-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 4:43 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 7/3/07

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               7/3/2007
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
        (email):     
     (deadline):    midnight Mondays
Compiler:           John Bjerke
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 10 am. on Tuesday,
July 3. 

Top birds this week are GREATER SHEARWATER and MAGNIFICENT
FRIGATEBIRD* in VA.

Other birds of interest this past week include waterfowl, NORTHERN
BOBWHITE, NORTHERN GANNET, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, YELLOW-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERON, MISSISSIPPI KITE, PIPING PLOVER, LITTLE GULL, LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL, RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER, ALDER FLYCATCHER,
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, SEDGE WREN, HENSLOW'S
SPARROW*, and DICKCISSEL.

Four GREATER SHEARWATERS were seen close to shore at Chincoteague NWR,
Accomack Co, VA on June 30.

A female MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD* soared over the south end of
Sandbridge Beach near Back Bay NWR, Virginia Beach, VA on June 29. 

This week's waterfowl include AMERICAN WIGEON at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax
Co, VA on July 1, probable LESSER SCAUP in Belmont Bay, Mason Neck SP,
Fairfax Co, VA on June 30, and three RUDDY DUCKS in the Chesapeake
Bay, Talbot CO, MD on June 30.

NORTHERN BOBWHITES were reported from Bonsack, Botetourt Co, VA on
June 26 and Ballenger Creek Pike about 2 miles south of Adamstown in
Frederick Co, MD on June 30. 

An injured sub-adult NORTHERN GANNET drifted down the beach at Dewey
Beach, Sussex Co, DE on June 27.

An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN on Lower Cedar Point at the end of
Morgantown Rd, Charles Co, MD is a probable first record for the
county. The bird was seen on June 26 and June 28.

An adult YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was found on Lake Elkhorn in
Columbia, Howard Co, MD on June 30 and July 1.

An adult MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen in Halifax Co, VA on July 1 and two
MISSISSIPPI KITES were flying over Annandale, Fairfax Co, VA on July
1.

PIPING PLOVERS were spotted on the beach at Cape Henlopen SP, Sussex
Co, DE on July 1.

A first summer LITTLE GULL and 2 first summer LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS were found on Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD, on June 30.
There were 17 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS on a beach in Back Bay NWR,
Virginia Beach, VA on June 30.

The good news story for the week is that the Nature Conservancy's
Piney Grove Preserve in Sussex Co, VA has 6 breeding clusters of the
endangered RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER. There are now 36 adult and hatch
year birds.

An ALDER FLYCATCHER continued singing on Ballenger Creek Pike, about a
hundred yards south of Mountville RD, and about 2 miles south of
Adamstown in Frederick Co, MD. The bird was reported on June 26, 29,
and 30.

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES continue to be seen along the Bridle Trail not far
from the parking lot on the eastern side of Sky Meadows SP.

A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was at a feeder in western Albemarle Co, VA on
July 1.

A SEDGE WREN was found along Shorter's Wharf Road, Dorchester Co, MD
on June 30.

HENSLOW's SPARROWS* continue along Old Legislative Road, Allegany Co,
MD.
 
DICKCISSELS were seen at several locations. A DICKCISSEL continues at
the Univ. of MD Agricultural Farm on Wye Island, Queen Annes Co, MD,
it was seen on June 28 and July 1.  The DICKCISSEL at the same
location as the earlier-reported Alder Flycatcher on Ballenger Creek
Pkwy, about a hundred yards south of Mountville RD, and about 2 miles
south of Adamstown in Frederick Co, MD was seen on June 26, 29, and
30. Another DICKCISSEL was found along Camp Brown Road near Fairview
Lane, St. Mary's Co, MD on June 28. The previously reported DICKCISSEL
at Antietam National Battlefield, Washington Co, MD is still there. It
was seen on June 30 along Dunker Church Road near Mansfield Av.

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.