-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 3:05 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 9/23/08

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               9/23/2008 
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE 
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1 
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2 
       (email):      
    (deadline):     midnight Mondays 
Compiler:           Lou DeMouy
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 23, at 8:00 a.m.

Top birds this week are MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD* and BROAD-WINGED HAWK. 

Other birds of interest include NORTHERN GOSHAWK, shorebirds, flycatchers,
WESTERN KINGBIRD, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, COMMON RAVEN, GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH,
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, CONNECTICUT WARBLER, SUMMER
TANAGER, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.

A MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD* flew from west to east across Hagerstown,
Washington, Co., MD at the end of the day on Sep 19.

Raptor migration is active. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was reported above Cub Creek
Road in Nelson Co, VA on Sep 22. BROAD-WINGED HAWKS hit very high levels
during the week at many areas in our region: 668 at Washington Monument
State Park, Washington Co, MD on Sep 20; 2,186 at Cromwell Valley Park,
Baltimore Co, MD on Sep 18; 1,889 at Snickers Gap at the Clarke Co and
Loudon Co line, in VA on Sep 18; 4,856 at Rockfish Gap near Waynesboro,
Augusta Co, VA on Sep 18; 1,166 at Harvey's Knob near Roanoke, Augusta Co,
VA on Sep 18, and another
1,889 at the Ashland Nature Center in New Castle Co, Wilmington, DE on Sep
18.

Shorebirds showed in various locations. An AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was seen
on Old Gunners Road at Deal Island Wildlife Management Area in Somerset Co,
MD on Sep 19 and at Chincoteague NWR in Accomack Co, VA on Sep 21, a STILT
SANDPIPER was at the North Beach marsh in Calvert Co, MD on Sep16, and 22
STILT SANDPIPERS were at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (formerly
known as Horsehead Wetlands), Queen Anne's Co, MD on Sep 22. 

Chincoteague NWR birders reported BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, MARBLED GODWIT,
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, and BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER among
many sightings on Sep 20.

A visit to Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD on Sep 22 showed about 20
species of shorebirds, including a PIPING PLOVER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, and
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. Five AMERICAN BITTERNS also were present at
Hart-Miller.

Migrant flycatchers continue in good variety and numbers across the region.
An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, MD on Sep 17 and
19 and another was at Chinn Ridge in Prince William Co, VA on Sep 19. Two
LEAST FLYCATCHERS were seen at the Rock Creek Park maintenance yard on Sep
20 and another LEAST FLYCATCHER showed at Morgan Run Natural Environmental
Area in Carroll Co. MD on Sep 22. A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was seen in
Cabin John, Montgomery Co, MD on Sep 16 and in the Rock Creek Park
maintenance yard in Washington, DC on Sep 19. 

A WESTERN KINGBIRD was seen at the Ft. McHenry wetland, Baltimore, MD on Sep
16. 

PHILADELPHIA VIREOS were found at Black Walnut Point on Tilghman Island in
Talbot Co, MD on Sep 18, at Dans Rock, Allegany Co, MD on Sep 18, near Clara
Barton Parkway and Chain Bridge in Washington, DC on Sep 20, Kiptopeke State
Park, Northampton Co VA on Sep 20, Dans Rock, Allegany Co MD on Sep 18 and
21, and Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC on September 21 and 22.

COMMON RAVEN reports came from Glenwood in Howard Co MD on Sep 16, Finzel
Swamp in Garrett Co MD on Sep 17, and Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore Co, MD
on Sep 21.

A GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was seen at Kiptopeke State Park, Northampton Co Va on
Sep 18, Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD on Sep 19, and at Rock Creek Park,
Washington, DC on Sep 20. 

Warbler migration numbers and diversity jumped as fall warblers appeared in
many areas. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was reported at the American Chestnut
Land Trust, Calvert Co, MD on Sep 19 and another at Hughes Hollow,
Montgomery Co, MD on Sep 21. A late-departing NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was seen
at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on Sep 20. CONNECTICUT WARBLERS were
reported in a number of locations including Pickering Creek Audubon Center,
Talbot Co, MD on Sep 16, Rock Creek Park maintenance yard, Washington, DC on
Sep 20 and 21, Indian Creek Wildlife Management Area, Charles Co, MD on Sep
21, and Terrapin Park, Queen Anne's Co, MD on Sep 21

A SUMMER TANAGER was reported at the Rock Creek Park maintenance yard,
Washington, DC on Sep 17 and at Compton Mountain, Buchanan Co, VA on Sep 21.

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were observed in many places including Lake
Artemesia, Prince George's Co, MD on Sep 16, Cromwell Valley State Park,
Baltimore Co, MD on Sep 16, Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on Sep 17 and
21, and the Rock Creek Park maintenance yard, Washington, DC on Sep 19, 21
and 22. 

A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was seen at Huntley Meadows, Fairfax, Co, VA on Sep 22.
Three WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS appeared at Morgan Run Natural Environment
Area, Carroll Co, MD on Sep 22.

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.