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FW: DC Area, 3/13/07

From:

Norm Saunders

Reply-To:

Norm Saunders

Date:

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 20:33:57 -0400

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 6:40 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 3/13/07

 Hotline:           Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               3/13/2007
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 at 6 pm. on Tuesday,
March 13.

Top birds this week are AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN and LITTLE GULL in MD
and RAZORBILL in MD and VA.

Other birds of interest include geese, ducks, TUNDRA SWAN,
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RED-NECKED GREBE, NORTHERN GANNET, OSPREY,
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, PEREGRINE FALCON, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, SHORT-EARED
OWL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, TREE SWALLOW, WINTER
WREN, AMERICAN PIPIT, sparrows, RUSTY BLACKBIRD and BREWER'S
BLACKBIRD.

Five AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were noted at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester
Co, MD, seen on March 11 and a total of nine were observed on March
12.

While watching a LITTLE GULL at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD
on March 11, an observer was astounded to see a RAZORBILL float up to
the gull.  Both birds remained long enough to be shared with other
birders. A RAZORBILL was spotted from Island 1 of the CBBT,
Northampton Co, VA on March 12.

Geese and ducks are still widespread across the area but movement
north is underway including large skeins of TUNDRA SWANS.

WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were noted at the C&O Canal Terminus, Cumberland,
Allegany Co, MD on March 8 and 12 and on Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD
on March 12. A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was seen a quarter-mile above the
Little Falls Dam, Montgomery Co, MD on March 12.

A RED-NECKED GREBE was sighted on the Potomac just above Violette's
Lock, Montgomery Co, MD on March 6. Two RED-NECKED GREBES paid a visit
to Black Hills Regional Park, Montgomery Co, MD on March 10 and two
RED-NECKED GREBES were seen at Loch Raven Reservoir, Baltimore Co, MD
on the same day. The RED-NECKED GREBE count at Loch Raven Reservoir
increased to four by March 11. Twelve RED-NECKED GREBES were among
other grebes at Fort McHenry, Baltimore Co, MD on March 13. Another
RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at Oxbow Lake Nature Preserve, Anne Arundel
Co, MD on March 11 and 13.

A huge concentration of NORTHERN GANNETS, continuously plunge-diving
and loosely estimated at 5700 was seen from the CBBT, Northampton Co,
VA, between Island 1 and Virginia Beach on March 12.
 
More returning OSPREYS were reported across the region, a sure sign of
spring.

A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was observed in the Annapolis area, Anne Arundel
Co, MD on March 12.

A PEREGRINE FALCON made an appearance at the Jug Bay Natural Area,
Prince Georges Co, MD on March 10.

The "peenting" calls of displaying AMERICAN WOODCOCK were reported
from many locations across the area. 

A SHORT-EARED OWL delighted observers on Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD
on March 12.  

Ten RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, along with a pair of LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES
were seen at Sky Meadows State Park, Fauquier Co, VA on March 10.
Three RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were hunting insects at Calvert Cliffs
State Park, Calvert Co, MD on the same day.  The previously located
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE seen near Swoope, Augusta Co, VA was seen again on
March 11.

Confirming the imminent arrival of spring were numerous reports of
TREE SWALLOWS from everywhere in the region. 

A WINTER WREN was a highlight of the bird walk at Mason Neck State
Park, Fairfax Co, VA on March 10.

Thirty AMERICAN PIPITS were spotted at Wye Research Center near
Queenstown, Queen Anne's Co, MD on March 8. Fifty or more AMERICAN
PIPITS were noted at Williams Point State Game Land, near Shelltown,
Worcester Co, MD on March 10.

A LARK SPARROW was reported from Occoquan Bay NWR from March 10.
Thirty sweet-singing FOX SPARROWS delighted birders at Banshee Reeks
Nature Preserve, Loudoun Co, VA on March 10. A FOX SPARROW was noted
in a yard in District Heights, MD on March 10. The LINCOLN'S SPARROW
continues in a yard in Boonsboro, Washington Co, MD.

Two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were part of a sizeable flock seen at the C&O
Canal Terminus, Cumberland, Allegany Co, MD on March 8. A flock of
twenty RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were near Marshy Point Nature Center in
Baltimore Co, MD on March 9. A single RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen at Dyke
Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA on March 11. Three BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS were seen
along Turkey Island Road in Henrico Co, VA on March 9.
 
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 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
  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 the record committee.