-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 5:27 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 10/23/07
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 10/23/2007
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, October 23 at
4:00 p.m.
Top birds this week are ANHINGA* in VA, probable RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in
VA, CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD* in MD, and FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER* in MD.
Other birds of interest include: ROSS'S GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, COMMON
EIDER, EARED GREBE, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, PEREGRINE FALCON, SORA, WESTERN
KINGBIRD, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH, warblers, sparrows, including CLAY-COLORED, VESPER, and
LINCOLN'S, BOBOLINK, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, PURPLE FINCH, and PINE SISKIN.
A juvenile or female ANHINGA* flew over the Harvey's Knob Hawkwatch on
the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA. It was first seen over Bedford Co and
then flew north over Botetourt Co.
A CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD* was found at 9119 Bay Ave, North Beach, MD on
Oct 21 and was seen again on the 22nd and 23rd. Visitors are welcome
but please respect the owner and his neighbors. The owner has put out
chairs and a clipboard for signing-in.
An unidentified SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRD, but probably a female RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD, continued to sporadically visit a feeder on Smith Grove
Rd in Dinwiddie Co, VA this past week.
A well-photographed FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER* was reported from the
Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co, MD on October 21. It was on the wires at
the north end of the refuge south of the bridge at the Narrows.
Two ROSS'S GEESE and a CACKLING GOOSE (located among a flock of Canada
and Snow Geese) were found at Great Oak Pond, Kent Co, MD on October
18 and 4 ROSS'S GEESE were there on the 22nd.
A female COMMON EIDER was seen working her way along the north jetty
of the Ocean City, MD inlet on Oct 21.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was again seen at Liberty Lake in Baltimore/Carroll
Counties, MD, this time on October 21.
Two EARED GREBES were seen in the north cell of Craney Island,
Portsmouth, VA on October 16.
A juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen at High Rock, Garrett Co, MD on
Oct 21.
While PEREGRINE FALCONS continue to be seen at the various hawkwatches
in our area, one was the highlight of a birding trip to the Occoquan
NWR, Prince William Co, on Oct 20 and another was spotted from an
office building in the Navy Yard, SE Wash DC on Oct 18.
Two SORAS were found on Oct 20 at Southwest Area Park, Baltimore Co,
MD.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD was found October 20 on Assateague Island, MD. It
was observed from the State Park parking lot in the thickets to the
west.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was discovered at the Blandy Experimental Farm,
Clarke Co, VA on Oct 19 along the loop trail at the east end of the
meadow. A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was also found at Sky Meadows SP on Oct 21
sitting on a wire at the house next to the fishing pond.
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE reports are beginning to join the many
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH reports in the area with BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES
reported visiting feeders in Nineveh, Warren Co, VA and southeastern
Frederick Co, MD.
Late warblers continue to be found in the area, including a YELLOW
WARBLER reported from Aquia Landing Park, Stafford Co, VA on Oct 21
and a BLACKBURNIAN at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on the
22nd.
Sparrows were reported from a wide variety of areas and in good
diversity this past week.
On Oct 18 a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found on the feeders behind the
main house at Fort CF Smith Park, Arlington Co, VA.
Good numbers of sparrows, including LINCOLN'S, were found at both
Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD and Fort Smallwood Park, Anne Arundel
Co, MD on Oct 20. A visit to Fauquier Co on the same day found 11
species of sparrows including VESPER'S SPARROW at Sky Meadows SP and
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS at a couple of locations. On the same birding trip
a flock of over 30 PURPLE FINCHES flew overhead near Sky Meadows.
A VESPER SPARROW was seen on the loop drive on the south side of the
Blandy Experimental Farm, on Oct 19. A VESPER SPARROW was also found
on Rokeby Rd in northwestern Fauquier Co on Oct 21.
The Occoquan NWR, Prince William Co, VA also proved productive for
sparrows with a fine assortment there on Oct 21. A FOX SPARROW was
found Oct 21at Sparrow Swamp near the Long Branch Nature Center,
Arlington Co, VA.
A flock of about 25 BOBOLINKS were found Oct 18 at Lake Accotink Park,
Fairfax Co, VA.
A flock of about 20 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were found at Violette's Lock,
C&O Canal NP, Montgomery Co, MD on Oct 18. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS also flew
over the Snicker's Gap Hawkwatch, Clarke Co, VA on Oct 20.
PURPLE FINCHES were reported throughout the area.
PINE SISKINS reports increased this past week including a report of
one in Hagerstown, MD on Oct 19 and two at a feeder in Aldie, Loudoun
Co, VA on Oct 21.
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 records committee. |