-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 4:53 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 5/29/07

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               5/29/2007
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 4:25 p.m. on Tuesday,
May 29. 

Top birds this week are ARTIC TERN in MD and EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE*
in MD and VA.

Other birds of interest last week included LEAST BITTERN, COMMON
MOORHEN, shorebirds, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, nightjars, RED-HEADED
WOODPECKERS, flycatchers, thrushes, warblers, DICKCISSEL and sparrows.

An ARTIC TERN was present on Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD on
May 26. This is a second island record. 

One of the EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES* continues to be found along
Grindstone Rd in the Sangerville area of Augusta Co, VA with a report
from May 26. Another EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE* was spotted just south of
the Mason-Dixon line in Washington Co, MD on May 28. The bird was seen
at the intersection of Weller Rd and Maple Ridge Rd, northwest of
Pectonville, MD.

A Hart-Miller Island trip on May 26 recorded four LEAST BITTERNS, two
COMMON MOORHENS and 15 shorebird species including RED KNOT,
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Eight RED KNOTS in
near breeding plumage were seen at the Ocean City flats, Worcester Co,
MD on May 26. A WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was sighted at North Branch,
Allegany Co, MD on May 23 and 26. A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was seen at
North Branch on May 26.

A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was seen at the Blue Ridge Center, Loudoun Co,
VA on May 26.
 
COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen from a number of different locations last
week. CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOWS and WHIP-POOR-WILLS were heard from the
power line cut on Solley Road and Marley Neck Blvd in Anne Arundel Co,
MD on May 24. Another CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW was also heard at Weinberg
Park, Anne Arundel Co. on the same evening. Another WHIP-POOR-WILL was
heard in Waldorf, Charles Co, MD on May 25. Both CHUCK-WILL'S WIDDOWS
and WHIP-POOR-WILLS were heard in Prince William Forest, VA on May 27.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen on an early morning neighborhood walk
near Bluemont in western Loudoun Co, VA on May 27. Another RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER was observed at the Prettyboy Reservoir, Frog Hollow Trail,
Baltimore Co, MD on May 28.

The OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER seen on the dead snags near the top of the
hill at Battery Kemble Park, NW DC was seen again on May 22 and 23. A
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER paid a one day visit to a yard in Concord,
Campbell Co, VA on May 25. 

A COMMON RAVEN paid a visit to Monticello Park, Alexandria, VA on May
25.

A MARSH WREN was spotted at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA on May 25.

Thrushes were heard and seen throughout the area last week with a
number of GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES reported. 

Warblers were reported from a wide variety of areas this past week
although the migration is winding down. BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS were seen
at the Blue Ridge Center on May 26 along with 10 other warbler
species. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was spotted at Old Legislative Road,
Allegany Co, MD on May 26. MOURNING WARBLERS were reported from
several locations including the Nature Center at Ellanor C. Lawrence
Park, Fairfax Co, VA on May 23 and another was banded at Occoquan Bay
NWR, Prince William Co, VA on the same day. Another MOURNING WARBLER
was spotted along the Gwynns Falls bike path in Carroll Park, SW
Baltimore, MD on May 24.

Both SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED and SEASIDE SPARROWS were noted at
Fairmount WMA, Somerset Co, MD on May 26. 

DICKCISSELS were present at a few spots including Grassdale Rd and
Savannah Branch Rd in the Remington area of Fauquier Co, VA on May 26.
Two DICKCISSELS were singing near the intersection of Hagerstown Pike
and Mansfield Ave at the Antietam National Battlefield, Washington Co,
MD on May 28.

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
 or call 301-652-1088 and select 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.