-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 1:58 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 4/8/08

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               4/8/2008
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
        (email):     
     (deadline):    midnight Mondays
Compiler:           Helen Patton
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, April 8, at
8:45 a.m.

Top birds this week are WHITE-FACED IBIS* and PAINTED BUNTING* in MD.

Other birds of interest include ducks, RED-THROATED LOON, RED-NECKED
GREBE, NORTHERN GANNET, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, AMERICAN BITTERN,
WHITE IBIS, night-herons, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, PEREGRINE FALCON,
WHIMBREL, gulls, terns, WHIP-POOR-WILL, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD,
COMMON RAVEN, swallows, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER,
warblers, VESPER SPARROW, SEASIDE SPARROW, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, BALTIMORE
ORIOLE, and RED-CROSSBILL.

A WHITE-FACED IBIS* was seen at the Berlin Sewage Treatment Plant,
Worcester Co, MD on April 5.  The bird later moved to Skimmer Island
in Ocean City.

The PAINTED BUNTING* was reported moving between a private house in
Annapolis and a feeder in Arnold, Anne Arundel Co, MD on April 6.  The
Annapolis location was frequented by the Bunting in December 2007,
then it moved to the Arnold location in January or possibly there are
two birds! 

A hen and very young COMMON MERGANSER chicks were at Violette's Lock,
Montgomery Co, MD on April 6. Two COMMON EIDERS were seen at the Ocean
City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD on April 6.

A RED-THROATED LOON was spotted at Fort Howard Park, Baltimore Co, MD
and on Skimmer Island, Ocean City on April 6.  Another RED-THROATED
LOON continues at the Fort Smallwood area, Anne Arundel Co, MD with a
report from April 7.

A RED-NECKED GREBE was reported from Lake Roland, Baltimore Co, MD on
April 1.

On April 5, forty NORTHERN GANNETS were spread out across the
Chesapeake Bay just south of the Bay Bridge and five more were feeding
just west of the Rte. 50 Bridge over the Choptank River, Cambridge,
Dorchester Co, MD.  More NORTHERN GANNETS were reported from Kent
Narrows, Grasonville, Queen Anne's Co, MD also on April 5.  A NORTHERN
GANNET was spotted at Wenona, Somerset Co, MD on April 6

Twenty nine AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen at Blackwater NWR,
Dorchester Co, MD on April 1.  A single AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was
noted at Tydings Marina, Havre de Grace, Harford Co, MD on April 4.
Fourteen AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were circling over the Occoquan
Marina near Woodbridge, VA on April 5.  Another AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN
was observed at the mouth of Aquia Creek, Stafford Co, VA on April 5.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was reported from McKee-Beshers WMA, Montgomery
Co, MD on April 3 and the Wetlands in the James River Park System in
Richmond, VA on April 3, 4 and 5. 

Some WHITE IBIS were observed at Fisherman's Island seen from the CBBT
on April 3.

Both NIGHT-HERONS were reported during the week. A BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERON returned to Culler Lake in Baker Park, Frederick, MD on
April 3. Six to seven BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were in the trees on
the island across from Tydings Marina, Havre De Grace on April 4.  A
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at Riley's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD on
April 5. Both NIGHT-HERONS was seen at Ben Brenman Park, Alexandria,
VA on April 6 and 7

Two BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were spotted over Potomac, Montgomery Co, MD on
April 6.

A PEREGRINE FALCON was observed at Mariner Point Park, Harford Co, MD
on April 3.  Another PEREGRINE FALCON was seen at Back River, Diamond
Point Road, Baltimore Co, MD on April 6.

Four WHIMBREL were noted at Willis Wharf, Northampton Co, VA on April
2.  A WHIMBREL was on the north end of Deal Island, Somerset Co, MD on
April 6 and 7. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK paid a visit to a back yard in
Falls Church, VA on April 2.

An ICELAND GULL was observed at the Ocean City Inlet on April 6.
Ninety LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen in the ORV Zone, Assateague
Island, Worcester Co MD also on April 6.

CASPIAN TERNS were reported this week from the Anacostia River, DC on
April 3; McCunes, Augusta Co, VA on April 4; Patterson Park and Hains
Point, DC on April 5.  Three ROYAL TERNS were seen near the mouth of
Old Plantation Creek in Cape Charles, Northampton Co, VA on April 4.

A single WHIP-POOR-WILL was heard at the Prince William Forest Park,
Prince William Co, VA on April 5.

A RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD showed up at the River Hill Garden Center
in Clarksville, Howard Co, MD on April 2.

A COMMON RAVEN was seen being chased by crows across I-83 in Timonium,
Baltimore Co, MD on April 2.  Another COMMON RAVEN was noted at Blandy
Experimental Farm, Clarke Co, VA on April 5.

A variety of swallows continue to arrive in the area with reports last
week of PURPLE MARTIN, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED and BARN SWALLOW. TREE
SWALLOW numbers continue to increase. 

There were increasing reports of YELLOW-THROATED, PINE, PALM and
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH this week. Other
summer residents or migrants starting to arrive in our area this past
week include BLUE-HEADED VIREO, EASTERN PHOEBE and BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHER.

A VESPER SPARROW was on Elk Landing Road in the Elk Neck Peninsula in
Cecil Co, MD on April 4. A VESPER SPARROW was seen at Hains Point, DC
and in the Fairfax County Landfill, VA on April 5. A SEASIDE SPARROW
made an appearance at Patterson Park, Baltimore, MD seen on April 3, 4
and 7.

RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were reported from a number of places throughout the
area this past week including Jug Bay, Prince Georges Co, MD,
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, DC, Ft. Smith Park, Arlington, VA,
Carderock Recreation Area, Montgomery Co, MD, near Mount Vernon on the
George Washington Parkway, VA, Finzel Swamp, Garrett Co, MD, Bowie,
Prince George's Co, MD and Bull Run, Fairfax Co, VA  

Two BALTIMORE ORIOLES continue to visit a suet feeder in Gloucester,
VA with a report from April 6. 

A RED CROSSBILL visited feeders in Claytor Lake, Pulaski Co, VA on
April 6.

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.