-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 6:51 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 9/04/07
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 9/04/2007
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 Tuesday, Sept 4, at 3
p.m.
Top bird this week is SAY'S PHOEBE in MD.
Other birds of interest include AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, ANHINGA, LEAST
BITTERN, WHITE IBIS, LITTLE BLUE HERON, raptors, shorebirds including
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, terns, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, COMMON NIGHTHAWK,
CHIMNEY SWIFT, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, OLIVE-SIDED and YELLOW-BELLIED
FLYCATCHERS, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, warblers, LARK
SPARROW, and PINE SISKIN.
A SAY'S PHOEBE spent all day Sept 2 at a horse pasture in Montgomery
Co, MD. This bird, a first state record, could not be relocated Sept
3. (The pasture is at the northwest corner of River and Hughes Rds.)
Three AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS flew over the hawk watch at Kiptopeke
SP, Northampton Co, VA, on Sept 2.
An ANHINGA was reported Aug 31 from Mariners Museum Park, Newport
News, VA.
A LEAST BITTERN was observed Sept 1 upstream from Chain Bridge, NW DC.
On Aug 30, an immature WHITE IBIS flew past the control tower at BWI
airport, Anne Arundel Co, MD.
A juvenile LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen Aug 31 at a farm pond off
Ebenezer Church Rd near Bluemont in western Loudoun Co, VA.
BROAD-WINGED HAWKS are on the move.
Two MERLINS were reported Sept 1 from Ft Smallwood park in Anne
Arundel Co.
Among PEREGRINE sightings this week was a falcon that flew over Ft C F
Smith Park in Arlington, VA, on Aug 28.
Reports of migrant shorebirds abounded. On Sept 4, an AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVER joined KILLDEER at the polo fields on Hughes Rd in
western Montgomery Co. Three UPLAND SANDPIPERS were found Sept 3 in
Frederick Co, MD, at a turf farm on the southwest corner of Rte 85 and
Adamstown Rd.
In the Remington area of Culpeper Co, VA, 4 UPLAND SANDPIPERS were in
a field along Newbys Shop Rd, about a quarter-mile from the
intersection with Kellys Ford Rd on Aug 30; a half-mile northeast of
there, a puddle in a sod field attracted a variety of shorebirds,
among them a WILSON'S PHALAROPE. Two days later, a field off Grassdale
Rd hosted 2 UPLAND and 3 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS.
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS also showed up at the Central Sod Farm, Queen
Anne's Co, MD, and in Charles Co, MD, at a turf farm on the north side
of Rte 228, between Rte 301 and Middletown Rd. On Sept 2, Hog Island
WMA, Surry Co, VA, hosted 2 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS along with 1
HUDSONIAN and 2 MARBLED GODWITS.
On Aug 30, Craney Island, Portsmouth, VA, held 3 WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPERS and 6 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, as well as a GULL-BILLED TERN.
Weekend visitors to Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA, also found a
GULL-BILLED TERN, as well as a MARBLED GODWIT and a juvenile BAIRD'S
SANDPIPER.
On Sept 1, Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, featured 21 species of
shorebird, including 15 WHITE-RUMPED and 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS.
In DE, on Aug 31 Raymond Pool at Bombay Hook NWR was loaded with
20,000 shorebirds of 18 species, including 1 HUDSONIAN and 5 MARBLED
GODWITS. Nearby potato fields along Rte 9 and Rte 12 drew
BUFF-BREASTED and UPLAND SANDPIPERS.
A LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER paid a highly unusual visit to St. Mary's Co,
MD, on Sept 3, when it was seen at Point Lookout SP. The flats at the
Point also held 2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS.
Closer--much closer--to town, a juvenile-plumaged RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
was discovered at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA, on Aug 28; it was found
there again the following day, again off the north side of the picnic
area.
Tern highlights included BLACK TERNS at the Susquehanna Flats off
Perryville Town Park, Cecil Co, MD, with a high count of 25 or more on
Aug 29; there were still at least 6 on Sept 3; on Sept 1 they were
joined by a ROYAL TERN. Loch Raven Reservoir, Baltimore Co, drew 37
CASPIAN TERNS on Aug 28. A SANDWICH TERN discovered Sept 1 in
Morgantown would be a Charles Co first.
A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was reported Sept 2 from the Shad Landing area
of Pocomoke River SP, Worcester Co, MD.
COMMON NIGHTHAWKS continue to entertain at Tyson's Corner, Fairfax Co,
soaring above buildings at Gallows Rd and Boone Blvd near Rte 7; the
show commences when the lights come on at 9 p.m.
The Northern Virginia Bird Club's annual swift and nighthawk field
trip Sept 2 was treated to a gathering of 1,500 to 2,000 CHIMNEY
SWIFTS at the Luther Jackson middle school on Gallows Rd in Fairfax
Co. (The group then moved up the road to enjoy the nighthawk
extravaganza.) In Montgomery Co, 100-plus CHIMNEY SWIFTS were watched
entering the chimney of the Cedar Grove ES at dusk on Aug 30; the
school is located on Rte 27 between Germantown and Damascus.
A RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD visited a feeder in Amherst Co, VA, on Aug 29 and
30.
Reports of OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER came from Riverside Park off Rte 7
in Loudoun Co Aug 28; Mt Aetna camp, Washington Co, MD, Aug 29 (along
with YELLOW-BELLIED and 4 other flycatcher species); Snickers Gap hawk
watch, on the Clarke/Loudoun Co line Aug 31 (2 birds); and from
private property in Cecil Co Sept 2.
YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was found at Sassafras WMA, northern Kent
Co, MD, Sept 1, and at Leesylvania SP, Prince William Co, VA, Sept 1
and 3. On Sept 4, a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was part of a lively
fallout at Finzel Swamp, Garrett Co, MD; in the mix were 3 or 4
PHILADELPHIA VIREOS as well as a variety of warblers, a MOURNING
WARBLER among them.
On Sept 1, a "very colorful" PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen at the dock
at Back River Neck, Baltimore Co; that same day 2 were found at Turkey
Point in Elk Neck SP, Cecil Co. On Sept 2, PHILADELPHIA VIREO was
found at Shad Landing and also at C F Phelps WMA in southern Fauquier
Co, VA.
Keep an eye out for RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES; they are popping up all
over the place. All 3 nuthatch species were ticked in Kent Co on Aug
31.
Occasional bursts of migrating warblers produced 9 species at Terrapin
Park, Stevensville, Anne Arundel Co Aug 28; 9 species at Mt Aetna camp
on Aug 29; and 9 species at Rock Creek Park, NW DC, Sept 1. On Sept 1,
birders at Turkey Point tallied 18 species of warbler, including CAPE
MAY and TENNESSEE. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was one of 13 species found
Sept 1 in Prince William Co, at Possum Point east of Dumfries. A
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was the highlight among 16 species found at
Little Bennett RP, Montgomery Co, Sept 3.
A LARK SPARROW was discovered Sept 2 at Point Lookout SP, not far from
the point; it foraged in a narrow margin of sand between the road and
the seawall, just opposite a pond that is hidden by phragmites.
On Aug 31, a PINE SISKIN paid a brief visit to a yard in Havre de
Grace, Harford Co, MD.
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,
VA-Bird, and DE 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. |