-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:47 AM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 5/13/08

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               5/13/2008 
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, May 13, at 8:00
a.m. 

Top bird this week is WOOD SANDPIPER* in DE.

Other birds of interest include NEOTROPIC CORMORANT*, AMERICAN
BITTERN, MISSISSIPPI and SWALLOW-TAILED KITES, GOLDEN EAGLE, SORA,
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, FRANKLIN'S GULL, COMMON RAVEN, 
LE CONTE'S SPARROW, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW,
BOBOLINK, PURPLE FINCH, and RED CROSSBILL. 

A WOOD SANDPIPER* first found on May 5 along the Broadkill Road in
Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, DE was seen every day in the last week. The
bird has been in the pools on the north side of the road approximately
2.2 miles past the entrance to Prime Hook.

Migrants continue their annual passage to and through the area. A DE
Big Day on May 7 recorded 26 species of warblers and 25 species of
shorebirds. Other hot spots included Rock Creek Park, Washington DC
with 16 warblers on May 6 and May 8, Rock Run Mill, Harford Co, MD
with 20 warblers on May 6, multiple locations in Harford Co with 19
warblers on May 8, Flag Ponds SP, Calvert Co, MD with 19 warblers on
May 10, Jug Bay section of Patuxent River Park, Prince Georges Co, MD
with 18 warblers on May 11, Compton Mt., Buchanan Co, VA with 18
warblers on May 10 and Highland and Bath Cos, VA with 20 warblers on
May 10.

A possible NEOTROPIC CORMORANT* was reported from the Potomac River
near Harper's Ferry on May 9.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen at the Hughes Hollow impoundments,
Montgomery Co, MD, on May 12. LEAST BITTERN is again being heard in
the Jug Bay section of Patuxent River Park, Prince Georges Co, MD.

A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE flew over the hawkwatch at Cape Henlopen SP,
Sussex Co, DE on May 7. Three MISSISSIPPI KITES were seen near
Petersburg, VA on May 8. MISSISSIPPI KITES were reported to have
returned to Halifax Co, VA on May 10. A single MISSISSIPPI KITE was
spotted at the Jug Bay section of Patuxent River Park on May 11.

A GOLDEN EAGLE in the roadway near Linden, Warren Co, VA surprised a
birder on May 7.

SORAS were heard at the Jug Bay section of Patuxent River Park this
week and one was seen at the Hughes Hollow impoundments on May 12.

A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was found near Fishersville, Augusta Co, VA on
May 12.

The golf course at Hains Point, Washington DC has apparently become a
haven for FRANKLIN'S GULL. Two additional birds were seen after the
bird of May 3. One described as a first summer bird was seen on May 9
and May 10. A molting adult was found on May 12.

Two COMMON RAVENS were seen at the Beltsville Agricultural Research
Station, Prince Georges Co, MD on May 7.

A LE CONTE'S SPARROW* was found at Greenbury Point, near Annapolis,
Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 7. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was seen on the Blue
Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery Co, MD on May 11.

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS decided to postpone migration a bit showing up
in a yards in Bethesda, MD, Havre de Grace, MD, Eldersburg, MD, and
Baltimore, MD.

BOBOLINKS made welcome news at several spots including Gravelly Point
at National Airport, Washington, DC and several hundred in a field on
Harrison Road, Fauquier Co, VA on May 11. 

A lingering PURPLE FINCH was in Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD on
May 7.

Up to 15 RED CROSSBILLS are visiting a feeder in Rockingham Co, VA. 

Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey,
VA-Bird, and DE-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.