-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: "Steve Cordle" <>
To:
Subject: DC Area, 1/10/06
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 02:11:39 +0000
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 1/10/2006
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 10, at 7:30 p.m.
Top birds this week are AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN and *TOWNSEND'S WARBLER
in MD and *CALIFORNIA GULL, *ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, and BROWN-HEADED
NUTHATCH in VA
Other birds of interest include SNOW GOOSE, EURASIAN WIGEON and other
waterfowl, GREAT CORMORANT, AMERICAN BITTERN, raptors including
NORTHERN GOSHAWK, VIRGINIA RAIL, gulls, SHORT-EARED OWL, RUBY-THROATED
and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, WESTERN KINGBIRD, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE,
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, HERMIT THRUSH, AMERICAN PIPIT, warblers,
AMERICAN TREE and other SPARROWS, SNOW BUNTING, PURPLE FINCH, and
BALTIMORE ORIOLE.
Four AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS visited Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co,
MD, with reports from Jan 4, 5, and 6; the birds sat on a mudbar on
the Blackwater River, visible from the Wildlife Drive.
An adult *CALIFORNIA GULL was found Jan 8 at Hunting Creek, Fairfax
Co, VA. It was seen first on the mudflats on the inland side, but
subsequently flew to the east side of the Stone Bridge, where it
joined other gulls floating on the (Potomac) river.
An *ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was discovered during Richmond (VA)
Audubon's James River Bird Count on Jan 7, and it was still present
Jan 9. The flycatcher was in the train yard just south of the Richmond
floodwall along the southern bank of the river, where it spent a lot
of time out in the open on the railroad track and in the nearby grassy
area. (The floodwall parking lot is on Semmes Ave at the southern end
of the Manchester Bridge in Richmond; drive north on Semmes, as though
you intend to cross the Manchester Bridge, but turn left into the lot
before you enter the on-ramp for the bridge, just after the north and
southbound lanes split. There are small brown signs for the parking
lot.)
The BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH was last week at Occoquan Regional Park,
Fairfax Co, was seen again Jan 7, near the third culvert on the left,
and briefly glimpsed on Jan 8. (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 down the road.)
The *TOWNSEND'S WARBLER at Noland's Ferry along the C&O Canal,
Frederick Co, MD, was enjoyed by scores of birders daily though sunset
on Jan 6--but has not been seen since.
A SNOW GOOSE was a surprise visitor at Greenbelt Lake, Prince George's
Co, MD, on Jan 9.
A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was again seen at the Eagle's Nest Golf Course
south of Ocean City, Worcester Co, MD, on Jan 5. A drake EURASIAN
WIGEON was again found Jan 8 at Horsehead Wetlands Center, Queen
Anne's Co, MD.
Eight REDHEADS were found Jan 8 in Prince George's Co at the National
Colonial Farm, Accokeek Creek section. One REDHEAD was seen at Blue
Mash NT, Montgomery Co, MD, Jan 7. One REDHEAD among 16 species of
waterfowl Jan 4 at Piney Run Park, Carroll Co, MD.
Two COMMON EIDERS were present at the Ocean City Inlet Jan 5.
Indian River Inlet, DE, featured as many as 10 COMMON EIDERS and a
young male HARLEQUIN DUCK Jan 5 and 8. Another of the Inlet's
specialties, a GREAT CORMORANT, was on the tower. A GREAT CORMORANT
was also spotted 9 at Roosevelt Inlet, DE, on Jan 9.
A young male HARLEQUIN DUCK continues to cavort among the boats and
pilings at the Choptank Marina in Cambridge, Dorchester Co, with
reports through Jan 9.
COMMON GOLDENEYES were noted at numerous locations, including, in VA,
Lake Cook, off Eisenhower Ave in Alexandria Jan 9; Burke Lake, Fairfax
Co, Jan 8; and the new marina in Prince William Co overlooking the
mouth of the Occoquan River Jan 8.
In MD, GOLDENEYES were noted on the Potomac at Noland's Ferry Jan 7
and Lock 8 on Jan 8; at Black Hill RP, Montgomery Co, Jan 5 and 9; and
Loch Raven, Baltimore Co Jan 9. Some 40 GOLDENEYES were found on the
North East River, Cecil Co, MD, on Jan 8, along with 7 RED-BREASTED
MERGANSERS.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was seen Jan 7 and 8 at Burke Lake.
This week HOODED MERGANSERS and RING-NECKED DUCKS discovered a small
pond in the Flower Hill neighborhood of Gaithersburg, Montgomery Co.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was found Jan 6 at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, NE
DC. Two AMERICAN BITTERNS were found Jan 7 at Deal Island WMA,
Somerset Co, MD, where a "magnificent sunset" was also enhanced by 1
SHORT-EARED OWL, 3 VIRGINIA RAILS, and a minimum of 62 BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERONS.
The DC Metro's Yellow Line turned out to be a fine place for spotting
raptors on Jan 9, with views of a COOPER'S HAWK, a juvenile RED-TAILED
HAWK, and then, just before the train plunged underground, a BALD
EAGLE.
Another urban raptor was the AMERICAN KESTREL perched along Rte 50 in
Rosslyn, VA, on Jan 6.
On Jan 9, a COOPER'S HAWK perched cooperatively in Riverside Park, off
the Mount Vernon trail along the GW Parkway.
An immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen Jan 5 at Bombay Hook NWR, DE; it
flushed from a small clump of trees at the north end of Bear Swamp.
A second-year GOLDEN EAGLE was observed Jan 7 as it circled and moved
east toward "downtown" Wachapreague, Accomack Co, VA.
At least 3 MERLINS were present at the Hains Point Golf Course, East
Potomac Park, SW DC, Jan 4. On Jan 8, Potomac Park held 1 BALD EAGLE,
2 COOPER'S HAWKS, 1 RED-SHOULDER, 1 RED-TAIL, and 2 MERLINS.
On Jan 8 at Jones Point, on the Potomac south of Alexandria, a
PEREGRINE FALCON perched on the one of Wilson Bridge cranes.
On Jan 7, the Prince William Co (VA) landfill hosted 2 first-winter
ICELAND GULLS and 2 first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL (plus 8 BALD EAGLES and
a young PEREGRINE). On Jan 5, the Beulah landfill in Dorchester Co
also held a first-winter ICELAND GULL and a first-winter GLAUCOUS
GULL.
SHORT-EARED OWLS and NORTHERN HARRIERS again appeared around dusk
along Crenshaw Road at Rectorstown, Fauquier Co, VA, on Jan 8. And on
Jan 3 and 8, SHORT-EARED OWLS showed up at the spot in Louisa Co, VA,
where they've been seen in previous years: about 3 miles northeast of
Zion Crossroads. (From Zion Crossroads [US 15 at I-64] take Rte 15
north for 2.4 miles; turn right [east] on Rte 617 and go 1 mile, where
there are hayfields on both sides of the road.)
A record-setting RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD continues to thrive, as of
Jan 9, visiting a yard in Silver Spring, Montgomery Co, where it is
sustained by a heated feeder and a special diet. This bird far exceeds
the previous late date.
A RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD has been visiting a feeder in Chesterfield Co,
VA, for over a month. To make arrangements to see this bird, consult
the directions on the VA-Bird list server.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD was reported Jan 6 at Cape Henlopen SP, DE; it was
seen just before the Visitor Center.
On Jan 8 a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen near the entrance to Blandy
Experimental Farm, Clarke Co, VA.
A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was found at the National Arboretum, NE DE,
Jan 7, behind the State Tree area--along with a HERMIT THRUSH and a
PURPLE FINCH. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH visited a feeder in Elkton, Jan
6. Some 18 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were tallied Jan 8 at Soldiers
Delight NA, Baltimore Co, as were several AMERICAN TREE and FOX
SPARROWS.
On Jan 9, a flock of at least 115 AMERICAN PIPITS was noted in a field
west of Prince Frederick, Calvert Co, at the intersection of Stoakley
and Leitchs Wharf Rds.
On Jan 7, feeders in West Ocean City and Indian Head, Charles Co, MD,
were graced with a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER. On Jan 8, a COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT was found along a back trail off the C&O Canal between
Fletcher's Boathouse and Chain Bridge, NW DC.
On Jan 6, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, NE DC, held AMERICAN TREE, FOX,
and SWAMP SPARROWS. A dozen AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were found at Blue
Mash Jan 7. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW originally found at Hunting Creek on
the DC CBC was seen again Jan 4.
A single SNOW BUNTING was sighted Jan 7 on Cartanza Rd southwest of
Bombay Hook. A SNOW BUNTING was seen Jan 9 at the parking lot at the
Herring Point parking lot, Cape Henlopen SP.
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE has been visiting a feeder in Seaford, DE, with
reports from Jan 2, 3, and 6. A BALTIMORE ORIOLE made a brief visit to
a yard in Scientists Cliffs, Calvert Co, MD, on Jan 8.
See Life Paulagics will be running trips on Feb 25 and 26. The
Saturday trip will be a regular 12-hour offshore pelagic. The Sunday
trip will be an 8-hour inshore trip. For
more details, check their web site at paulagics.com or call
215-234-6805.
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) |