-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 7:34 AM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 5/15/07
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 5/15/2007
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 midnight on
Tuesday, May 15.
Top birds this week are WHITE-WINGED DOVE* in MD, MISSISSIPPI KITE in
MD and VA, and WESTERN KINGBIRD* in MD.
MISSISSIPPI KITES have been seen in the following locations this past
week: Buckland Mill off Rte 29 along the Prince William/Fauquier Co,
VA line on May 11; flying over Rte 50 near the Outback Steakhouse,
Fairfax City, VA on May 13; Huntley Meadows, Fairfax Co, VA on May 14;
and Ft. Smallwood Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 13.
A flyby WHITE-WINGED DOVE was observed from the control tower at BWI
Airport, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 9.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD continues (as of May 12) around the Sycamore trees
near the seawall at Ft. McHenry, Baltimore Co, MD.
Other birds of interest include TUNDRA SWAN, BAR-HEADED GOOSE, ducks,
HORNED GREBE, SOOTY SHEARWATER, bitterns, herons, and ibis, RUFFED
GROUSE, NORTHERN BOBWHITE, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, MISSISSIPPI KITE,
BALD EAGLE, PEREGRINE FALCON, rails, shorebirds, WILSON'S and
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, gulls, ROSEATE TERN, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO,
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, nightjars, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, flycatchers,
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, BROWN CREEPER, wrens, thrushes,
AMERICAN PIPIT, warblers, SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE GROSBEAK, BOBOLINK,
sparrows, DICKCISSEL, and PURPLE FINCH.
Two TUNDRA SWANS were found at Allen's Fresh, Charles Co, MD on May
12. BAR-HEADED GEESE were seen twice this week (on May 8 and 12) both
from the MD and VA shores of the Potomac River in the vicinity of Conn
Island, Montgomery Co, MD. They are suspected to be escapees from a
breeding program at the Reston Zoo.
A few late waterbirds (HORNED GREBE and RUDDY DUCK) continue at Burke
Lake, Fairfax Co, VA as of May 11. HORNED GREBES were also seen on the
Potomac River adjacent to Swain's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD on May 12.
Two lingering RING-NECKED DUCKS and two COMMON GOLDENEYE were seen on
the Potomac River from the C&O Canal adjacent to Conn Island,
Montgomery Co, MD on May 12. A COMMON EIDER was seen near the south
jetty in the Ocean City Inlet from the vantage of Assateague Island
SP, Worcester Co, MD on May 12. An adult female COMMON MERGANSER with
was seen swimming with 30 young on the Potomac River about a 1/4 mile
south of Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD on May 12.
A SOOTY SHEARWATER was seen from Assateague Island SP, Worcester Co,
MD on May 12.
Single AMERICAN BITTERNS were found at Nanjemoy Creek, Charles Co, MD
on May 12 and Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA on May 13. Two LEAST BITTERNS
were observed on Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD on May 12.
Additional LEAST BITTERNS were heard calling in night migration over
Pasadena, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 13. A LITTLE BLUE HERON was
observed at the "Recycle Pond" near Upper Marlboro, Prince George's
(PG) Co, MD on May 13. The pond is located off Brown Station Rd across
from the county landfill. On May 12, four GLOSSY IBIS were seen flying
over Flag Ponds, Calvert Co, MD. On May 15, the impoundments on
Broadkill Beach Rd, DE produced WHITE, GLOSSY, AND WHITE-FACED IBIS
all at the same time for one lucky birder.
RUFFED GROUSE were found at Thompson WMA, Fauquier Co, VA on May 12
and in western Rockingham Co, VA at Reddish Knob on May 13. NORTHERN
BOBWHITES were reported from both MD and VA locations this week.
Five AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS continue at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester
Co, MD.
A BALD EAGLE was observed feeding on "roadkill" in Old Towne
Gaithersburg, Montgomery Co, MD on May 9.
A PEREGRINE FALCON were observed in the "Skyline" area of Bailey's
Crossroads, Alexandria, VA on May 10. Another was see flying north
over the ridge at Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship
(BRCES), Loudoun Co, VA on May 12
Two BLACK RAILS were heard calling off Elliott Island Rd, Dorchester
Co, MD on May 12. A VIRGINIA RAIL was seen at the Dulles Wetlands,
Loudoun Co, VA on May 12. A COMMON MOORHEN was seen in the large
impoundment on the left (east) at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on
May 12. KING and VIRGINIA RAIL and a SORA were found at Hart-Miller
Island, Baltimore Co, MD on May 12
A BLACK-NECKED STILT was observed at the "Recycle Pond" near Upper
Marlboro, PG Co, MD on May 11 and 12. A WHIMBREL was heard calling in
flight over Elliott Island Rd, Dorchester Co, MD on May 12. Three
WILLETS (2 western and an eastern) were found at North Beach Marsh,
Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 10. Eight MARBLED GODWIT were seen at
Nickawampus Farm, Accomack Co, VA on May 8. A REEVE (female Ruff) was
found at North Beach Marsh, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 10.
A WILSON'S and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE were reported from Poplar Island,
Talbot Co, MD on May 14.
A LAUGHING GULL was seen at the BCRES, Loudoun Co, VA on May 12. An
ICELAND GULL was found at the north end of Assateague Island SP on May
12.
ROSEATE TERNS were reported from Nickawampus Farm, Accomack Co on May
8. Another Roseate Tern was seen at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester
Co, MD on May 12.
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS were found within the BRCES, Loudoun Co, VA on
May 12 and along the C&O Canal near Cumberland, Allegany Co, MD on May
14.
A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was found off Grindstone Ln in the
Sangerville area of Rockingham Co, VA on May 10.
COMMON NIGHTHAWKS continue to pass through on migration. Both
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW and WHIP-POOR-WILLS were heard calling at night in
some parts of MD and VA.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were reported from Banshee Reeks, Loudoun Co,
Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, and the Legacy Farm property near
Bluemont, Loudoun Co, VA. All on May 12. Another Red-headed Woodpecker
was found off Rte 224 near Thorne Gut, Charles Co, MD on May 12.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were seen near the Pig Tail Recreation Area at
Triadelphia Reservoir, Howard Co, MD on May 12 and Rock Creek Park, DC
on May 13. One YELLOW-BELLIED and one ALDER FLYCATCHER were found in
the Millington area, Kent Co, MD on May 12. Another ALDER FLYCATCHER
was observed and heard singing off Arnold Ln, Loudoun Co, VA on May
12. WILLOW FLYCATCHER reports have started to trickle in. A LEAST
FLYCATCHER was seen in Rockburn Branch Park, Howard Co, MD on May 12.
As of May 13, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE continues at Sky Meadows SP,
Fauquier Co, VA. A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was observed at Jug Bay NA, PG
Co, MD on May 12.
A BROWN CREEPER was found at Morven Park, Loudoun Co, VA on May 12.
Two SEDGE WREN'S were heard singing off Elliott Island Rd, Dorchester
Co, MD on May 12. MARSH WRENS were also reported this week.
SWAINSON THRUSH and GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH sightings increased over the
past week. A flyover BICKNELL'S THRUSH was heard calling over Tilgman
Neck, Queen Anne's Co, MD in the early morning hours of May 12.
Another BICKNELL'S THRUSH was reported from Glencarlyn Park, Arlington
Co, VA on May 13.
An AMERICAN PIPIT was seen at the Dulles Wetlands, Loudoun Co, VA on
May 12.
Warblers finally started to show in numbers at a variety of locations
towards the end of last week. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were reported
from a backyard in Bowie, PG Co and Elk Neck SF, Cecil Co, MD on May
12. MOURNING WARBLERS were reported from the C&O Canal about 1/3 mile
above mile marker 167, Allegany Co, MD on May 12; Carroll Co, MD at
Hashawa on May 12; the McKeldin area of Patapsco River SP, Carroll Co,
MD; Glencarlyn Park, Arlington Co, VA; and a backyard in Cecil Co, MD.
All on May 13. A MOURNING WARBLER was caught in a mist net at the
Occoquan Banding Station, Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA on
May 13.
There were also increased reports of CAPE MAY, BLACKBURNIAN,
BAY-BREASTED, CERULEAN, KENTUCKY, HOODED, WILSON'S AND CANADA WARBLERS
over the past seven days.
SUMMER TANAGERS were reported from a number of locations at points
south of Washington, DC and on the Eastern Shore of MD and VA. SUMMER
TANAGERS were also found at Soldier's Delight EA, Baltimore Co, MD on
May 9 and Rock Creek Park, DC on May 15.
BLUE GROSBEAKS were observed in a number of locations. Some notable
sightings include: Huntley Meadows, Fairfax Co, VA on May 8; a
backyard in Darnestown, Montgomery Co, MD on May 9; the Mt. Hamilton
area of the National Arboretum, DC on May 10; McKee-Beshers WMA,
Montgomery Co, MD on May 10; and Carroll Park in Baltimore City, MD on
May 11.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were reported from grassy areas throughout the
region. Two HENSLOW'S SPARROWS were heard singing off Old Legislative
Rd near Frostburg, Allegany Co, MD on May 12. Four SALTMARSH
SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS were seen on May 12 at Flag Ponds in Calvert Co,
MD. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was seen in Rockburn Branch Park, Howard Co,
MD on May 12 and a backyard near Jug Bay, PG Co, MD on May 13. A late
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW visited a tray feeder in Baltimore City, MD
backyard on May 12. Another WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was found off Sager
Rd in Loudoun Co, VA on May 12. A late DARK-EYED JUNCO was found at
the Blandy Experimental Farm, Clarke Co, VA on May 12.
A DICKCISSEL was found along Woodland Ferry Rd, about a mile south of
Reliance and Rte 20, near Seaford, DE on May 13. A flyover DICKCISSEL
was reported from Queen Anne's Co, MD on May 12.
Bobolinks continue to pass through and were reported from a number of
locations this past week.
A PURPLE FINCH visited a backyard birdbath in downtown DC on May 12.
Another PURPLE FINCH was seen May 12 at Horsepen Preserve, Loudoun Co,
VA.
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
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. |