-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 12:58 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 3/4/08
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 3/4/2008
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email):
(deadline): midnight Mondays
Compiler: John Bjerke
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, March 4, at
8:00 a.m.
Top birds this week are SANDHILL CRANE in DE and MD and WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILL* and COMMON REDPOLL in MD.
Other birds of interest include waterfowl, RED-NECKED and EARED GREBE,
NORTHERN GANNET, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, OSPREY, GOLDEN EAGLE,
ICELAND GULL, SHORT-EARED OWL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE*, COMMON RAVEN,
GAMBEL'S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, PAINTED BUNTING*, AND BREWER'S
BLACKBIRD.
SANDHILL CRANES were reported from three locations. A single bird has
been seen on several days in February in New Castle County, DE near
Townsend; the last report was Feb 28. Five cranes were reported by a
canoeist near the mouth of the Gunpowder River in Harford County, MD
on Mar 2. A single crane was seen at Mountain Lake, Garrett Co, MD on
Mar 3.
The WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL* visiting the feeders in a backyard in
Silver Spring, Montgomery Co, MD was seen on Feb 26, 28, and 29 and
Mar 1. If it is around, it can be seen from Sligo Creek Pkwy a little
less than 1/4 mile west of Colesville Road.
COMMON REDPOLLS were found in Fort Smallwood Park, Anne Arundel Co. MD
on Feb 28, Mar 1 and 2.
A single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen on Belvoir Rd, Fauquier
Co, VA on Mar 2. A ROSS'S GOOSE was found on the wildlife drive at
Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on Feb 28. Another ROSS'S was with
thousands of SNOW GEESE along Fowler's Beach Rd, Sussex Co, DE on Mar
2. Two CACKLING GEESE were on Fowler's Beach Rd on Mar 1. A CACKLING
GOOSE was reported from Atoka Rd near Rectortown, Fauquier Co, VA on
Mar 2. Two CACKLING GEESE were found at Big Pool, Washington CO, MD on
Mar 2 and another was seen at Mountain Lake, Garrett Co, MD on Mar 3.
COMMON EIDERS were seen at Indian River inlet, Sussex Co, DE on Mar 1
and Mar 2. A male HARLEQUIN DUCK was at Point Lookout SP, St. Mary's
County, MD, on Mar 2. There were three HARLEQUINS at the Chesapeake
Bay/Bridge Tunnels on Feb 26.
Four WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were found on the Potomac River above
Riley's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD on Mar 1.
RED-NECKED GREBES were reported from several locations including Wilde
Lake, Columbia, Howard Co, MD, on Feb 26 and 27 and Mar 1 and 2; the
Honga River, near Ferry Narrows Bridge, Hooper Is., Dorchester Co, MD
on Feb 28; Burton's Island, Indian River inlet, DE on Mar 1 and Mar 2;
and the Susquehanna SP boat landing, Harford Co, MD on Mar 2.
An EARED GREBE was seen bayside at 32nd Street in Ocean City,
Worcester Co, MD on Mar 2.
Thousands of NORTHERN GANNETS were moving north along the Delaware
shore on Mar 1.
Fourteen AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen opposite pool 3c at
Backwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on Mar 2.
Spring signs included numerous reports of OSPREY with one on the
Potomac at Mt Vernon on Mar 3. Other indicators are numerous sightings
of TREE SWALLOW and displaying WOODCOCKS.
Two GOLDEN EAGLES were found at Chesapeake Farms, near Rock Hall, Kent
Co, MD on Mar 1. A sub-adult GOLDEN EAGLE was spotted over Egypt Road
near Blackwater NWR on Mar 2.
A first-winter ICELAND GULL was seen in Richmond on Feb 27. Another
ICELAND GULL was found at the inlet jetty in Ocean City, MD on Mar 2.
Four SHORT-EARED OWLS flew about Cedar Creek Road near Blackwater NWR,
Dorchester Co, MD on Mar 2.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE* was seen Mar 2 in Fauquier Co off of Rectortown
Rd.
A COMMON RAVEN was in Richmond, VA on Feb 29.
The GAMBEL'S subspecies of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen on Mar 2
near the Prime Hook NWR Visitor's Center, Sussex Co, DE.
The male PAINTED BUNTING* continues to visit feeders in the Arnold
area of Anne Arundel Co, MD with reports from Feb 28 and Mar 3. He
has been seen from a bike path near Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd and close
to the Asquith View crossing.
Fourteen BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS mixed with robins and Red-winged
Blackbirds in Salisbury, Wicomico Co, MD on Feb 27.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey, DE
Birds, 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. |