-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 3:53 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 4/22/08
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 4/22/2008
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, April 22, at
2:00 p.m.
Top birds this week were WHITE-FACED IBIS* in MD, SANDHILL CRANE in
MD, and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL in MD.
Other birds of interest include waterfowl, RUFFED GROUSE, NORTHERN
BOBWHITE, EARED GREBE, GREAT CORMORANT, AMERICAN BITTERN, herons,
rails including COMMON MOORHEN, shorebirds including RUFF, LEAST TERN,
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOW & WHIP-POOR-WILL, CLIFF
SWALLOW, WOOD THRUSH, warblers, SUMMER TANAGER, sparrows, BLUE
GROSBEAK, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and finches.
A WHITE-FACED IBIS* was reported at the West Ocean City Pond, MD April
19.
On April 21 a SANDHILL CRANE was seen flying northwest over Church Rd
along the Belt Woods, Bowie, Prince George's Co, MD.
The WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL reappeared at a feeder in Silver Spring,
MD, on April 19.
TRUMPETER SWAN #960 was spotted April 15 at Snowden Pond on the
Central Tract of the Patuxent Research Refuge, Prince George's Co, MD.
A drake HARLEQUIN DUCK was still lingering at Island #1 on the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel/Islands, Northampton Co, VA on April 15.
HOODED MERGANSERS with chicks were seen on April 17 at Huntley Meadows
and on April 18 in a pool at Great Falls NP, Montgomery Co, MD.
On April 19 RUFFED GROUSE were seen in Savage River SF, Garrett Co,
MD, along the West Shale Rd and also along Savage River Rd.
Over the weekend NORTHERN BOBWHITES were observed at the C. F. Phelps
WMA in Fauquier Co, VA, and at the Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA.
On April 20 an EARED GREBE in breeding plumage was photographed on
Lake Habeeb at Rocky Gap SP, Allegany Co, MD.
Two birders saw a GREAT CORMORANT while they were driving over the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel/Islands, Northampton Co, VA on April 19.
Two AMERICAN BITTERNS and VIRGINIA RAILS were seen April 19 at Saxis
Marsh, Northampton Co, VA.
A LEAST BITTERN was seen at Oyster, Northampton Co, VA on April 18.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS and YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were
reported from several locations including a nesting pair at Sligo
Creek Parkway, Montgomery Co, MD.
KING RAILS were heard and seen at Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA
throughout the week. SORA, KING and VIRGINIA RAILS were all heard at
Huntley Meadows on April 19. The same day a KING RAIL was heard at the
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Prince William Co, VA. A COMMON
MOORHEN was seen at Huntley Meadows on April 20.
Two AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were found at the Chincoteague NWR,
Accomack Co, VA over the weekend and three PIPING PLOVERS were seen
there on April 20.
PURPLE SANDPIERS continue to be seen last week on Island #1 of the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel.
A RUFF was found at Tanyard Marsh, Caroline Co, MD on April 19. While
the RUFF was not later relocated, a COMMON MOORHEN was spotted
close-by on the 20th.
LEAST TERNS were noted April 19 at the Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co, MD.
Two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were along Magotha Rd in Northampton Co,
VA on April 19.
CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOWS were seen and heard at the Chincoteague NWR over
the weekend. WHIP-POOR-WILLS were heard calling in several locations
including along Quarry Ridge Road, Allegany Co, MD and at Aquasco Farm
Park, Prince George's Co, MD, on April 19, and at the Phelps WMA,
Fauquier Co, VA on April 20.
More CLIFF SWALLOWS were seen this past week with several at their
nesting site on the Rte 50 Bridge where it crosses the Shenandoah
River in Clarke Co, VA and at Rocky Gap SP, Allegany Co, MD.
This past week numerous birders enjoyed the songs of returning WOOD
THRUSHES.
More than 20 species of WARBLERS were reported last week including
SWAINSON'S WARBLERS along the county line between Greensville and
Southampton Counties in VA on April 19 and along the Jericho Ditch in
the Great Dismal Swamp NWR, Suffolk Co, VA the same day.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were reported from southern VA and from
Montgomery Co, MD on April 19.
SUMMER TANGERS were seen at Robious Landing Park, Chesterfield Co, VA
on April 18; and from Cockpit Point Rd, Dumfries, Prince William Co,
VA, and Jericho Ditch, Great Dismal Swamp NWR, on April 19.
A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was seen April 19 along Old Williams Road in the
Green Ridge SF, Allegany Co, MD and on Island #1 on the CBBT on April
20. Several VESPER SPARROWS were observed at the Agricultural History
Farm Park in Montgomery Co, MD on April 16. On April 20, three VESPER
SPARROWS were singing along Orleans Rd in Allegany Co, MD. The same
day two VESPER SPARROWS were found in the field where one turns to go
to Thrashers and Stonehouse Lakes, Amherst Co, VA.
BLUE GROSBEAKS were reported this past week with two singing April 19
at the ANS Rust Nature Sanctuary, Leesburg, Loudoun Co, VA; another in
the Newport News (VA) Park on April 18; two in Charles Co, MD on Rt.
224 about 1/2 mile north of Rte 6 on the 20th; and one in a backyard
in Chesterfield Co, VA on April 21.
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS continued to be reported from a number of locations,
including over 50 at Huntley Meadows on April 19.
PURPLE FINCHES and PINE SISKINS continued to be reported from a number
of locations throughout the week. Two COMMON REDPOLLS visited a feeder
in Roanoke Co, VA on the 15th & 16th.
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. |