-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 3:08 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 3/20/07

Hotline:           Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               3/20/2007
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
        (email):     
     (deadline):    midnight Mondays
Compiler:           Andy Martin
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 12 pm on Tuesday,
March 20.

Top birds this week are ROSS'S GOOSE in DE, RED-NECKED GREBE in MD and
VA, and ICELAND GULL in DE.

Other birds of interest include Geese and ducks, NORTHERN BOBWHITE,
COMMON LOON, RED-NECKED GREBE, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, AMERICAN
BITTERN, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, falcons,
COMMON MOORHEN, PIPING PLOVER, WILLET, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, ICELAND
GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, BARN OWL, EASTERN PHOEBE, EASTERN
KINGBIRD, shrikes, swallows, AMERICAN PIPIT, warblers, sparrows,
INDIGO BUNTING, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, BALTIMORE ORIOLE,
and PURPLE FINCH.

A ROSS'S GOOSE was seen at the Prime Hook/Broadkill Beach Rd
impoundment, DE on March 13.

Two RED-NECKED GREBES were seen on the Potomac River just south of the
Riverbend Park Visitors Center, Fairfax Co, VA on March 13.  One of
the birds was still there as of March 16. A RED-NECKED GREBE was
observed at Liberty Lake, Baltimore Co, MD on March 13.  Three "winter
plumage" RED-NECKED GREBES were observed at Black Hill RP, Montgomery
Co, MD on March 18.

An ICELAND GULL was observed March 18 at Fowler's Beach, Sussex Co, DE
about 200 yards north of the dune crossing.

TUNDRA SWANS were still being seen around the region both in migration
flight and on area waterways.

A COMMON TEAL (Eurasian form of the Green-winged Teal) was seen on
March 12 and again on March 15 in the 2nd impoundment north of
Pennyfield Lock along the C&O Canal within Dierrsen WMA, Montgomery
Co, MD.

Four REDHEADS continue as of March 15 at Constitution Gardens,
Washington, DC.

As of March 17, a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER continues on the Potomac River
at the C&O Canal Terminus, Cumberland, Allegany Co, MD.

A NORTHERN BOBWHITE was observed at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William
Co, VA on March 18.

A COMMON LOON in "breeding plumage" was observed at Liberty Lake,
Baltimore Co, MD on March 13.

Ten AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were observed at Blackwater NWR,
Dorchester Co, MD on March 17.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was observed at the pond near the Fort Smallwood
Park (hawk watch), Anne Arundel Co, MD on March 17. Two AMERICAN
BITTERNS were seen at Back Bay NWR, Virginia Beach, VA on March 18.

A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was observed flying over a neighborhood near
Milford, DE on March 14.

Two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (a dark phase and light phase) were observed
along Elliot Island Rd within the Fishing Bay WMA, Dorchester Co, MD
on March 17.

A sub-adult GOLDEN EAGLE was seen flying south in the vicinity of Rte
298 and Buck Neck Rd, Kent Co, MD on March 15.

A MERLIN was observed on March 15 strafing a flock of Rock Doves at
Utah Pk, a small recreational park at the edge of Fairlington Village
in Arlington, VA Another MERLIN  was observed at Rumbly Point,
Somerset Co, MD on March 17. PEREGRINE FALCONS were observed at
Huntley Meadows Pk, Fairfax Co, VA on March 14; Possum Point, Prince
William Co, VA on March 17; and Fishing Bay WMA along Elliot Island
Rd, Dorchester Co, MD on March 17.

A COMMON MOORHEN was found at the pond near the Fort Smallwood Park
(hawk watch), Anne Arundel Co, MD on March 17.

A PIPING PLOVER was seen at the "Snow Goose" pool, Chincoteague NWR,
VA on March 17. Additional PIPING PLOVERS were observed at Back Bay
NWR, Virginia Beach, VA on March 18.

4 WILLETS were seen at the Great Marsh Trail at Mason Neck NWR,
Fairfax Co, VA on March 14.

The "peenting" calls and display flights of AMERICAN WOODCOCK continue
this week at many locations across the area. A couple of unusual
locations include: Constitution Gardens, Washington, DC on March 15,
and a suburban yard in Greenbelt, PG Co, MD on March 18.

A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was observed March 15 at Tilcon pond,
Milford, DE.

The flight call of BARN OWL was recorded passing over a yard in
Gaithersburg, Montgomery Co, MD during the early morning hours of
March 15.

EASTERN PHOEBES have begun to return in number this week. An early
returning EASTERN KINGBIRD was observed on March 14 in Middletown,
Frederick Co, MD.

On March 14, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen sitting on a barbed wire
fence along southbound Rte 340 as you approach the Augustine Ave
turnoff south of Charles Town, Jefferson Co, WV. As of March 18, a
NORTHERN SHRIKE continues along the entrance road to the headquarters
of Prime Hook NWR, DE.

Besides TREE SWALLOWS, other returning Hirundinidae spotted this week
include a BARN SWALLOW on March 13 at Piney Run Park, Carroll Co, MD
and a PURPLE MARTIN and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW at Centennial
Lake, Howard Co, MD on March 14.

AMERICAN PIPITS may have been the most reported bird this week.  There
were numerous sightings from the entire region.

PINE WARBLER migration is underway with multiple sightings from
various locations around the area.

A PALM WARBLER was seen by a jogging birder in a grassy area along Old
Court House Rd, Vienna, Fairfax Co, VA on March 18.

A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, seen occasionally throughout February returned
to a backyard in Pocomoke City, Worcester Co, MD on March 17.

An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was reported from western Howard Co on March
13. Another AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was observed along New Design Rd,
Frederick Co, MD on March 18.

VESPER SPARROWS were seen this week at the Bear Mountain Farm and
Wilderness Retreat, Monterey, Highland Co, VA on March 14; the
southern end of the Hains Point Golf Course, SW DC (part of East
Potomac Park) on March 18; and a grassy field north of East-West Hwy
between Beach Dr and Meadowbrook Ln in Montgomery Co, MD on March 19.

FOX SPARROW migration appears to be peaking with many sightings from
both backyard feeders and the field this week.  

CHIPPING and SAVANNAH SPARROW reports are on the increase.

On March 13, a female INDIGO BUNTING visited a finch feeder in a yard
in Chester, VA

EASTERN MEADOWLARKS are returning to the area.  EASTERN MEADOWLARKS
were reported from western Howard Co, MD on March 13;  Occoquan Bay
NWR, VA on March 14; and Manassas National Battlefield Pk, Prince
William Co, VA on March 17.

RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were observed at numerous locations including Lower
Kingman Island, Washington, DC on March 15; Paint Branch Golf Course
along the Paint Branch Trail, Montgomery Co, MD on March 15; Dulles
Wetlands, Loudoun Co, VA on March 17; North Valley, Winchester, VA on
March 17; near the boat ramp at Black Hill RP, Montgomery Co, MD on
March 18; and over the weekend at Huntley Meadows Pk, Great Fall NP,
Riverbend Pk, Fairfax Co, VA and Occoquan NWR, Prince William Co, VA.

On March 17, a pair of BALTIMORE ORIOLES were found in the formal
gardens near the gift shop of the Shirley Plantation, Williamsburg,
VA.

On March 13, two PURPLE FINCHES visited a feeder at the Bear Mountain
Farm and Wilderness Retreat, Monterey, Highland Co, VA Another PURPLE
FINCH visited a yard feeder in Powhatan Co, VA on March 19.

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.