> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 6:55 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 3/21/06
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               3/21/2006
> 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 report was completed Tuesday, March 
> 21, at 6 p.m.
> 
> Top birds this week are *PACIFIC LOON, *SNOWY OWL, and 
> YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, all in VA. 
> 
> Other birds of interest include REDHEAD, HARLEQUIN DUCK, WILD 
> TURKEY, NORTHERN BOBWHITE, raptors, KING RAIL, shorebirds, 
> WILSON'S SNIPE, gulls, SHORT-EARED OWL, RED-HEADED 
> WOODPECKER, COMMON RAVEN, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, 
> RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES, warblers, FOX 
> SPARROW, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
> 
> A *PACIFIC LOON was once again observed, and photographed, at 
> Kerr Reservoir, Mecklenburg Co, in far southern VA, on the 
> morning of March 18.
> 
> The *SNOWY OWL at Dulles Airport, Loudoun Co, VA, was seen as 
> recently as March 16. The bird is being viewed from a 3-story 
> public parking garage on the corner of Aviation Dr and 
> Propeller Ct, accessible from the Airport Services exit off 
> the Dulles Access Rd.
> 
> A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD paid a brief visit to a feeder in 
> the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach early on the morning of 
> March 20.
> 
> Some 20 REDHEADS were observed March 20 in the Chesapeake Bay 
> off Ferry Neck in southern Talbot Co, MD. 
> 
> A HARLEQUIN DUCK was found Mar 18 at Indian River Inlet, DE.
> 
> Small flocks of WILD TURKEY were seen March 18 at Seneca 
> Creek SP, Montgomery Co, MD, and March 21 in a yard in Charles Co,
MD.
> 
> On March 19 a NORTHERN BOBWHITE was calling at Occoquan Bay 
> NWR, Prince William Co, VA; it was north of the bridge along 
> Charlie Rd--as was a KING RAIL; two other KING RAILS were in 
> the marsh off Easy Rd.
> 
> A mature GOLDEN EAGLE was seen March 17 near the south 
> impoundment on Prime Hook Rd, DE, flying directly overhead. 
> On March 18, a GOLDEN EAGLE soared high above the Chesapeake 
> Bay Environmental Center, Queen Anne's Co, MD.
> 
> PEREGRINE FALCONS continue to put on a good show at the 
> railroad bridge over the Potomac River below East Potomac 
> Park, SW DC--and they and have been joined there by OSPREYS 
> nesting on the opposite end. A PEREGRINE was seen off Georgia 
> Ave in Wheaton, Montgomery Co, MD,  on the afternoon of March 
> 19, and a PEREGRINE was on the hunt along 16th St, NW DC, on 
> the afternoon of March 20.
> 
> Willis Wharf, Northampton Co, VA, hosted a nice selection of 
> waders on March 15, including 2 WHIMBREL and 18 MARBLED GODWITS. 
> 
> Seven WILSON'S SNIPE were at Occoquan Bay NWR March 13; four 
> snipe were seen that same day at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery 
> Co; and yet 3 others were noted at Sunrise Valley Park, 
> Reston, Fairfax Co, VA, on
> March 19.     
> 
> The first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL in Cambridge, Dorchester Co, 
> MD, was seen again March 18 at the marina. Some 50 LESSER 
> BLACK-BACKED GULLS were reported from Back Bay NWR in 
> Virginia Beach on March 15. On March 18, the Susquehanna 
> River between Lapidum, Harford Co, and Port Deposit, Cecil 
> Co, MD, hosted 200 BONAPARTE'S GULLS. 
> 
> Weekend visitors scanning Hoopers Island in Ocean City, 
> Worcester Co, MD, found not only a GLAUCOUS GULL but also an 
> adult ICELAND GULL and
> 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. On March 18, a flock of 21 
> BONAPARTE'S winged over Huntley Meadows. 
> 
> Two of the SHORT-EARED OWLS along Crenshaw Road about ½ mile 
> north of Rectortown in northern Fauquier Co, VA, were 
> surprised into flight around midday on March 18.  
> 
> The RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at the National Arboretum, NE DC, 
> was seen March 18 and again on the morning of March 20; as 
> before, it was in the wooded patch behind the Capitol 
> columns. The Arboretum also hosted a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH 
> and a one of the area's many PINE WARBLERS--a bright yellow 
> male--in the State Trees grove.
> 
> On March 18, a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was spotted in eastern 
> Alexandria, VA; it was in a little park area along the Mount 
> Vernon Parkway, across from Waynewood Blvd.
> 
> Five NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS were reported from the 
> Occoquan Bay refuge March 18. 
> 
> RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH visited yards in Gamber, Carroll Co, 
> MD, on March 17, and Potomac, Montgomery Co, on March 20. 
> BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES--and numerous PINE WARBLERS--were on 
> tap at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, on March 18. 
> 
> Well to our south, a preview of spring came in the form of a 
> LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH at the Great Dismal Swamp NWR, Suffolk, 
> VA, on March 14, and a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER at Henricus 
> Park south of Richmond March 16.
> 
> Small flocks of FOX SPARROWS were noted at Washington 
> Monument SP, Washington Co, MD, and at Huntley Meadows March 19.
> 
> On March 19, hundreds of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were in the skies 
> over Huntley Meadows around sunrise, and numerous flocks were 
> seen throughout the morning, working on leaf litter in the 
> woods. A small flock of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS was found at Hughes 
> Hollow March 16. Two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, and a FOX SPARROW, 
> were at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, NE DC, on March 18.
> 
> See Life Paulagics is running a trip on April 1 (no foolin') 
> out of Lewes, DE. For further information, contact them at 
> 215-234-6805 or visit their web site at paulagics.com.
> 
> Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the 
> MDOSPREY and VA-Bird 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 big photo files, 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
>