> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 8:38 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 1/3/06
> 
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               1/3/2006
> 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, Jan 3, at 7:30
p.m.
> 
> Top birds this week are *PACIFIC LOON, *CLARK'S GREBE, 
> *CALIFORNIA GULL, *ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD, BROWN-HEADED 
> NUTHATCH, and LECONTE'S SPARROW in VA and *TOWNSEND'S WARBLER 
> and *OREGON JUNCO in MD. 
> 
> Other birds of interest include GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, 
> CACKLING GOOSE and other waterfowl, NORTHERN BOBWHITE, 
> NORTHERN GANNET, GREAT CORMORANT, AMERICAN BITTERN, raptors 
> including NORTHERN GOSHAWK, rails, RED KNOT, PURPLE 
> SANDPIPER, gulls, SHORT-EARED OWL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, TREE 
> and CAVE SWALLOWS, warblers, AMERICAN TREE and other 
> SPARROWS, SNOW BUNTING, and PINE SISKIN.  
> 
> A *PACIFIC LOON was seen Jan 1 at Palmer's Point, Kerr 
> Reservoir, in Mecklenburg Co in far southern VA. This is the 
> same area that hosted a Pacific Loon in the winter of 2004.
> 
> A *CLARK'S GREBE was once again found on the Little Creek CBC 
> in Virginia Beach on Dec 31. It was just off the Lynnhaven 
> Fishing Pier, where it could be easily studied with a scope 
> from First Landing State Park just to the east
> 
> An adult *CALIFORNIA GULL was reported from Neabsco Creek, 
> Prince William Co, VA, on Dec 28.
> 
> The *ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD was an irregular visitor this week 
> to the yard in Cape Charles, Northampton Co, VA. It was last 
> seen Dec 30.
> 
> A BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH was discovered Dec 31 at Occoquan 
> Regional Park, Fairfax Co, VA, and relocated Dec 31 and Jan 
> 1. This bird, a Northern VA first, was initially seen just 
> past the power line cut near a 25 mph sign. It later moved a 
> little further down the road, to an area with pines on both 
> sides. Occoquan RP is located on Rte 123/Ox Rd, north of the 
> Occoquan River; when the gate to the park is closed, you can 
> park and walk in. 
> 
> A *TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was discovered Jan 2, and seen again 
> repeatedly and at length Jan 3, at Noland's Ferry in 
> Frederick Co, MD. This bird, a first state record, favors the 
> tops of deciduous trees along the C&O towpath below and about 
> 1/4 mile above the entrance road, New Design Rd. 
> 
> A *LECONTE'S SPARROW was seen Jan 1 in James City Co, VA, 
> just west of Williamsburg. It was along the Green Springs 
> Trail, at the base of a large earthen berm about a mile from 
> the trail entrance at Jamestown HS. 
> 
> An *OREGON JUNCO made a third appearance at a feeder in 
> Frostburg, Allegany Co, on Dec 31.
> 
> A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was observed Dec 30 at 
> Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro, Prince George's Co, MD.
> 
> A CACKLING GOOSE was found during the Ft. Belvoir CBC Dec 31, 
> in a retention pond behind the new Lorton High School, Fairfax Co,
VA.
> 
> Waterfowl continue to congregate at various area locations, 
> including, in MD, Piney Run Park, Carroll Co; Black Hill RP, 
> Montgomery Co; and Centennial Lake, Howard Co. A COMMON 
> GOLDENEYE was again seen on Lake Artemesia, Prince George's 
> Co, MD on Dec 28.
> 
> Male and female EURASIAN WIGEONS were found Dec 28 at the 
> Eagle's Nest Golf Course south of Ocean City, Worcester Co, 
> MD. A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was found Dec 28 at Horsehead 
> Wetlands Center, Queen Anne's Co, MD. A EURASIAN WIGEON was 
> found Jan 2 at Loch Raven Reservoir, Baltimore Co; it was in 
> the cove opposite the fishing center. 
> 
> A NORTHERN BOBWHITE was found at Occoquan Bay NWR Dec 31.
> 
> A GREAT CORMORANT was seen at Indian River Inlet, DE on Dec 
> 27. The Inlet also showcased NORTHERN GANNETS, COMMON EIDERS, 
> and PURPLE SANDPIPERS. 
> 
> An AMERICAN BITTERN was found during the Sugarloaf CBC Jan 2 
> at Lilypons Water Gardens, Frederick Co, MD. 
> 
> A perched COOPER'S HAWK was seen Jan 1 in NW DC at the C&O 
> Canal and 31st St.
> 
> A juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK was briefly seen on Dec 31 in 
> Washington Co, MD, along Broadfording Rd near Spickler Rd.
> 
> A GOLDEN EAGLE was spotted Jan 1as it flew overhead during 
> the Walkerton CBC in Prince William Co, VA, at Elson Green.
> 
> On Jan 1 in the District, one PEREGRINE FALCON was seen at 
> the railroad bridge (adjacent to the 14th St bridge) over the 
> Potomac, while another was present at Kenilworth Park, NE DC. 
> 
> A BLACK RAIL was heard along Rumbly Point Rd near Irish 
> Grove, Somerset Co, MD, during the Crisfield CBC. 
> 
> A KING RAIL was reported from Occoquan Bay NWR Dec 31.
> 
> At Lilypons, a VIRGINIA RAIL responded to a tape on Dec 31 
> but was silent for the CBC Jan 2. However, a SORA seen Jan 2 
> at Lilypons was a first for the Sugarloaf Count.
> 
> On Dec 28, 62 RED KNOTS were present at Back Bay NWR in 
> Virginia Beach; they were about a mile south of the VC along 
> the beach trail.
> 
> One LITTLE GULL and two BLACK-HEADED GULLS were among many 
> BONAPARTE'S and RING-BILLED GULLS at Fort Story, Virginia 
> Beach, on Dec 31.
> 
> LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were noted Jan 1 in DC, one on the 
> right bank of the Anacostia and two near the Navy Yard 
> visible from Anacostia River Park. Other sightings of LESSER 
> BLACK-BACKED GULLS occurred at the Prince George's Co 
> landfill Dec 29, Neabsco Creek, Prince William Co, VA, Dec 
> 31, and at the mouth of Hunting Creek, Fairfax Co, Jan 1.  
> 
> A GLAUCOUS GULL was discovered on Smith Island, Northampton 
> Co, VA, during the Cape Charles CBC.
>  
> Three and four SHORT-EARED OWLS again made pre-dusk 
> appearances along Crenshaw Road at Rectorstown, Fauquier Co, 
> VA on Dec 27 and 30. Two SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen Dec 30, 
> and again Jan 1, just north of Winchester, Frederick Co, VA, 
> where they could be observed from Milburn Rd.
> 
> On Dec 30, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE flew in at sunset and perched 
> at the top of a small tree in the southern cell of the Dulles 
> Wetlands, a privately owned property in Loudoun Co, VA.  
> 
> A TREE SWALLOW was spotted Jan 1, during the Patuxent River 
> CBC, over Solomon's Island. 
> 
> Two CAVE SWALLOWS were observed Jan 2 as they fed for several 
> hours along the northeastern corner of Craney Island, Portsmouth,
VA. 
> 
> Several huge gatherings of AMERICAN ROBINS have been noted in 
> Montgomery Co. On the south side of Kensington, a grove of 
> bamboo along Glenrose Rd, just one block off Connecticut Ave, 
> hosts thousands of Robins each night. On Dec 28, an estimated 
> 7.5 thousand Robins were noted along the C&O Canal between 
> Edward's Ferry and White's Ferry. Another roost was reported 
> north of Bonifant Rd in Silver Spring 
> 
> Warbler sightings this week included YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER 
> visiting a feeder at Lake Smith in Virginia Beach, on Dec 27 
> and Dec 30; PINE WARBLER at a suet feeder in Montgomery Co 
> Dec 30, and at Pohick RP, Fairfax Co, Dec 31; and two PALM 
> WARBLERS Dec 28 in Loudoun Co, one at Banshee Reeks NP and 
> one at the Dulles Wetlands. A male COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was on 
> display at Lilypons on Dec 31.
> 
> On Jan 2, fields near the horse farm on West Offutt Rd in 
> western Montgomery Co held a nice collection of SPARROWS, 
> including AMERICAN TREE, FIELD, and FOX. Two AMERICAN TREE 
> SPARROWS were present at Vint Hill Farms Park, Culpeper Co, 
> VA, Dec 30. 
> 
> Twenty SNOW BUNTINGS were found on Poplar Island, Talbot Co, 
> MD, on Dec 28. Two SNOW BUNTINGS were seen at Sandy Point SP, 
> Anne Arundel Co, MD, Dec 27. 
> 
> A PINE SISKIN was discovered at Sandy Run RP, Fairfax Co, on Dec
31.
> 
> 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)
>