-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 3:01 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 7/29/08

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               7/29/2008 
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE 
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1 
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2 
        (email):     
     (deadline):    midnight Mondays 
Compiler:           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, July 29, at
3:00 p.m. 

Top birds this week are LITTLE EGRET* in DE, REDDISH EGRET* in VA, and
WHITE-FACED IBIS* in DE.

Other birds of interest include RING-NECKED PHEASANT, WILD TURKEY,
ANHINGA, herons, ibis, MISSISSIPPI KITE, shorebirds, FRANKLIN'S GULL,
CASPIAN TERN, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, COMMON RAVEN, HORNED LARK,
SEASIDE SPARROW and DICKCISSEL.

The LITTLE EGRET* continues at Bombay Hook NWR, DE, with sightings at
Shearness Pool during the week.

The REDDISH EGRET* found last week at the Craney Island landfill,
Portsmouth, VA, was seen again on July 23 and 25.

A WHITE-FACED IBIS* was reported from Raymond Pool, Bombay Hook, NWR,
DE on the weekend.

A hen RING-NECKED PHEASANT was flushed from tall grass in Cherry Hill
Park, Baltimore City, MD on July 23. Five WILD TURKEYS were spotted on
Senkbeil Road in Wicomico Co, MD on July 24. A WILD TURKEY was seen in
the field along Sawmill Road at the Blue Ridge Center, Loudoun Co, VA
on July 26

An ANHINGA was seen again at Lake Maury, Mariner's Museum Park,
Newport News, VA on July 25.

LEAST BITTERNS continue to be seen at the Oxbow Lake Nature Preserve,
Anne Arundel Co, MD. An immature LITTLE BLUE HERON dropped into the
Elkton Marsh, Cecil Co, MD on July 23. A flock of 54 CATTLE EGRETS
were noted in a field on South Cecil Ave near the intersection of
Churchview Road, Anne Arundel Co, MD on July 23. 

On July 22, a YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON returned to Roland Run next
to Royal Farms on Joppa Rd, one of its normal spots in the Towson,
Baltimore Co, MD area. 

A five hour Kayak trip on Ellis Bay, Deal Island WMA, Wicomico Co, MD
on July 28 produced a long list of sightings including eight LEAST
BITTERN, 105 GLOSSY IBIS, nine shorebird species and thirty two
SEASIDE SPARROWS.

WHITE IBIS were seen in several places: in the Patapsco River upstream
from Daniels Road, Howard/Baltimore Co, MD on July 27 and over the
Patuxent River, Anne Arundel/Prince George's Co, MD also on July 27.

Two MISSISSIPPI KITES put in a brief appearance over Waynewood,
Fairfax Co, VA on July 27. Another MISSISSIPPI KITE flew over West
Springfield, Fairfax Co, VA on July 29.

Shorebirds and waders were also reported from a number of other
locations this past week. Six AMERICAN AVOCETS plus a WILSON'S
PHALAROPE were at the Craney Island Landfill on July 23. Bombay Hook
NWR hosted AMERICAN AVOCETS, BLACK-NECKED STILTS plus six shorebird
species including STILT, PECTORAL and WESTERN SANDPIPERS. Two PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS were in the front pond at Western Regional Park, Howard Co,
MD on July 26 and 27. Forty two south bound WHIMBRELS flew down the
beach at Assateague Island, Worcester Co, MD on July 27. A trip to
Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD on July 28 observed 13 species of
shorebird including PECTORAL and STILT SANDPIPERS and a RUDDY
TURNSTONE.

A first summer FRANKLIN'S GULL was also spotted on Hart-Miller Island
on July 28.

A CASPIAN TERN was seen at Piney Run Park, Carroll Co, MD on July 27.

Two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were spotted along Muddy Hole Road,
Wicomico Co, MD on July 24.

Two COMMON RAVENS were seen from Greentree Road in Bethesda,
Montgomery Co, MD on July 26.

An immature HORNED LARK was spotted on the new gravel service road in
Kenilworth Park, DC on July 22. Another HORNED LARK was seen a farm on
Leister's Church Road in North Carroll Co, MD on the same day.

Four SEASIDE SPARROWS were noted at the Deal Island WMA, Somerset Co,
MD on July 27.

The DICKCISSEL was observed again from Dunker Church Road just north
of the Antietam Battlefield NM, Washington Co, MD on July 26.

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.