> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 5:22 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 12/20/05
> 
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               12/20/2005
> 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, December 20, at 1
p.m.
> 
> Top birds this week are *GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in DC, 
> *SNOWY OWL, RUBY-THROATED and *RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, and 
> *HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER in MD, and *ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD, in VA 
> 
> Other birds of interest include ROSS'S GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, 
> EURASIAN WIGEON, EARED GREBE, and other waterfowl, 
> BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, 
> COOPER'S HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON, 
> SANDHILL CRANE, WILSON'S SNIPE, BLACK-HEADED, ICELAND and 
> other GULLS, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, HORNED LARK, RED-BREASTED 
> NUTHATCH, SEDGE WREN, AMERICAN PIPIT, warblers, AMERICAN TREE 
> and other sparrows, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, 
> YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, and COMMON REDPOLL.  
> 
> A *GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was observed Dec 15 at West 
> Potomac Park, SW DC; it was in a field west of the FDR 
> Memorial. On Dec 17, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was 
> swimming on the Potomac River just south of Memorial Bridge.
> 
> Maryland enjoyed a small flurry of SNOWY OWLS this week.
> 
> A young *SNOWY OWL was discovered on the afternoon of Dec 17 
> on Elliott Island Rd, Dorchester Co, MD. It was perched on a 
> power pole 7 miles from the intersection of Elliott Island Rd 
> and Henrys Crossroads Rd--and in the vicinity of a Christmas 
> display containing a white artificial tree decorated with red 
> ribbons and large yellow and orange ornaments. This heavily 
> barred bird was seen again Dec 18 and the morning of Dec 19. 
> The area also hosts a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and a SEDGE WREN.
> 
> A different *SNOWY OWL--more lightly barred--was observed on 
> the afternoon of Dec 17 on Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co. 
> The weekly Hart-Miller survey also tallied 17 SNOW BUNTINGS.  
> 
> On Dec 18, an immature *SNOWY OWL was discovered in Queen 
> Anne's Co, MD; it was on private farm fields west of Centreville. 
> 
> The *ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD continues to tough it out in Cape 
> Charles, Northampton Co, VA. It was seen as recently as Dec 
> 18 at 9 Randolph Ave, where more 200 people have come to see 
> it. The best time to look for it appears to be late afternoon.
> 
> The Selasphorus hummingbird North Beach, Calvert Co, was 
> banded on Dec 13, confirming that it is an immature male 
> *RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD. It was reported again on Dec 15, 
> frequenting feeders at 9119 Bay Ave, where it can be seen 
> from the road. 
> 
> The record-late RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD continues to visit 
> a heated feeder in Silver Spring, Montgomery Co, with a 
> report from Dec 18.
> 
> The *HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER that spent the last few weeks in 
> Monkton, northern Baltimore Co, was seen Dec 14, but by Dec 
> 16 it could no longer be found.
> 
> Three SNOW GEESE were a surprise find in Montgomery Co Dec 
> 18; they were at a private pond just north of the Blue Mash 
> Nature Trail. 
> 
> A ROSS'S GOOSE was seen in Cecil Co Dec 18; it was along Rte 
> 213, just south of Hacks Point.
> 
> A CACKLING GOOSE was noted Dec 16 at Gravelly Point, 
> Arlington Co, VA, off the GW Parkway north of National 
> Airport. A group of small, possibly CACKLING, GEESE were seen 
> near the Lincoln Memorial Dec 15 and again Dec 17. 
> 
> A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was found again Dec 13 at the Beauvue 
> ponds in St. Mary's Co, MD; it was with GADWALL, REDHEADS, 
> and many other ducks in the small pond with a duck blind next 
> to the farm road. An EARED GREBE was in the long pond in 
> front of the pale yellow house. That same day, an EARED GREBE 
> was found at the end of Wharf Rd at Piscataway Park, Prince 
> George's Co; it was on the far side a little to the left of 
> the marsh. 
> 
> Waterfowl are gathering at a variety of area locations. On 
> Dec 13, the reservoir at Black Hill RP, Montgomery Co, hosted 
> 7 species of duck, including a Northern Shoveler. About 10 
> NORTHERN SHOVELERS visited the waters of Baltimore Harbor, 
> near the Science Center, on Dec 14. On Dec 14, Centennial 
> lake in Howard Co sported a LONG-TAILED DUCK, along with 6 
> other species; it was still present Dec 17, east of the boat 
> ramp. On Dec 18, an amazing 66 LONG-TAILED DUCKS gathered on 
> the North East River, Cecil Co. On Dec 16, Beaverdam 
> reservoir, Loudoun Co, VA, held loons, grebes, and 
> mergansers, as well an assortment of ducks.
> 
> Three BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were observed Dec 17 at the 
> power plant in Alexandria, VA.
> 
> A BALD EAGLE was observed on the southern end of Kingman 
> Island, NE DC, on Dec 15. 
> 
> On Dec 14, the Brooke, VA Christmas Bird Count tallied an 
> amazing 18 adult and 14 immature BALD EAGLES--seen at one 
> time--in trees bordering the Prince William Co landfill; 
> another 30 BALD EAGLES were seen in other parts of the count
circle.
> 
> A NORTHERN HARRIER was reported from the District on Dec 17; 
> it was flying west from Rock Creek along Military Rd.
> 
> A COOPER'S HAWK was noted in NW DC Dec 13; it was flying 
> north across Indiana Ave, NW, between the DC Police 
> Headquarters and the DC Superior Courthouse; it landed on the 
> roof of the old federal courthouse at 4th St. and Indiana Ave, NW.

> 
> On Dec 16, a COOPER'S HAWK, 2 MERLINS, and 1 PEREGRINE FALCON 
> were sighted at Hains Point, SW DC. Two MERLINS were seen at 
> the Hains Point golf course Nov 17 (as was a WILD TURKEY). 
> 
> A PEREGRINE FALCON soared past an office window near Bailey's 
> Crossroads, Falls Church, Fairfax Co, VA, on Dec 16. On Dec 
> 19, a PEREGRINE flew over the Alexandria Metro station. Two 
> PEREGRINES were seen at the Wilson Bridge, south of 
> Alexandria, on Dec 17 and again Dec 18.
> 
> Two SANDHILL CRANES were discovered Dec 18 as they rested on 
> the ice at the North Fork wetlands, Prince William Co; the 
> birds eventually flew south over I-66. Although the North 
> Fork property is privately owned, it can be viewed from 
> Thoroughfare Rd. 
> 
> On Dec 19, a WILSON'S SNIPE was flushed at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co.
> 
> An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen among BONAPARTE'S GULLS 
> Dec 15 at Island #1 of the CBB/T. On Dec 13, a juvenile 
> ICELAND GULL stopped at the reservoir at Black Hill. 
> 
> A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at the Washington Navy 
> Yard, SE DC, Dec 16, and across the Anacostia from the Navy 
> Yard on Dec 17. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were also noted at 
> Kenilworth Park, NE DC, Dec 16; at Schoolhouse Pond, Upper 
> Marlboro, Prince George's Co, Dec 16; and from the Stone 
> Bridge at the mouth of Hunting Creek, on the GW Parkway, 
> Fairfax Co, Dec 17. 
> 
> A juvenile RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was found Dec 18 at the 
> Weinberg Park in northern Anne Arundel Co, MD.
> 
> 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 were noted at numerous locations, 
> including a feeder just north of Burkittsville, Frederick Co, 
> MD, on Dec 13; Ft. C. F. Smith Park, Arlington, Dec 16; and 
> Langley High School, Fairfax Co, Dec 17.
> 
> The Bombay Hook (DE) CBC Dec 18 uncovered 8 SEDGE WRENS along 
> Port Mahon Rd.
> 
> Several hundred HORNED LARKS were found Dec 18 in Frederick 
> and Carroll counties, MD, including one flock of 600 just 
> west of Keysville Rd between Forest & Stream Club Rd and Six 
> Bridges Rd. One LAPLAND LONGSPUR few low overhead.
> 
> On Dec 18, HORNED LARKS and AMERICAN PIPITS were present in 
> the fields north of the polo grounds on Hughes Rd, Montgomery 
> Co. PIPITS were also found along the entrance road to the 
> soccerplex in Germantown, off Rte 118. 
> 
> An ORANGE-CROWNED warbler was found Dec 17 in Anacostia Park, 
> NE DC. A NASHVILLE WARBLER was found during the St. Michaels 
> (Talbot Co, MD) Christmas Bird Count; it was in a hedge 
> beside the playground of a public park just north of Knapps 
> Narrows. The St. Michael's count also turned up a PINE 
> WARBLER. A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was discovered at 
> Conowingo Dam, Cecil Co, Dec 16, and seen again Dec 17. A 
> warbler discovered at Hunting Creek Dec 14 was confirmed as a 
> WILSON'S WARBLER when it was seen Dec 18; it frequented 
> bushes near the parking lot on the north side of Hunting 
> Creek. The same are sheltered a LINCOLN'S SPARROW. A COMMON 
> YELLOWTHROAT was discovered during the CBC at The Plains, 
> Fauquier Co, VA.
> 
> Fifteen or more AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen Dec 16 at 
> the Dulles Wetlands, close to the road. Eight AMERICAN TREE 
> SPARROWS were found Dec 17 at Blue Mash.
> 
> Nine species of sparrow, including AMERICAN TREE and 
> WHITE-CROWNED, were found Dec 18 during a CBC survey of a 
> private golf course in Loudoun Co, VA.
> 
> A possible OREGON JUNCO has been seen and photographed in 
> Frostburg, Allegany Co, MD, with reports from Dec 14 and 19. 
> 
> On Dec 14, the fields around the Patton Turf Farm, south of 
> White's Ferry in far western Montgomery Co, held 2 LAPLAND 
> LONGSPURS, along with a flock of 150 HORNED LARKS. These 
> birds were there again Dec 16, joined by a VESPER SPARROW.
> 
> A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was discovered Dec 18 in Cecil Co; 
> it was flying over Principio Station Rd in the direction of 
> Furnace Bay and Perryville Park.
> 
> On Dec 18, a COMMON REDPOLL perched atop a tall deciduous 
> tree on Rippling Brook Dr in the Bel Pre neighborhood of 
> Montgomery Co.
> 
> 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)
>