creek Embayment of the lake. 
> 
> A possible *WESTERN GREBE was seen at the mouth of Little 
> Hunting Creek on the Potomac River a little north of Mt 
> Vernon, Fairfax Co, VA the morning of Dec 3.  It was not 
> relocated on the 5th.
> 
> On Nov 30, the last day of their hawkwatch, the observers at 
> Harvey's Knob watched a *SANDHILL CRANE fly over with a 
> kettle of Turkey Vultures.
> 
> The *Selasphorus HUMMINGBIRD continued to visit a yard in 
> Cape Charles, Northampton Co, VA. It was seen at 9 Randolph 
> Ave as recently as Dec 3.
> 
> A *WHITE-WINGED DOVE, possibly a different one from the one 
> that has frequented a yard in Cape Charles, was located on 
> Dec 1; it was perched on top of a tree immediately north of 
> Dixon Rd, along Seaside St (not far from the Eastern Shore of 
> Virginia NWR, Northampton Co, VA.
> 
> A HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, discovered Nov 23 in Monkton, 
> northern Baltimore Co, MD, continued to be seen several times 
> each day during the past week with the most recent report on 
> Dec 5.  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 ROSS'S GOOSE was seen Nov 30 in Swan Cove, Chincoteague 
> NWR, Accomack Co, VA.  On Dec 4 two ROSS'S GEESE were found 
> at the Chincoteague NWR.
> 
> A CACKLING (RICHARDSON'S) GOOSE was found on both Dec 1 and 
> Dec 2 on the pond on Harrison Road, RT 750, Fauquier Co, VA.  
> To get to this location take I-66 to exit 31 (The Plains/Old 
> Tavern), go south to Harrison Rd. (first road on right),  
> about a 1/2 mile down the road on the right side is a pond in 
> a farm field.  Park as far off the road as possible, without 
> getting in the way of tractors.
> 
> A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was seen Dec 4 and Dec 6 at the 
> Fishing Center at the Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore Co, 
> MD.  Among the other waterfowl, there were also three REDHEADS.
> 
> In the District there were 5 REDHEADS at the McMillan 
> Reservoir (at Michigan Ave and 1st St, NW) on Dec 4.  Two 
> drake REDHEADS were at the Georgetown Reservoir, NW DC on the 
> same day. 
> 
> Two HARLEQUIN DUCKS were present Dec 3 on Island 2 of the 
> Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel, Northampton Co, VA.
> 
> Two RED-NECKED GREBES were found on Dec 3 and 4 at Beauve 
> Ponds, Abel's Wharf Rd, Leonardtown, St Mary's Co, MD.  An 
> EARED GREBE continued to be seen at Piney Run Reservoir, 
> Carroll Co, MD, with the most recent report from Nov 30.  Two 
> EARED GREBES were also seen on the middle impoundment at the 
> Craney Island landfill, Portsmouth, VA on Dec 1 while one was 
> seen there on Dec 2.
> 
> An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen walking between the ponds at the 
> Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, NE DC, between 3 and 4 p.m. on Dec 3.
> 
> On Dec 2, a PEREGRINE FALCON flew past an office building at 
> Bailey's Crossroads, Fall Church, Fairfax Co, VA.  Another 
> PEREGRINE FALCON was seen at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on Dec
6. 
> 
> A SORA was seen crossing an opening in the loop of the 
> boardwalk at Huntley Meadow's Park, Fairfax Co, VA on Dec 1.
> 
> Two GLAUCOUS GULLS (1 a 1st winter bird and the other a 2nd winter
> bird) were seen at the Prince William Co (VA) Landfill on Dec 
> 3. There were also 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS (two adults 
> and the other a 2nd winter bird.
> 
> Two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were seen on the wires at the 
> intersection of Rt. 600 and Magotha Road in Northampton Co, 
> VA on Friday, Dec. 2.
> 
> SHORT-EARED OWLS have returned to northwestern Fauquier Co 
> with two sighted Nov 30 on Rt 624, Crenshaw Rd, a little over 
> a half mile from the its intersection with Rt 710, Rectortown 
> Rd.  Be careful when you park and pull all the way off the road.
> 
> The hummingbird which has been frequenting a yard in Silver 
> Spring, Montgomery Co, MD, for the past few weeks was banded 
> last week and is a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD.  It was most 
> recently seen Dec 5.
> 
> A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen Dec 3 in a field on the north 
> side of Rt 628, part of the loop trail at Blandy Experimental 
> Farm, Clarke Co, VA.  Several HORNED LARKS (21) and 
> RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES (8) were found at Blandy Farm on the 
> same Northern Virginia Bird Club trip.
> 
> RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES continued to be reported from a 
> number of locations throughout the area. 
> 
> Two SNOW BUNTINGS were seen at Point Lookout SP, St. Mary's 
> Co, MD on Dec 5.
> 
> A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was seen in Worcester Co, MD on Dec 
> 3.  It was found in a large flock of blackbirds on Rt 12 near 
> Mt. Olive Church Road several miles from Salisbury going 
> towards Snow Hill (DeLorme, page 34, D2).  It was not 
> relocated the next day.
> 
> The See Life Paulagics trip out of Lewes, DE, on Saturday, 
> Dec 10, is full.  To be put on a waiting list or 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)
>