> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 12:59 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 12/27/05
> 
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               12/27/2005
> Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
> Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
> Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
>         (email):     
>      (deadline):    midnight Mondays
> Compiler:           Helen Patton
> 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, Dec 27, at 4:15
p.m.
> 
> Top birds this week are *GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in DC 
> and MD, *SNOWY OWL and RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD in MD and 
> *ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD in VA.
> 
> Other birds of interest include CACKLING GOOSE and other 
> waterfowl, BROWN PELICAN, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, NORTHERN 
> GOSHAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON, 
> WILSON'S SNIPE, gulls, SHORT-EARED OWL, BLACK-CAPPED 
> CHICKADEE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, SEDGE WREN, warblers, 
> AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING and 
> RUSTY BLACKBIRD.  
> 
> A *GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was observed Dec 21 along the 
> wildlife drive behind the Nature Center at Blackwater NWR, 
> Dorchester Co, MD. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen in 
> the region including the Lincoln Monument area, DC on Dec 22; 
> the dam at Loch Raven Reservoir, Baltimore Co, MD on Dec 24; 
> the cornfield at the corner of Rte. 4 and Yellow Bank Road in 
> Dunkirk, Calvert Co, MD on Dec 26.
> 
> The young *SNOWY OWL, discovered previously on Elliott Island 
> Rd, Dorchester Co, MD was seen again on Dec 21.  The area 
> also hosted a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, a SHORT-EARED OWL and a SEDGE
WREN.
> 
> A different *SNOWY OWL was still being seen by the 
> Hart-Miller Island employees as of Dec 22. 
> 
> The *ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD continues to thrive, eating emerging 
> midge-like insects in Cape Charles, Northampton Co, VA. It 
> was seen as recently as Dec 24.
> 
> The record-late RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD continues to visit 
> a heated feeder in Silver Spring, Montgomery Co, MD with a 
> report from Dec 21.
> 
> Five CACKLING GEESE was noted Dec 22 in a cow pasture along 
> Rte. 216 in Fulton, Howard Co, MD.  Five more CACKLING GEESE 
> were spotted at Burke Lake, Fairfax Co, VA on Dec 23. One 
> CACKLING GOOSE was picked out of the CANADA GOOSE flock on 
> the eastern extension of Crystal Lake in Cape Charles, 
> Northampton Co, and Westminster Reservoir, Carroll Co, MD on Dec
24.
> 
> Waterfowl continue to gather at a variety of area locations. 
> A group of approximately 75 REDHEADS were seen from the boat 
> ramp at Elliot Island on Dec 21 and 22. They were in a huge 
> raft of CANVASBACKS, RUDDY DUCKS and SCAUP. COMMON EIDERS 
> were spotted at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD and at 
> Indian River Inlet, DE on Dec 26. Eight LONG-TAILED DUCKS 
> were noted off Riviera Beach, Anne Arundel Co, MD on Dec 21. 
> Two COMMON GOLDENEYE graced Centennial Lake, Howard Co, on 
> Dec 22. Another was seen at Piney Run Park, Carroll Co, on 
> Dec 25 and a female COMMON GOLDENEYE was seen on Lake 
> Artemesia, Prince George's Co, MD on Dec 26 and 27.
> 
> Two BROWN PELICANS were floating in the Potomac on the south 
> side of Cobb Island, Charles Co, MD on Dec 22.
> 
> A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was photographed in Ben Brenman 
> Park along Holmes Run on Dec 24. This park is on what was 
> once Cameron Station off Duke Street on the west side of 
> Alexandria, VA.
> 
> A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen on Poplar Neck Road, just north 
> of the Choptank, Caroline Co, MD on Dec 26. This may be a 
> second county record.
> 
> On Dec 23 a MERLIN flew across the road just south of the 
> intersection of Rt. 29 (Colesville Road) and Randolph/Cherry 
> Hill Roads, Montgomery Co. Another MERLIN was strafing Burke 
> Lake on Dec 24. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen at Georgetown 
> Reservoir, DC on Dec 25.
> 
> On Dec 23, three WILSON'S SNIPE were seen on Elliott Island.
> 
> Six BONAPARTE'S GULLS were seen at Wharf Road, Prince 
> George's Co, on Dec 26. A possible CALIFORNIA GULL was 
> spotted at Little Hunting Creek, Fairfax Co, VA on Dec 26. 
> LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were also noted at Schoolhouse 
> Pond, Upper Marlboro, Prince George's Co, Dec 21 and 26; on 
> the Washington Channel side of Hains Point, DC on Dec 22; at 
> Tanyard, Caroline Co, on Dec 23; the mudflats at Neabsco on 
> Dec 24; at Brighton Dam on the Howard/Montgomery County line 
> on Dec 25. 
> 
> Up to six SHORT-EARED OWLS gave good views along Crenshaw 
> Road at Rectorstown, Fauquier Co, VA on Dec 22.
> 
> A single BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE was found at the back of the 
> park on Sandchain Rd. in the Owen Brown area of Columbia, 
> Howard Co, on Dec 23. 
> 
> RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were noted at numerous locations, 
> including Ft. C. F. Smith Park, Arlington, Dec 22; at the 
> Nature Center in Cheverly, Prince George's Co, Dec 24; and 
> Martinak State Park, Caroline Co, on Dec 26.
> 
> A SEDGE WREN (a new bird for the location) was spotted on 
> Hart-Miller Island on Dec 24.
> 
> A drab ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was found Dec 25 in the holly 
> trees above the entrance channel to the Tidal Basin, DC. A 
> NASHVILLE WARBLER was a great Christmas bird in Bowie, Prince 
> George's Co, on Dec 24. A WILSON'S WARBLER was still present 
> in the shrubby/vine area north of the west side of Hunting 
> Creek mudflats with a report from Dec 24.
> 
> Two AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen Dec 22 at the Blue Mash 
> Nature Trail, Montgomery Co.
> 
> Four LAPLAND LONGSPURS were noted on Sparks Road, Caroline 
> Co, on Dec 26.
> 
> A SNOW BUNTING was seen on Sparks Road on Dec 23 and 26. 
> Three SNOW BUNTINGS were included in the weekly Hart-Miller 
> Island report from Dec 24.
> 
> A female RUSTY BLACKBIRD was spotted along the bend of 
> Neabsco Creek on the afternoon of Dec 23.
> 
> 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).
>