-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 10:52 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 1/15/08

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               1/15/2008
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
        (email):     
     (deadline):    midnight Mondays
Compiler:           Andy Martin
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, January 15, at
10:00 pm.

Top birds this week are KING EIDER* in MD and PAINTED BUNTING* and
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE* in VA.

Other birds of interest include geese and ducks, TRUMPETER SWAN,
RUFFED GROUSE, loons, grebes, pelicans, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GOLDEN
EAGLE, falcons, SANDHILL CRANE, shorebirds, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL,
SHORT-EARED OWL, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, shrikes, COMMON RAVEN, GRAY
CATBIRD, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, warblers, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW,
LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, and finches.

A KING EIDER continues (as of January 12) near the Fishing Pier at
Point Lookout SP, St. Mary's Co, MD.

A PAINTED BUNTING continues as of January 13 to visit a feeder on
River Circle, Verona, Augusta Co, VA.

A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE continues in a residential area of
Williamsburg, VA with sightings throughout the past week.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE continues on the North Branch, Allegany
Co, MD. Another GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen among a large
flock of Canada Geese at Patuxent River Park near Wildlife Dr, Prince
George's Co, MD on January 13.

A CACKLING GOOSE was found at the ponds at the Review and Herald
Publishing Company, Hagerstown, MD on January 12.

TRUMPETER SWAN #960 remains at the Oxbow Lake in the Russett Community
of Laurel, Anne Arundel Co, MD.

EURASIAN WIGEON was reported from a cove off the Lafayette River near
Surrey Crescent and Upper Brandon Place in Norfolk, VA on January 9. A
BLUE-WINGED TEAL was found near Hagerstown, MD on January 13. Two
HARLEQUIN DUCKS were found on CBBT Island #4, VA on January 13.

A RUFFED GROUSE was seen off Russell Rd, Garrett Co, MD on January 13.

A PACIFIC LOON continues at Kerr Reservoir, Mecklenburg Co, VA. Some
other nice birds reported from Kerr Reservoir on January 12 included a
RED-THROATED LOON, both RED-NECKED and EARED GREBE, WHITE-WINGED,
SURF, and BLACK SCOTER, and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. 

An EARED GREBE continues in the pond by the boat ramp at Point Lookout
SP, St. Mary's Co, MD on January 12.

Six WHITE PELICANS were found at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on
January 10 during the mid-winter eagle count. Five BROWN PELICANS were
seen at Point Lookout SP, St. Mary's Co, MD on January 12.

A light-phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was reported from Finzel Swamp,
Garrett Co, MD on January 13. Two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were found in
Highland Co, VA on January 13.

A GOLDEN EAGLE was reported from the mid-winter eagle count at
Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on January 10. Three GOLDEN EAGLES
were found in Highland Co, VA on January 13.

A female MERLIN was found at Lake Roland, Baltimore, MD on January 10.
A MERLIN was reported from Great Falls NP (VA side) on January 13.
Another MERLIN was seen at the National Arboretum, Washington, DC on
January 15. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen perched a top a tree along the
Paint Branch Trail, Prince George's Co, MD on January 15

Five SANDHILL CRANES continue (as of January 12) in a field near
Hagerstown, Washington Co, MD. 

Ten GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a single LESSER YELLOWLEGS were found off
the Great Marsh Trail at Mason Neck NWR, Prince William Co, VA on
January 12.

Ten WILSON'S SNIPE were found on the "upper end" mud flat of Cash Lake
within the South Tract of the Patuxent Research Refuge, Prince
George's Co, MD on January 9 and 11. One WILSON'S SNIPE was found at
Leesylvania SP, Neabsco Harbor, Prince William Co, VA on January 11.
Four AMERICAN WOODCOCK were displaying/peenting at the front gate of
Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA on January 12. 

A SHORT-EARED OWL was seen near the Bridle Trail parking area off Rte
17 at Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, VA on January 12.

Two juvenile RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were the highlight of a 
three-hour bird walk in Algonkian Park, Loudoun Co, VA on January 12.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were also reported from Pohick Bay RP, Fairfax
Co, VA on January 12 and from McKee-Beshers WMA, Montgomery Co, MD on
January 13. Seven RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were found at Sky Meadows SP,
Fauquier County, VA on January 12 and total of ten were seen there on
January 13.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was found at Finzel Swamp, Garrett Co, MD on January
12. A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE continues near the intersection of Rtes 707
and 786 in Augusta Co, VA. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES were also reported from
the Warrenton and Remington areas of Fauquier Co, VA on January 12.

Three COMMON RAVENS were seen at Banshee Reeks, Loudoun Co, VA on
January 12. A pair of very active COMMON RAVENS were seen at Little
Bennett RP, Montgomery Co, MD on January 14.

Two GRAY CATBIRDS were found near Blairs Valley, Washington Co, MD on
January 13.

A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER continues at a feeder in Indian Head, Prince
George's Co, MD.

PINE WARBLERS were seen this past week at Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel
Co, MD and at a backyard feeder near Little Seneca Lake, Montgomery
Co, MD on January 13.

A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT has been visiting a feeder in Chesapeake Beach,
Calvert Co, MD for the past several days.

A single AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was found within the South Tract of the
Patuxent Research Refuge, Prince George's Co, MD on January 9.
AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were also seen at Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier
County, VA on January 13.

A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was found along Broadfording Rd, Washington Co, MD
on January 12. SNOW BUNTINGS were reported at Cape Henlopen, DE on Jan
12.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES have been seen this past week at feeders in
Leesburg, VA, Indian Head, Prince George's Co, MD and Stafford Co, VA.
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was seen January 13 in the same vicinity as the
Williamsburg, VA TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE.

PURPLE FINCHES and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES continue to visit feeders
and also be found in the field throughout the area.

Six RED CROSSBILLS were reported from Cape Henlopen, DE on January 12.
A flyover RED CROSSBILL was reported from Dan's Rock, Allegany Co, MD
on January 13.

COMMON REDPOLLS were reported from the following locations this week:
Kennard ES, Queenstown, MD on January 9; Cape Henlopen, DE on January
12; near Hances Point, Cecil Co, MD on January 12 (a flock of 40!);
Finzel Swamp, Garrett Co, MD on January 13; McKee-Beshers WMA,
Montgomery Co, MD on January 13; and Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel Co,
MD on January 13. 

PINE SISKINS were reported from backyard feeders in Talbot Co, MD on
January 10 and 11; Darnestown and Germantown, Montgomery Co, MD on
January 13; and near the aviary at Rocky Gap SP, Allegany Co, MD on
January 13. 

A female EVENING GROSBEAK visited a yard in Powhatan Co, VA on January
11. A small group (2-3) of flyover EVENING GROSBEAKS were reported
from North Branch, Allegany Co, MD on January 14.

Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey,
VA-Bird list and DE Birds 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.