-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 5:34 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 10/10/06

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               10/10/2006
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
        (email):     
     (deadline):    midnight Mondays
Compiler:           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 report was completed Tuesday, October 10, at
12:45 pm.

Top birds this week are EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE* in MD, LOGGERHEAD
SHRIKE in VA and NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW in MD and VA.

Other birds of interest include SURF SCOTER, RED-THROATED LOON, HORNED
GREBE, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, falcons, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, BLACK TERN,
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, YELLOW-BELLIED and ALDER FLYCATCHER, kinglets,
thrushes, warblers and sparrows.  

The previously reported EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was seen again west of
the nursery in Frederick Co, MD on October 7.

A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was reported from Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, VA
on October 8.

A NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was seen at Lilypons, Frederick Co, MD
on October 8. A trip to Eyre Hall as a part of the Eastern Shore
Wildlife Festival, VA turned up a very bright NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED
SPARROW on October 7.

The ducks are starting to arrive in the area.  A SURF SCOTER was seen
at Riley's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD on October 7 while another 4 made
at appearance at the Anacostia River, DC on the same day.

Three RED-THROATED LOONS flew over the stable in Rock Creek Park, DC
on October 8. 

A HORNED GREBE has been with the PIED-BILLED GREBES at Riley's Lock
since September 28; an early date for this species.

The Hawk watch at Kiptopeke SP, Cape Charles reported 3965
SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS on October 9.

Falcon migration picked up this week. It was raining AMERICAN KESTRELS
in Charles Co, MD on October 6 with 13 sightings. Three more were
spotted in Ashton, Montgomery Co, MD on October 5.

A PEREGRINE FALCON was spotted overhead in Ashton on October 6.
Another PEREGRINE FALCON was sitting on a snag at Violette's Lock,
Montgomery Co, on October 7.

Several of the October 8 "Big Sit" teams reported falcon sightings
including 1 MERLIN and 9 PEREGRINES from the Cecil County "Turkey
Pointers", 1 MERLIN from the Montgomery County "Sitting Ducks" 1
MERLIN from the Kent Co, MD "Kentish Plovers, 1 MERLIN and 3
PEREGRINES from the Worcester Co, MD "Sitting on Our Assateague", 1
MERLIN from Huntley Meadows, 2 MERLINS from Riverbend Park both
Fairfax Co. Observers at Black Walnut Pont, Talbot Co, MD saw 12
AMERICAN KESTRELS, 6 MERLINS and 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS on October 8.

A juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was seen at the Worton Waste Water
Treatment Plant, Kent Co, MD on October 9.

A BLACK TERN was spotted on the North East River from Hances Point,
Cecil Co, MD on October 9.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were noted at Hughes Hollow on October 4.  Two
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William
Co, VA on October 8.

A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was spotted at Turkey Point, Cecil Co, MD
on October 7. An ALDER FLYCATCHER was seen at Fort Smith Park,
Arlington, VA on October 10

GOLDEN-CROWNED and RUBY CROWNED KINGLETS have made their appearance
with many reports throughout the area.

Thrushes continued to be reported moving through the area with several
reports of GRAY-CHEEKED and SWAINSON'S THRUSHES.

An ORANGED-CROWNED WARBLER was spotted at Rock Creek Park. DC on
October 9. A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was seen at Rock Creek Park on
October 4. A WILSON'S WARBLER flitted in the bushes at Black Hill
Regional Park, Montgomery Co, MD on October 8.

A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW along with two LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were noted at
Big Pool, Washington Co on October 9. LINCOLN'S SPARROWS popped up in
a number of different locations last week including Brookside Nature
Center, Montgomery Co, on October 3 and Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co,
on October 4. An October 7 field trip in Howard Co, MD located both
LINCOLN'S and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS.  Visits to Washington Co, MD on
October 7 located LINCOLN'S SPARROWS at Blair Valley and Catholic
Church Road plus 3 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS at the Boonesboro Sewage
Treatment Plant. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was seen at Rock Creek Park on
October 8. Two immature WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were seen at Black Hill
Regional Park also on October 8. A visit to Sky Meadows SP on October
8 netted 10 sparrow species including LINCOLN'S and WHITE-CROWNED.
Two WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were spotted at the Granite area of
Patapsco Valley State Park on October 8. Another LINCOLN'S SPARROW was
sighted at Meadowbrook Park, Howard Co, MD on October 10.

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 for 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)