-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 5:21 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 6/5/08
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 6/5/2008
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email):
(deadline): midnight Mondays
Compiler: Lydia Schindler/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 Thursday, June 5, at 5
pm.
Top birds this week are MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD in DE and FRANKLIN'S
GULL in DC.
Other birds of interest include herons, MISSISSIPPI KITE, rails,
shorebirds, nightjars, OLIVE-SIDED and ALDER FLYCATCHERS, GRAY-CHEEKED
THRUSH, warblers, SUMMER TANAGER, sparrows, DICKCISSEL, and BOBOLINK.
A MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD was seen from Prime Hook, DE, flying south
toward Oyster Rocks on May 30.
A FRANKLIN'S GULL was located at Hanes Point, DC on June 5.
A LEAST BITTERN was seen at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, NE DC on May
31 while another was spotted by a kayaker in Mattaponi Creek, Prince
George's Co, MD on the same day. A LEAST BITTERN perched nicely at
Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on June 1 and one was seen there
on June 2, also.
MISSISSIPPI KITES were spotted at a wide variety of locations in VA:
in the King's Park development in Burke, Fairfax Co; soaring above the
Marshall Elementary School, Prince William Co; soaring over the
intersection of Braddock Road and Backlick Road in Annandale and at
Huntley Meadows.
Swan Harbor Farm Park proved to be a productive visit for participants
at the MOS Conference in Harford Co, MD with LEAST BITTERN, SORA and
three WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS tallied on May 31 followed by LEAST
BITTERN and KING RAIL on June 1.
A BLACK RAIL called persistently along Elliott Island Road, Dorchester
Co, MD on June 1. The VIRGINIA RAIL family, reported last week, was
seen again on May 28, 30 and June 1 and 2 at Huntley Meadows Park.
Both SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL were heard at Finzel Swamp, Garrett Co, MD
on June 1.
On May 31, three WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were noted at Rumbly Point,
Somerset Co, MD in the company of 102 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS and one
DUNLIN. The 17 species of shorebirds/waders seen on Poplar Island,
Talbot Co, MD on May 29 included BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, AMERICAN
AVOCET, WILLET, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, WILSON'S PHALAROPE and
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK strolled around center
field during batting practice at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD on May
28.
Two WHIP-POOR-WILLS and five CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOWS were heard at
Soldier's Delight, Baltimore Co, MD on May 31.
An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was spotted May 29 along the Kingsley Trail
at Little Bennett RP, Montgomery Co, MD. On June 1, an OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHER was found at Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, VA, off the South
Ridge trail.
An ALDER FLYCATCHER was discovered May 31 at Kenilworth Aquatic
Gardens, and seen again June 1, 2, and 3--consistently at the end of
the shorter boardwalk. ALDER FLYCATCHERS were also in evidence in
Garrett Co, MD, with a report May 29 from Mt Nebo WMA, May 30 from
Snaggy Mt Rd, and June 1 from Finzel Swamp.
A GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was found May 29 at Chesapeake Landing, Kent Co,
MD. That same day a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was noted in the parking lot
at the Eastport-Annapolis Post Office, Anne Arundel Co, MD.
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS were again singing along Old Legislative Rd,
Allegany Co, MD, on June 1. A LAWRENCE'S WARBLER appeared June 2 in
Garrett Co; it was on Mt Zion Rd above Jennings-Randolph Lake. Two
MOURNING WARBLERS were found June 2 in Garrett Co, along Table Rock Rd
south of Oakland. Two MOURNING WARBLERS were reported from Paddy's
Knob, Bath Co, VA, in the traditional haunt--along a dirt tract that
leads northeast off FR 55. One of the last BLACKPOLLS of the season
was registered at Cabin John, Montgomery Co, on June 3.
A SUMMER TANAGER was enjoyed at Chesapeake Landing, Kent Co, MD, on
May 29.
A VESPER SPARROW was observed June 2 in Carroll Co, MD, along Baptist
Rd just north of Bowers Rd, as well as along the Cornfield Trail at
Antietam National Battlefield, Washington Co, MD. HENSLOW'S SPARROWS
were found again along Old Legislative Rd June 1 and 2. A newly
deceased NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was found May 31--on the ground
near a window--in Ellicott City, Howard Co, MD. SEASIDE SPARROWS were
present May 29 on Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD, and June 1 at Black
Marsh, Baltimore Co, MD.
DICKCISSELS were still singing along Egypt Rd (2 miles south of Rte
16) I Dorchester Co, MD, on June 1 and 2. They were found May 31 at
Antietam, near the intersection of Hagerstown Pike and Mansfield Rd.
On June 4, the alfalfa fields along Hunting Quarter Rd south of Deep
Grass in southern DE, held at least 6 singing male DICKCISSELS.
On May 31 a BOBOLINK was found at KAG, NE DC. That same day BOBOLINKS
galore were bubbling in fields off Norris Welch Rd, Garrett Co. And on
June 2, BOBOLINKS were reported from Carroll Co, MD, along Walnut
Grove Rd 3/4 mile north of Bowers Rd.
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. |