-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 3:47 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 9/30/08

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               9/30/2008 
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE 
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1 
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2 
       (email):      
    (deadline):     midnight Mondays 
Compiler:           Joe Coleman
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 30, at 3:00 p.m.

Top birds this week are WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL in WV and SABINE'S GULL in MD.

Other birds of interest include SNOW GOOSE, GREAT CORMORANT, NORTHERN
GOSHAWK, KING RAIL, shorebirds, SANDWICH TERN, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, CHIMNEY
SWIFT, woodpeckers, flycatchers including YELLOW-BELLIED, PHILADELPHIA
VIREO, thrushes including BICKNELL'S, warblers including CONNECTICUT, and
LINCOLN'S SPARROW.

A WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL has been present since mid-Sept in a pond at the
Huntfield subdivision south of Charles Town, Jefferson Co, WV.
Because it appeared in the wake of Hurricane Hanna, some area birders
believe that it blew in naturally and others believe it is an escapee.
It can be found by taking Rte 340 south at Charles Town from the interchange
of US 340, Rt. 9, and Rt. 51, go about 3.3 miles to Augustine Avenue where
you need to take a sharp right. The Huntfield subdivision is just ahead on
the left. Take the second left onto Prospect Hills Blvd. At the
circle/obelisk, go right onto Butler Street. At the next circle, go 3/4 of
the way around circle, taking the first right (Colston Road). The pond will
be on your right a little ways ahead.

On Sept 26 a possible SABINE GULL was found in the Ocean City Inlet,
Worcester Co, MD.

Eight SNOW GEESE were seen flying over Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore Co,
MD, on Sept 23 and 17 were reported Sept 26 from Scott's Landing, Worcester,
Co, MD as the flock at Bombay Hook NWR, DE, continues to grow. 

A GREAT CORMORANT was observed at Black Walnut Point before a trip to Poplar
Island, Talbot Co, MD, on Sept 23. 

An immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK was reported from the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch,
near Waynesboro, VA, on Sept 28. 

Four KING RAILS were among the 73 bird species found on a Sept 27 birding
trip to the Occoquan Bay NWR, Woodbridge, Prince William Co, VA.

Two AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were found on a trip to Poplar Island, Talbot
Co, MD, on Sept. 23 along with two AMERICAN AVOCETS and four WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPERS. An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and two MARBLED GODWITS were a few of
the many shorebirds seen at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA, on the same
day. On Sept 27 an immature AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was found along Chelsea
Rd, Harford Co, MD. 

A flock of SANDWICH TERNS, six of whom were banded, was found on the beaches
south of the town harbor in Cape Charles, Accomack Co, VA, on Sept 26.

A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was found Sept 24 at Blue Mash, Montgomery Co, MD.

CHIMNEY SWIFTS continue to be found in large numbers descending into
chimneys at dusk and exiting from them at dawn. On Sept 24 over 150 were
observed leaving the chimney at East Silver Spring Elementary School,
Montgomery Co, MD. The evening of Sept 27 between 300 and 400 swifts were
seen descending into a chimney at the Fairfax Co Juvenile District Court
building in Fairfax City, VA. 

RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were reported from a variety of locations this past
week with 10 reported from the boardwalk at Calvert Cliffs SP, Calvert Co,
MD on Sept 28 and an amazing 32 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were reported from
the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch near Waynesboro, VA on Sept 29.

There were also several reports of YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS returning to
the area this past week.

There was a report of a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER at Greenbury Point, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on Sept 24. A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was also found at
Mason Neck SP, Fairfax Co, VA on Sept 28. An ALDER FLYCATCHER was observed
from the Conowingo Dam, Harford Co, MD on Sept 27.

A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen near Grosvenor in Rock Creek Park, NW DC on
Sept. 23. Another was reported from Terrapin Park, Kent Island, Queen Anne's
Co, MD, on Sept 24. On Sept 26, a PHILADELPHIA VIREO was the highlight of
several visitors to a yard on Compton Mountain in Buchanan County, VA. And
on Sept 27 one was seen in Rock Creek Park in picnic area 17/18.

GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES were among the different species of thrushes found
moving through the area this past week. One was found at the Middle Patuxent
Environmental Area, Howard Co on Sept 26 and another at the Mason Neck SP on
Sept 28. Two GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES were reported from the Governor's Bridge
Natural Area & Canoe Launch, Prince George's Co, MD on Sept 29.

A BICKNELL'S THRUSH was the highlight of the banding station at Kiptopeke
SP, Accomack Co, VA on Sept 29.

Warbler migration continued throughout the area with a wide diversity of
different species being reported from a number of different locations. 

An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was sighted Sept 30 at Hughes Hollow (also known
the McKee-Beshers WMA), Montgomery Co, MD, a ¼ mile past the impoundment
parking lot. A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was found Sept 23 at Terrapin Point Park,
Anne Arundel Co, MD. A hatch year CONNECTICUT WARBLER was found Sept 28 at
the Mason Neck SP, Fairfax Co, VA. 

Two LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were among seven sparrow species found at Western
Regional Park, Howard Co, MD, on Sept 27.

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.