> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 1:01 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 7/17/07
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               7/17/2007
> Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
> Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
> Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
>         (email):     
>      (deadline):    midnight Mondays
> Compiler:           Lydia Schindler
> 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 on Tuesday, 
> July 17, at noon. 
> 
> Top birds this week are SWALLOW-TAILED KITE and SANDHILL 
> CRANE in VA, RUFF in DE, and WESTERN KINGBIRD in MD. 
> 
> Other birds of interest this past week include NORTHERN 
> BOBWHITE, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, LEAST BITTERN, night-herons, 
> ibis, OSPREY, MISSISSIPPI KITE, KING RAIL, shorebirds, BLACK 
> and other TERNS, PARASITIC JAEGER, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, COMMON 
> RAVEN, SEDGE WREN, SUMMER TANAGER, and DICKCISSEL.
> 
> On July 12, an adult SWALLOW-TAILED KITE circled over fields 
> in Culpeper County, VA, a few miles south of the town of 
> Culpeper; these fields are along Rte 617/Raccoon Ford Rd 
> about 1.5 miles east of the intersection with Rte 522.
> 
> A SANDHILL CRANE was observed at close range July 11 when it 
> flew over private property in Locustville, Accomack Co, VA. 
> 
> A RUFF--determined to be a molting black and chestnut 
> male--was discovered July 13 at Taylor's Gut, along Rte 9 
> north of Woodland Beach, DE. The RUFF was enjoyed by many 
> birders for the next two days, until it was spooked by an 
> off-trail photographer on July 15.
> 
> A WESTERN KINGBIRD, apparently a juvenile, was spotted along 
> Russell Rd in Garrett Co, MD, on July 10.
> 
> Several NORTHERN BOBWHITES were singing at Occoquan Bay NWR, 
> Prince William Co, VA, on July 16. NORTHERN BOBWHITES were a 
> notable find in Prince George's Co, MD; two were seen on 
> Magruder's Ferry Rd near Croom Rd on July 15. And BOBWHITES 
> were calling constantly on July 12 along Batna Rd in 
> southwestern Culpeper Co.
> 
> WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS were observed July 15 on the 
> Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Potomac River in St. 
> Mary's Co, MD.
> 
> A LEAST BITTERN was calling at the Jug Bay Wetlands 
> Sanctuary, Anne Arundel Co, MD, early on the morning of July 
> 13. A LEAST BITTERN was present at Lilypons Water Gardens, 
> Frederick Co, MD, on July 14. 
> 
> BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were again in evidence at several 
> locations, including along Carroll Creek in the town 
> Frederick, MD, on July 11 and 15; Kembo Rd in northern Anne 
> Arundel Co July 12; Schoolhouse Pond in Upper Marlboro, 
> Prince George's Co, July 12 and 15; a yard on the east bank 
> of the North East River in Cecil Co, MD, throughout the week; 
> and, in VA, fishing in Cameron Run, adjacent to the 
> Eisenhower Ave bike path, in Alexandria on July 15. 
> 
> A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was frequenting the lily ponds 
> are of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, NE DC, July 12 and 13. 
> 
> Among the GLOSSY IBISES at Bombay Hook NWR, DE, on July 14 
> were two birds showing unusual patches of white.  
> 
> An OSPREY paid a surprise visit to some ponds in a suburban 
> neighborhood in Fairfax, VA, on July 15.
> 
> Three MISSISSIPPI KITES glided over Huntley Meadows Park, 
> Fairfax Co, on July 12. On July 17 a MISSISSIPPI KITE was 
> seen at Hidden Pond Park, in Fairfax Co off Old Keene Mill Rd.
> 
> KING RAILS were again sighted at Lilypons July 13 and 14, 
> both times strolling on the grass along ponds to the left of 
> the parking lot.
> KING RAILS were calling at both Huntley Meadows and Occoquan July
16.
> 
> On July 14, 3 UPLAND SANDPIPERS visited a field on the south 
> side of Oland Rd, Frederick Co, but subsequent attempts to 
> relocate the birds were not successful.
> 
> A July 15 shorebird survey at Bombay Hook--as well as an ANS 
> foray--documented 13 species of shorebird, dominated by 
> hundreds of SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. Also present were 
> WESTERN, PECTORAL, and STILT SANDPIPERS. 
> 
> The ORV zone at Assateague Island, Worcester Co, MD, featured 
> several hundred SANDERLINGS, as well as PIPING PLOVER and 
> WHIMBREL. Plus, a PARASITIC JAEGER was seen chasing a gull.
> 
> CASPIAN TERNS were observed at Little Creek Wildlife Area, 
> DE, and Bombay Hook July 14 and 15, and a ROYAL TERN was 
> reported from Port Mahon, DE, on July 14. COMMON TERNS were 
> found at Taylor's Gut July 15. On July 12 in northern Anne 
> Arundel Co, 15 LEAST TERNS were noted at the Brandon Woods 
> pond, and 8 flew over the North County Land Trust tract. A 
> BLACK TERN showed up July 14 at Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co.
> 
> An adult LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was found July 12 in southeastern 
> Culpeper Co, at the intersection of Batna and Blackjack Rds, 
> .5 mile south of Rte 3.
> 
> A COMMON RAVEN flew over a yard in Woodbine, Carroll Co, MD, 
> on July 15. 
> 
> On July 14, a COMMON RAVEN was found near Centreville, 
> Fairfax Co; it perched along Lee Highway/Rte 29 near Machen Rd. 
> 
> On July 15 a SEDGE WREN was heard by kayakers on the Patuxent 
> River, near Black Swamp Creek, in Prince George's Co.
> 
> A SUMMER TANAGER was an unusual visitor at the Goddard Space 
> Flight Center in Greenbelt, Prince George's Co, on July 11.
> 
> The Queen Anne's Co, MD, DICKCISSEL was still singing on July 
> 12 and 15; the bird frequents perches along Carmichael Rd 
> south of Queenstown, just short of Wye Island and just past 
> the UMD offices.
> Three DICKCISSELS were found in Culpeper Co July 12, near the 
> intersection of Batna and Algonquin Rds.
> 
> 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 
>  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.
>