-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:39 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 2/26/08
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 2/26/2008
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, February 26, at
4:00 p.m.
Top birds this week are PACIFIC LOON* in VA, PAINTED BUNTING* in MD,
and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL in MD.
Other birds of interest include geese, ducks, RED-NECKED and EARED
GREBE, NORTHERN FULMAR, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK,
GOLDEN EAGLE, PEREGRINE FALCON, gulls, DOVEKIE, RAZORBILL, ATLANTIC
PUFFIN, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, SHORT-EARED OWL, RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER, COMMON RAVEN, warblers, RED CROSSBILL, and COMMON REDPOLL.
On both Feb 23 and 24, birders had great looks of the PACIFIC LOON* on
calm waters off of Palmer Point at Kerr Reservoir, Mecklenburg Co, VA.
The beautiful male PAINTED BUNTING* continues to visit feeders in the
Arnold area of Anne Arundel Co, MD with reports from Feb 22 and Feb
23. He has been seen from a bike path near Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd
and close to the Asquith View crossing.
After a two-week absence, a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was again visiting
the feeders in a backyard in Silver Spring, Montgomery Co, MD with
sightings on Feb 23, 24, and 25. If it is around, it can be seen from
Sligo Creek Pkwy a little less than 1/4 mile west of Colesville Road.
A single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and two CACKLING GEESE were found
in a horse enclosure about 1/2 mile down Turner Rd from Mill Bridge Rd
in southern Calvert Co on Feb 23. Four GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE
were seen at North Branch, Allegany Co, MD, on Feb 24. One was found
there on Feb 25. Two CACKLING GEESE were observed at Blackwater NWR,
Dorchester Co, MD on February 23. Two CACKLING GEESE were also found
in Fauquier Co, VA along Atoka Rd on Feb 24.
The male HARLEQUIN DUCK at Point Lookout SP, St. Mary's County, MD,
continues to be found with the most recent report from Feb 24. A visit
to the Chesapeake Bay/Bridge Tunnels on Feb 23 found two HARLEQUIN
DUCKS and a RAZORBILL.
Two immature male COMMON EIDERS were working the north side of the
south jetty (near the east end) at the Ocean City, MD inlet on Feb 24.
On the same day, 11 COMMON EIDERS were found at Fort Story, Virginia
Beach, VA, as well as several LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS.
RED-NECKED GREBES were reported from several locations including the
Solomons, Calvert Co, MD, on Feb 20, 23, and 24; Point Lookout SP on
Feb 21; and Wilde Lake, Columbia, Howard Co, MD, on Feb 24 and 25. One
was also found in the pond closest to Beauvue Road, about a mile or
two southeast of Leonardtown, St. Mary's Co, MD on Feb 24.
The EARED GREBE at Point Lookout SP was seen again on Feb 19.
A pelagic trip by See Life Paulagics out of Lewes, DE on Feb 23 found
a NORTHERN FULMAR in MD waters.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS continue to be found at Blackwater NWR with a
report of 5 on February 23.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen Feb 23 in Highland Co along Rte 644,
almost to the WV state line, as the road goes on a long climb up a
hill.
A GOLDEN EAGLE was also found in Highland Co on Feb 23 along Rt. 640
south of Rt. 250.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was observed scattering pigeons at Dupont Circle,
NW DC on Feb 19.
A LITTLE GULL was seen at Fort Story, Virginia Beach, VA on February
19. A first-winter ICELAND (KUMLIEN'S) GULL and 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS were found at Fort Story on Feb 20. A first-winter ICELAND
(KUMLIEN'S) GULL and 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were also found at
the Salisbury Landfill, Wicomico Co, MD on February 23.
The pelagic trip by See Life Paulagics out of Lewes, DE on Feb 23 also
found DOVEKIES in both DE and MD waters, RAZORBILLS in DE waters, and
two ATLANTIC PUFFINS in MD waters. Nineteen RAZORBILLS were seen Feb
19 in the ocean from the refuge office buildings at Back Bay NWR,
Virginia Beach, VA.
A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was seen at the South Point boat ramp,
Worcester Co, MD on February 23.
A single SHORT-EARED OWL was seen Feb 23 in the fields across from the
pavilion on Crenshaw Rd about ½ mile north of Rectortown, Fauquier Co,
VA. Another was seen Feb 25 in the fields along Allder School Rd near
Mountain View Elem School north of Purcellville, Loudoun Co, VA.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER that has been frequenting the Wayneswood
pull-off on the George Washington Parkway, Fairfax Co, VA was seen
again on Feb 24. On the same day a juvenile RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was
observed at the top of a dead tree along the Minebank Run trail at
Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore Country, MD.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was found Feb 24 in Fauquier Co off of Rectortown RD
where its intersection that portion of Rokeby Rd that runs south from
Rectortown Rd.
A COMMON RAVEN flew over I-70 just east of the Baltimore/Howard
County, MD line on Feb 23.
Two RED CROSSBILLS, a male and a female, showed up at a feeder in Blue
Ridge, Botetourt Co, VA on Feb 24.
COMMON REDPOLLS popped up at a number of locations last week. One was
found at a feeder in Chestertown, Kent Co, MD on Feb 20. While the
adult female COMMON REDPOLL visiting thistle feeders in Loudoun Co, VA
was last seen on February 22, two showed up at Fort Smallwood Park,
Anne Arundel Co, MD that same day. They were south of the Old Fort and
east of the parking lot in and near the sweet gum trees and were seen
again on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th.
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. |