-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 6:42 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 8/28/07

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               8/28/2007
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
        (email):     
     (deadline):    midnight Mondays
Compiler:           Joe Coleman
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 Tuesday, August 28, at
4:30 p.m.

Migrating birds dominated this week's reports.

Other birds of interest include AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, herons
including TRICOLORED, MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON, rails, shorebirds,
ROYAL and BLACK TERNS, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, COMMON NIGHTHAWK,
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, ALDER FLYCATCHER,
PHILADELPHIA VIREO, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, SEDGE WREN, MOURNING
WARBLER, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW,  and BOBOLINK.  

AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS continued to be seen at Blackwater NWR,
Dorchester Co, MD with reports of 7 on Aug 25 and 8 on Aug 26.

A LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen Aug 25 in the Easy Road marsh in the
Occoquan NWR, Prince William Co, VA. An adult TRICOLORED HERON
continued at Ft Smallwood Park with reports from Aug 23 and 26.

An early MERLIN was seen at Hains Point, SW DC, on Aug 26.

A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen briefly circling and taking a pass at the
COMMON NIGHTHAWKS which fly in the lights over the office buildings at
Tyson's Corners, Fairfax Co, VA the evening of Aug 26.

A CLAPPER RAIL in the tall grass besides Knapps Narrows was the
highlight of a trip to Tilghman Island, Talbot Co, MD on Aug 26. A
birder was surprised on Aug 25 to hear a KING RAIL bellowing in the
Cedar Run Wetlands in Nokesville and a VIRGINIA RAIL in Leesylvania
SP, both in Prince William Co, VA. 

Shorebirds highlighted a number of the reports this past week. They
were reported in good numbers from the polo field on Hughes Rd and at
Hughes Hollow, both near Poolesville in Montgomery Co, MD as well as
from Blue Mash also in Montgomery Co. Shorebirds were also found on
the west side of the stone bridge on the GW Parkway, just heading out
of Old Town Alexandria and at Great Oak Pond, Kent Co, MD.

UPLAND SANDPIPERS were reported from a number of locations including
two, and possibly four, at the Hog Island WMA, Surry Co, VA, along
with a HUDSONIAN GODWIT and a MARBLED GODWIT and two BLACK TERNS on
Aug 23. There were two UPLAND SANDPIPERS in Caroline Co, MD at
Auction/Grove Agner Rd. and Nagell Rd on the 26th and one at the Polo
Grounds on Hughes Rd near Poolesville. A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was
at the Polo Grounds on Hughes Rd on and off from the 21st through the
26th. UPLAND SANDPIPERS, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS and BAIRD'S
SANDPIPERS also showed up at the Central Sod Farm, Queen Anne's Co, MD
last week. A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER and a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER were
among 12 different species of shorebirds at an unnamed turf farm in
Wicomico Co, MD, near Delmar on Aug 26. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and
WILSON'S PHALAROPES were among the highlights at Poplar Island, Talbot
Co, MD on Aug 21. A MARBLED GODWIT and a WILSON'S PHALAROPE were the
shorebird highlights of a trip to Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA on
Aug 24.

ROYAL TERNS were reported twice from Leesylvania SP with 12 there on
the 22nd and 6 on the 25th. BLACK TERNS were reported from a number of
locations last week, including 20 on Aug 27 at Red Point just south of
the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Cecil Co, MD. They were also reported
from North Branch, Allegany Co, MD and at Blackwater NWR.

A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was seen at Centennial in Howard Co, MD on Aug
22.

COMMON NIGHTHAWKS seemed to pour through the area last week with
numerous reports. Over 400 were seen passing over Staunton, VA the
evening of Aug 26 and between 300 and 400 were seen Aug 27 swirling
around in Botetourt Co, VA on Rte 220 Alt. And most nights, the COMMON
NIGHTHAWKS are performing at Gallows Rd and Boone Blvd near Rte 7 in
the Tyson's Corner area of Fairfax Co, VA with the show beginning when
the lights come on at 9 p.m.

An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen Aug 23 at Terrapin Park, Kent Co,
MD. On Aug 23 an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen hawking for insects
from a snag in the Rock Creek Park (DC) Maintenance Yard. And on Aug
27 single OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were seen in Finzel Swamp, Garrett
Co, MD and in Howard Co, MD.

On Aug 26 a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was photographed at Cherry Walk
RD and Halloway Rd, Wicomico Co, MD.

An ALDER FLYCATCHER was sighted and heard at Blackwalnut Point, Talbot
Co, MD on Aug 21. 

On Aug 22 a PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen and heard at North Branch,
Allegany Co, MD. A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was also seen Aug 25 at the NY
Monuments, Manassas Nat'l Battlefield Park, Prince William Co, VA
along with several other migrants including warblers, a LEAST
FLYCATCHER and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 

In contrast to last year, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are turning up all
over the area with several reports during the past week.

A SEDGE WREN was at the Easton Sewage Plant, Talbot Co, MD on August
23.

Migrating warbler numbers picked up last week with a number of reports
from their local haunts, including Rock Creek Park, NW DC, and the
National Arboretum, NE DC. A MOURNING WARBLER was seen in Rock Creek
Park on Aug 27 at the equitation field below Picnic Area 18.

A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found on Aug 26 on the bay side of
Assateague Island, Worchester Co, MD, first at the point, and then
near the campsites. 

BOBOLINKS were reported from several locations including a pair at
Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA and in Prince George's Co, MD on
Aug 27, and at Daingerfield Island, Alexandria, VA on Aug 28.

The hawk watch at Snicker's Gap, on the Clarke/Loudoun Co (VA) line,
is looking for volunteers to help monitor hawk migration,
September-November. For information call 703-734-1238.

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.