-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 1:31 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 10/14/08
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 10/14/2008
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, October 14, at 10:00 a.m.
Top birds this week are WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL* in WV, GREAT WHITE
HERON* in VA, CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD* in MD, and HARRIS' SPARROW* in DE.
Other birds of interest include CACKLING GOOSE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GOLDEN
EAGLE, KING RAIL, shorebirds, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE,
PHILADELPHIA VIREO, COMMON RAVEN, SEDGE WREN, thrushes including BICKNELL'S,
warblers including ORANGE-CROWNED, CONNECTICUT, and MOURNING, both VESPER
and LINCOLN'S SPARROW, DICKCISSEL, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and PINE SISKIN.
The WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL in a pond at the Huntfield subdivision south of
Charles Town, Jefferson Co, WV continues. Because it appeared in the wake
of Hurricane Hanna, some area birders believe that it blew in naturally
while 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.
While unsuccessfully searching for the Brown Booby that was recently
reported there, a GREAT WHITE HERON*, a white morph of the GREAT BLUE HERON,
was found Oct 11 at Claytor Lake, Pulaski Co, southwestern VA.
Last October a CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD at North Beach, Calvert Co, MD, was the
first state record for this species. On Oct 9 of this year a CALLIOPE
HUMMINGBIRD was again seen feeding on Blue & Black Sage and Pineapple Sage
in the same yard. While it hasn't been seen again, it was at 9119 Bay
Avenue, North Beach, MD, 20714; there is a lot of free parking available in
the gravel lot accessed from 5th Street between Bay & Chesapeake which is a
short walk to the yard.
A HARRIS' SPARROW* found on Oct 11 at Brandywine SP, Wilmington, DE was
still there on Oct 13. It was found shortly after the entrance booth along
a wall on the road that goes to the right to a farm house.
The HARRIS' SPARROW* is one of several different sparrows in the same area.
A CACKLING GOOSE was found at Piney Run Park, Carroll Co, MD, on Oct 10.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, a species not seen every year at the hawkwatch, was
observed as it flew over the Kiptopeke St Pk Hawkwatch, Northampton Co, VA
on Oct 13.
A GOLDEN EAGLE was reported from the Snicker's Gap Hawk Watch, Clarke Co, VA
on Oct 11. A GOLDEN EAGLE was observed Oct 12 from the Rockfish Gap
Hawkwatch, Waynesboro, VA.
A KING RAIL was feeding just below the culvert along the wildlife drive at
the Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA, on Oct 12. On Oct 13 two KING
RAILS were found in the marsh along the wildlife trail.
The Oct 11 trip to Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD found a number of
shorebirds and gulls including one AVOCET, one WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, and
an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. A WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER continues to
linger at Leonard's Pond, Rockingham Co, VA, with a report from Oct 13.
An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was found at the maintenance yard, Rock Creek Park, NW
DC on both Oct 12 and 13.
A first cycle LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was found at the pier at
Herrington Harbor, Anne Arundel Co, MD on Oct 10.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was found Oct 7 along Grassdale Road near Remington,
Fauquier Co, VA.
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen Oct 9 in a yard in Baltimore, MD, near
Leakin Park.
A COMMON RAVEN was well seen and heard Oct 11 at Leesylvania SP, Prince
William Co, VA. And on Oct 12, four COMMON RAVENS were seen and heard
flying over Rockville, Montgomery Co, MD on Oct 12.
A SEDGE WREN was found on Oct 12 at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA,
along the Bayview Road near the intersection with the wildlife drive. Two
SEDGE WRENS were found Oct 13 in the tall grass at Kenilworth Park, NE DC.
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES were among the different species of thrushes
found moving through the area this past week. On Oct 7 a
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was found at Little Bennett Regional Park, Montgomery
Co, MD and another at the maintenance yard, Rock Creek Park, NW DC. A
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was found Oct 12 at the Blue Ridge Center for
Environmental Stewardship in northwestern Loudoun Co, VA.
Five thrush species including a BICKNELL'S and a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH were
the highlights at the Kiptopeke SP banding station, Accomack Co, VA on Oct
7.
Warbler migration continued, though at a slower pace, throughout the area
with a fair number of different species reported from a number of different
locations.
Two ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were found Oct 7 at the Green Farm Conservation
Park, Montgomery Co, MD. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was
sighted Oct 11 at Fort Smallwood Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD.
On Oct 7 the third CONNECTICUT WARBLER of the season was banded at the
Kiptopeke SP banding station. And on Oct 11 another CONNECTICUT WARBLER was
banded there. On Oct 10 a hatch-year CONNECTICUT WARBLER was found along
Lower Pindell Road, Lothian, Anne Arundel Co, MD.
On Oct 11 a MOURNING WARBLER was found at the Elkhorn Garden Plots, on the
side which borders Oakland Mills Rd, Columbia, Howard Co, MD.
Sparrows popped up all over the place this past week. On Oct 7 a VESPER
SPARROW was found at Flint Hill School, Oakton, VA. The same day a VESPER
SAPRROW and two LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were found at Cromwell Valley Park,
Baltimore Co, MD. Three LINCOLN'S SPARROWS and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW were
found at Huntley Meadows Pk, Fairfax Co, VA on the 7th. On the 11th two
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were found at the Elkhorn Garden Plots in Columbia.
Three LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, a few WHITE-CROWNED
SPARROWS, and all seven woodpecker species were the highlights of a
ten-sparrow day on Oct 12 at Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, VA on the east
side of the park. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW and two WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were
found at Layhill Park, Montgomery Co, MD on Oct 13. DARK-EYED JUNCOS were
also seen in
several locations.
The best bird on an Oct 11 walk at George Washington's Boyhood Home, Ferry
Farm in Stafford Co, VA was a DICKCISSEL. Another DICKCISSEL was found the
same day at the Spray Fields, near North Branch, Allegany Co, MD.
A dozen RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were found on Oct 12 at the Occoquan NWR and one
was found there on Oct 13.
On Oct 13 a PINE SISKIN was found at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co,
VA, and another was at the maintenance yard, Rock Creek Park, NW DC.
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. |