-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 7:24 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 9/9/08

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               9/09/2008 
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, September 9, at
6:30 p.m.

Top birds this week are MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD* in VA and WESTERN
MEADOWLARK* in MD.

Other birds of interest include ANHINGA, TRICOLORED HERON, MERLIN,
shorebirds, CORY'S SHEARWATER, PARASITIC and LONG-TAILED JAEGERS,
terms, flycatchers, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, warblers, and LARK SPARROW.

A MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD* was spotted flying over the Eastern Shore
of VA NWR, Northampton Co, VA on September 7. The bird was headed
south.

A WESTERN MEADOWLARK*--only once before recorded in MD--was re-found
during the week in Dorchester Co, south of Hurlock. It was with other
meadowlarks in the southernmost field of a turf farm on the west side
of Rte 381, just north of Rte 14. 

A sighting of an ANHINGA was received from an observer in Spotsylvania
Co, VA. The bird was flying over Marshall Park on September 4.

A TRICOLORED HERON was present September 6 and 8 at North Beach,
Calvert Co, MD. 

A MERLIN was seen at Triadelphia Reservoir in Montgomery/Howard
Counties, MD on September 4.

An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER were spotted on a
turf farm on New Design Road, Frederick Co, MD on September 6. The
Murray Sod Farm on Ebenezer Road in Worcester Co, MD hosted four
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS on Sept 7 while three AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS
were at the Hagerstown Airport, Washington Co, MD on the same day. A
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was spotted at the Hains Point Golf Course on
September 6. Another BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was at Sandy Point SP, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on September 8.

A visit to Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD on September 8
observed 19 species of shorebirds, including PIPING PLOVER, RUDDY
TURNSTONE, 416 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, plus WHITE-RUMPED, BAIRD'S and
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS.

Two HUDSONIAN and four MARBLED GODWITS plus 31 AMERICAN AVOCETS were
found at Craney Island, Portsmouth VA on September 4 followed by a
WHIMBREL and WILSON'S PHALAROPE on September 5. The MARBLED GODWITS
continue at Skimmer Island, Ocean City, Worcester Co, MD with a
sighting of one on September 6 and two on September 7. A RED KNOT was
present at Skimmer Island, Worcester Co, MD on September 7.
 
A RUDDY TURNSTONE and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE were seen at North
Branch, Allegany Co, MD on September 3. A RUDDY TURNSTONE plus a
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER were there on September 6. A RUDDY TURNSTONE was
at the Hagerstown Airport, Washington Co, MD on September 6. One
remaining RUDDY TURNSTONE was accompanied by a STILT SANDPIPER at
North Branch on September 7.

On September 6, many observers gathered to watch for the effects of
Tropical Storm Hanna. Species seen from the Ocean City Inlet,
Worcester Co, MD included 9 Tern species including SANDWICH, BRIDLED
and SOOTY plus a CORY'S SHEARWATER and PARASITIC JAEGERS. A SABINE'S
GULL was seen from Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel Co, MD. More SOOTY
TERNS were reported from Hains Point; Fort Washington, Prince George's
Co, MD; Riley's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD; Nansemond River in Suffolk,
VA; Pocomoke Sand Pits, Somerset Co, MD; Sandy Point SP and Herrington
Harbour, Anne Arundel Co, MD and Lake Anna, Spotsylvania Co, VA.
LONG-TAILED JAEGERS were noted at North Point SP, Baltimore Co, MD.
Sightings of SANDWICH and SOOTY TERNS continued on September 7 with a
report from Point Lookout, St. Mary's Co, MD. Also on September 7,
there were PARASITIC and LONG-TAILED JAEGERS plus RED-NECKED
PHALAROPES at the CBBT, Northampton Co, VA.

Flycatchers were on the move this week. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were
sighted Sept 3 at Sunset Beach Resort, Cape Charles, VA; a yard in
Jarrettsville, Harford Co, MD on Sept 7 and a yard in Monrovia,
Frederick Co, MD on September 8.

Reports of YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER came from Rock Creek Park, Sept
3; Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, Sept 4; Finzel Swamp, Garrett Co, MD,
Sept 5 and 7; a yard in Hyattstown, Montgomery Co, MD and Huntley
Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA, Sept 7 and Kings Landing Park, Calvert
Co, MD, Sept 8; .

PHILADELPHIA VIREOS were observed at Finzel Swamp on September 3; near
Pocomoke City on September 5 and Huntley Meadows Park on September 7;

Warbler migration continues apace with reports from throughout the
region. A BLUE-WINGED WARBLER was seen at Rocky Gap State Park,
Allegany Co, MD and a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was noted at the Aspen
Hill Recreation Area, Rockville, MD, on September 3. A BLUE-WINGED
WARBLER was observed at Milltown Landing, Prince George's Co, MD on
September 8. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was seen at Rock Creek Park on
September 5. A CAPE MAY WARBLER was at Fort McHenry NM, Baltimore, MD
and another was seen at Finzel Swamp on September 7. A YELLOW-THROATED
WARBLER, Subspecies Albilora, was seen at Maxwell Hall Park, Charles
Co, MD on September 8. A BAY-BREASTED WARBLER was reported from
Milford Mill Park, Baltimore Co, MD on September 3 while another
BAY-BREASTED WARBLER was seen at Finzel Swamp on September 4. A
CONNECTICUT WARBLER was seen near Pocomoke City on September 5 and
another was at Cromwell Valley on September 7. A MOURNING WARBLER was
noted Sept 4 at Milford Mill Park and another MOURNING WARBLER was
seen at Spruce Creek Park, Nelson Co, VA on September 5.

A LARK SPARROW was observed at Sunset Beach Resort, Cape Charles, VA
on September 3. Another LARK SPARROW was found on the Black Duck Trail
at the Chincoteague NWR, VA during the week.

The BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER reported in last week's Voice to be at
North Beach, Calvert Co, MD was in fact the bird found at North
Branch, Allegany Co, MD.

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.