-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 9:13 AM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 3/18/08

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               3/18/2008
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 18, at
8:00 a.m.

Top birds this week are BARNACLE GOOSE* in VA and LITTLE GULL and
GLAUCOUS GULL in MD.

Other birds of interest include waterfowl, RUFFED GROUSE, PACIFIC
LOON*, RED-NECKED and EARED GREBE, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN,
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, RUFF,
AMERICAN WOODCOCK, LESSER BACK-BACKED and BLACK-HEADED GULLS, EURASIAN
COLLARED-DOVE*, SHORT-EARED OWL, NORTHERN PARULA, BLACK-THROATED GREEN
and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS and RED CROSSBILL. 

A BARNACLE GOOSE* continued at Willow Lake in the Raphine area in the
northern part of Rockbridge Co, VA; it was seen on March 13 and 16.

Two adult LITTLE GULLS were seen on the Susquehanna River at Lapidum,
Harford Co, MD on Mar 15. Another LITTLE GULL was spotted on the Back
River from Diamond Point Rd in Baltimore, MD on Mar 17. A GLAUCOUS
GULL was seen at Lapidum on Mar 15.

Observers continue to note the movement of waterfowl out of our area
including large flocks of TUNDRA SWANS.

A ROSS'S GOOSE was found at Great Oak Pond, Kent Co, MD on Mar 13.

A EURASIAN WIGEON was spotted at the Ted Harvey Wildlife Area, Kent
Co, DE on Mar 15. Another EURASIAN WIGEON was in Ridgeway Park,
Hampton, VA on Mar 17. Five COMMON EIDERS were at the Ocean City
inlet, Worcester Co, MD on Mar 16. Two drake HARLEQUIN DUCKS were
reported from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, VA on Mar 15 and Mar
17.

Three RUFFED GROUSE were seen in the Rip Rap parking lot on Skyline
Drive, Shenandoah National Park, VA on Mar 13.

The PACIFIC LOON* is still present at Palmer Point, Kerr Reservoir,
Mecklenburg, Co, VA.

Once again there were many sightings of RED-NECKED GREBE. A single
bird was at Liberty Lake, Carroll Co, MD on Mar 11 and 12; a single
bird was seen from Bellhaven, Alexandria, VA on Mar 12; a single bird
was seen on Belmont Bay from the Mason Neck SP Visitor Center, VA, on
Mar 15; a single bird was reported from Weems Creek, Annapolis, MD on
Mar 14, 15, and 16; and two birds were seen at Carvins Cove Reservoir,
Botetourt Co, VA on Mar 16.

An EARED GREBE was seen from the north end of Scientists Cliffs,
Calvert Co, MD on Mar 15. 

Twenty AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were reported on the James River in VA
near Jordan Point on Mar 14.  At least nine WHITE PELICANS were seen
on the Wildlife Drive at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on March
16.

The returning YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were spotted along Sligo
Creek near Piney Branch Rd, Montgomery Co, MD on Mar 15. 

An immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen at Piney Run Park, Carroll Co,
MD on Mar 12.  A juvenile GOLDEN EAGLE was spotted at the Rt 135 power
line cut over Backbone Mt, Garrett Co, MD on Mar 15. Another juvenile
GOLDEN EAGLE was seen from Dan's Mountain, Allegany Co, MD on Mar 17. 

A female RUFF was found along Fowler Beach Road, Sussex Co, DE on Mar
11. Birders looking for AMERICAN WOODCOCK can see displaying birds on
the service roads at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA.

A BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen from the south end of Scientists Cliffs,
Calvert Co, MD on Mar 15. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen near
Lapidum, Harford Co, MD on Mar 16 and Neabsco Creek, Prince William
Co, VA on Mar 15. 

Two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES* were found at South Point, Worcester Co,
MD on Mar 16.

SHORT-EARED OWLS continue along Cedar Creek Rd, Dorchester Co, MD. 

For the warbler-deprived, there are reports this week of a possible
NORTHERN PARULA on the W&OD Trail west of Vienna, VA on Mar 13 and a
BLACK-THROATED GREEN was heard in Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC on
Mar 10. A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, first seen in early January, was
spotted again at Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA on March 16.

A flyover RED CROSSBILL was reported from the Appalachian Trail near
High Rock, Washington and Frederick Cos, MD on Mar 15.

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.