-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 11:49 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 4/29/08

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               4/29/2008
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
        (email):     
     (deadline):    midnight Mondays
Compiler:           Andy Martin
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 29,  at
6:00 p.m.

Top bird this week is WHITE-WINGED TERN* in DE. 

Other birds of interest include waterfowl, RED-THROATED LOON, AMERICAN
WHITE PELICAN, bitterns, herons, and ibis, MISSISSIPPI KITE, NORTHERN
GOSHAWK, falcons, rails, BLACK-NECKED STILT, AMERICAN AVOCET,
GULL-BILLED TERN, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOW and
WHIP-POOR-WILL, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, COMMON
RAVEN, BANK SWALLOW, SEDGE and MARSH WREN, thrushes, AMERICAN PIPIT,
warblers, SUMMER TANAGER, sparrows, BLUE GROSBEAK, BOBLINK, and
finches.

On April 26, a non-breeding plumage WHITE-WINGED TERN was reported at
Ted Harvey WMA, Kent Co, DE. The bird was seen again on April 27 in
the "north" pond and on April 28 in the "south" pond. 

A drake NORTHERN SHOVELER and a female GADWALL were found at
Constitution Gardens, DC on April 24. A lingering COMMON GOLDENEYE was
seen at Mason Neck NWR, Fairfax Co, VA on the north side of Belmont
Bay on April 26.

A flyover RED-THROATED LOON was seen over a yard in Ferndale, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on April 27.

A single AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN is still being seen at Blackwater NWR,
Dorchester Co, MD as of April 27.

AMERICAN BITTERN were reported this week from Hagerstown, Washington
Co, MD on April 23; Huntley Meadows, Fairfax Co, VA on April 26; and
Hughes Hollow (within McKee-Beshers WMA), Montgomery Co, MD on April
26. Two LEAST BITTERN were found at Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co,
MD on April 26.

A LITTLE BLUE HERON was found in a swamp near the golf course along
Paint Branch SVP trail, Prince George's Co, MD on April 26. Three
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were observed on April 23 perched in the
BCNH tree at Ben Brenman Park, Alexandria, VA. A YELLOW-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERON has returned to Royal Farms area on Thornton Rd, Towson,
MD for the third year in a row. Another YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was
found near a yard adjacent to Jug Bay, Prince George's Co, VA on April
25.

A WHITE IBIS was seen April 27, flying in to join a group of GLOSSY
IBIS in a field near Black Duck Pool in Chincoteague NWR, VA. A flock
of eight or nine GLOSSY IBIS were seen flying due west, directly over
the Silver Spring Metro Station, Montgomery Co, MD on April 24.
Twenty-two GLOSSY IBIS were observed at Bethel WMA, Cecil Co, MD April
26.

A juvenile MISSISSIPPI KITE was observed soaring with a small kettle
of vultures near Bellyache Swamp, Southampton Co, VA on April 26. A
NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen "dog fighting" with a Common Raven over
Cragin Cabin, Shenandoah NP, VA on April 24. A MERLIN was seen April
27 along Deephole Point Rd in Occoquan NWR, Prince William Co, VA. A
PEREGRINE FALCON was reported from Leesylvania SP, VA on April 26. 

Night driving along marshes in Dorchester Co, MD on April 25 yielded a
five rail species night (BLACK, CLAPPER, KING, VIRGINIA, AND SORA)
plus two AMERICAN BITTERN and both WHIP-POOR-WILL and
CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW. Three VIRGINIA RAIL and one SORA were found at
Finzel Swamp, Garrett Co, MD on April 25. SORA were reported this week
from Union Mills Wetlands near Westminster, Carroll Co, MD on April 24
and 27; and in a privately owned wetland in Albemarle Co, VA on April
25. A COMMON MOORHEN was found at Huntley Meadows, Fairfax Co, VA on
April 26. 

BLACK-NECKED STILT were seen this past week at North Beach Marsh,
Calvert Co, MD on April 25 and near the drawbridge on the causeway
into the town of Chincoteague, VA between April 25 and 27.

A few BLACK-NECKED STILTS and an AMERICAN AVOCET were seen at
Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD on April 26.

Two GULL-BILLED TERN were found on the north end of Assateague Island
(Sinepuxent Bay side), Worcester Co, MD on April 26.

The flight call of BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was heard over Gaithersburg, MD
on April 26. Another BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was found at Blue Mash,
Montgomery Co, MD on April 27 and 28.

A CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW was heard calling in Weinberg Park south of White
Pond, Anne Arundel Co, MD on April 26. WHIP-POOR-WILLS were heard
calling at several locations including along Joplin Rd west of Prince
William Forest Park, Prince William Co, VA on April 26 and off
Winchester Rd, Allegany Co, MD on April 27.

A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD
on April 26.

A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was reported April 26 along Possum Point Rd,
Prince William Co, VA at the first pullover (before all the no parking
signs). Another PHILADELPHIA VIREO was reported from Huntley Meadows,
Fairfax Co, VA on April 27.

A pair of COMMON RAVENS are nesting on a water tower near Cabin John,
Montgomery Co, MD. Two COMMON RAVENS were seen at the Beltsville
Agriculture Research Center, Prince George's Co, MD on April 27.

A BANK SWALLOW was seen flying over the University of MD Central Farm
in Howard Co, MD on April 24. Another BANK SWALLOW was seen at Huntley
Meadows, Fairfax Co, VA on April 28.

A SEDGE WREN was observed at Irish Grove Sanctuary, Somerset Co, MD on
April 27. MARSH WRENS were reported this week from Patuxent River
Park, Aquasco Farm, Prince George's Co, MD on April 23; Swan Harbor
Farm Park, Harford Co, MD on April 24; and Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA
on April 27.

Reports of a few "first of the season" VEERY and SWAINSON'S THRUSH
trickled in from wooded locations in MD and VA.

AMERICAN PIPITS were found this past week in a flooded field at
McKee-Beshers WMA, Montgomery Co, MD on April 25 and the mudflats at
Quantico Creek, Prince William Co, VA on April 27. 

Warbler numbers and diversity continue to increase across the region.
A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was found at the New Windsor Wetlands behind
the New Windsor MS, Carroll Co, MD on April 27 and also at Schooley
Mill Park, Howard Co, MD on April 26. A BREWSTER'S WARBLER
(Blue-winged x Golden-winged hybrid) was found in the Azalea
Collection at the National Arboretum, DC on April 27. CERULEAN
WARBLERS were found at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental
Stewardship in northwestern Loudoun Co, VA on April 26 and at the
McKeldin Area of Patapsco Valley SP, MD April 26 and 27. SWAINSON'S
WARBLERS continue along the Jericho Ditch in the Great Dismal Swamp
NWR, Suffolk Co, VA. A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was a surprise visitor to
a backyard bird bath in Arlington, VA on April 26. 

A SUMMER TANAGER was observed near Bushwood, St. Mary's Co, MD on
April 24. Another SUMMER TANAGER was heard calling in Monticello Park,
Alexandria, VA on April 27.

A VESPER SPARROW was found at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA
on April 26. Reports of GRASSHOPPER SPARROW increased this past week.
Multiple HENSLOW'S SPARROW were found along Old Legislative Rd in
Allegany Co, MD on April 25 and 26. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW showed up in
the "nets" at the Occoquan Banding Station, Prince William Co, VA on
April 27. 

BLUE GROSBEAKS were seen this past week at the National Arboretum, DC
on April 25; Greenbury Point, Anne Arundel Co, MD on April 26; and
Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore, MD on April 27. 

A BOBOLINK was found at the New Windsor Wetlands behind the New
Windsor MS, Carroll Co, MD on April 27.

PURPLE FINCH continue to be seen around the area. PINE SISKINS were
seen at a feeder off Winchester Rd, Allegany Co, MD on April 27; a
backyard feeder in northern Prince George's Co, MD on April 27; and in
Davidsonville, MD on April 28.

Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey and
VA-Bird list servers and the eBird Rare Bird Google Gadgets for MD and
VA.

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.