-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 5:24 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 3/25/08
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 3/25/2008
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, March 25, at
3:00 p.m.
Top birds this week are BARNACLE GOOSE* in VA, LITTLE GULL in MD, and
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL in MD.
Other birds of interest include waterfowl, RUFFED GROUSE, RED-THROATED
LOON, RED-NECKED and EARED GREBE, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, GREAT
CORMORANT, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE,
PEREGRINE FALCON, SORA, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL,
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, RED
CROSSBILL, and EVENING GROSBEAK.
A BARNACLE GOOSE* continued at Willow Lake in the Raphine area in
northern Rockbridge Co, VA; it was seen on March 21.
The LITTLE GULL on the Back River at Diamond Point Rd in Baltimore,
MD, was again spotted on March 18 and 19.
After almost a 4-week absence, a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was again
visiting the feeders in a backyard in Silver Spring, Montgomery Co, MD
with a sighting the morning of March 25. If it is around, it can be
seen from Sligo Creek Pkwy a little less than 1/4 mile west of
Colesville Road. If you visit the site, please do not park on Sligo
Creek Pkwy. He either visits the thistle sock or the window feeder on
the top floor of the house.
TRUMPETER SWAN #962 has again returned to Schoolhouse Pond, Upper
Marlboro, MD, with a sighting on March 18. And TRUMPETER SWAN #960
was again seen at Little Patuxent Oxbow Lake Nature Preserve, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on Saturday, March 22.
Two WHITE-WINGED SCOOTERS were seen at Riley's Lock floating towards
Violette's Lock in Montgomery Co, MD on March 18. The EURASIAN WIGEON
present off of Surrey Crescent in Norfolk, VA since December was seen
again March 22. There were still at least 13 COMMON EIDERS at Fort
Story, VA Beach, VA on March 18. Three HARLEQUIN DUCKS (2 males and 1
female) were still at the north end of the first island of the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, VA on Mar 21.
A RUFFED GROUSE was spotted March 22 on the road down from the Dan's
Rock Overlook, Midland, Allegany Co, MD.
A RED-THROATED LOON was seen on Little Meadows Lake, Garrett Co, MD on
March 19 and 22. Another was seen near the Greenbury Point Nature
Center, Anne Arundel Co, MD the same day.
RED-NECKED GREBES continued to be seen in our area with reports from
Weems Creek, Annapolis, MD on March 18, and another at Loch Raven
Reservoir, Baltimore Co, MD, on March 23. Two RED-NECKED GREBES were
seen at Liberty Lake off Oakland Rd in Carroll Co, MD on March 21.
An EARED GREBE was seen on March 19, 20, and 21, at or near the Mill
Creek boat launch, Greenbury Point, Anne Arundel Co, MD. The EARED
GREBE previously reported in Ocean City, in the bay north of 32nd St,
was found again on March 22. The EARED GREBE at Point Lookout SP was
seen again on March 23.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS continued to be seen through March 19 on the
James River about one mile east of the Benjamin Harrison Bridge near
Jordan Point, Prince George Co, VA. AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS also
continued to be seen at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD with reports
of 16 on March 20, seven on March 21, and 33 on the 22nd.
A GREAT CORMORANT was spotted March 22 at First Landing SP, Virginia
Beach, VA.
A sub-adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen flying to the northwest over the
Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant and across the Back River in
Essex, Baltimore Co., MD on March 23. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK showed up in
a yard in Ellicott City, Howard Co, MD on March 24. A light phase
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen flying over I-70, North of Big Pool,
Washington Co, MD on March 23. GOLDEN EAGLES continued to be spotted
from the Dan's Rock Overlook, Midland, Allegany Co, MD with an adult
seen on Mar 18.
While watching the AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS on March 19 a birder
sighted a PEREGRINE FALCON sitting on the Benjamin Harrison Bridge
nest box. Two PEREGRINE FALCONS were active at the American Legion
Bridge over the Potomac River, Montgomery Co, MD on March 23.
A SORA was heard at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on March 24.
While the number of AMERICAN WOODCOCKS seen and heard displaying
decreased dramatically last week, one was seen on March 24 flying into
an alley between 6th and 7th Streets, NW DC near E Street.
A NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was still present in Patuxent River SP, Howard
Co, MD as of March 23.
A RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD that was originally banded on December 2, 2006
and recaptured November 3, 2007, was still at a feeder in Amherst Co,
VA as of March 20.
The YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, first seen in early January at the Long
Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA, was spotted again on March 20.
Migrating YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS were also reported from a number of
other locations throughout the week.
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were reported from a number of widely-scattered
locations last week. There were at least 200 at Huntley Meadows Park,
Fairfax Co, VA on March 18 and 60 there on the 23rd. There were over
150 on Black Bottom Rd in Kent Co, MD on March 18. On March 20
several medium-large flocks of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen along the
Washington Ditch in the Great Dismal Swamp, Suffolk, VA. And on March
23 there were 170 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS at Finzel Swamp, Garrett Co, MD.
Three RED CROSSBILLS were seen from Dan's Rock, Allegany Co, MD on
March 18.
Eight EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen visiting a feeder in Monterey,
Highland Co, VA, on March 22.
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. |