-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2008 9:56 AM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 11/04/08
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 11/04/2008
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email):
(deadline): midnight Mondays
Compiler: Lydia Schindler
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, November 4, at 8:00 a.m.
Top birds this week are CAVE SWALLOWS* in VA and HARRIS'S SPARROW in DE.
Other birds of interest include arriving waterfowl, GREAT CORMORANT, BROWN
PELICAN, AMERICAN BITTERN, GOLDEN EAGLE and other raptors, COMMON MOORHEN,
MARBLED GODWIT, SHORT-EARED OWL, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, RUBY-THROATED and
SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRDS, SEDGE WREN, AMERICAN PIPIT, warblers, sparrows,
SNOW BUNTING, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, PURPLE FINCH, and PINE SISKIN.
Half a dozen CAVE SWALLOWS* were found Oct 30 in Charles City Co, VA.
They were mixed in with a flock of TREE SWALLOWS at the impoundment at
Shirley Plantation (which is private property). They could not be relocated
the following day.
As of Nov 3, the HARRIS'S SPARROW was still delighting birders at Brandywine
Valley SP, north of Wilmington, DE.
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was discovered at Pickering Creek Audubon
Center, Talbot Co, MD, on Oct 31. A ROSS'S GOOSE was among hundreds of SNOW
GEESE at Great Oak Pond, Kent Co, MD, on Nov 2. That same day a ROSS'S GOOSE
was found at EA Vaughn WMA/North, Worcester Co, MD.
CACKLING GEESE were reported from a number of locations, including Study Rd
Farm, Carroll Co, MD; Ft Smallwood Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD; and on private
land in King William Co, VA--all on Oct 31; on Nov 1, in Charles Co, MD, on
Swanson Creek at Maxwell Hill Park, just north of Benedict; and on Nov 3, at
Bombay Hook NWR, DE.
A possible BARNACLE GOOSE was sighted at Beaverdam Park, Gloucester Co, VA,
on Oct 31. A COMMON MOORHEN was present there Oct 31 and Nov 2.
Four TUNDRA SWANS were sighted on the Potomac River from Riverbend Park,
Fairfax Co, VA, on Nov 2.
A highlight among the ducks finding their way back into the area were
2 female BLACK SCOTERS in DC waters of the Potomac, seen from Old Town
Alexandria, VA, on Nov 2. The previous day, a GREAT CORMORANT was seen from
the same area. On Nov 3, 8 female BLACK SCOTERS and 2 SURF SCOTERS were
viewed from the Washington Marina, just south of National Airport. A SURF
SCOTER was observed from Occoquan NWR, Prince William Co, VA, Nov 2.
The Brown Booby that had been frequenting Claytor Lake SP, Pulaski Co, VA,
was not found Oct 27 and has not been reported since.
A BROWN PELICAN was an unusual visitor to King William Co; one was seen Nov
2 from the old bridge on the Mattaponi River, near West Point.
On Nov 3, an AMERICAN BITTERN was discovered at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery
Co, MD; it was in the dog training area.
GOLDEN EAGLES were noted at several locations. The hawk watch at Snicker's
Gap, on the Clarke/Loudoun (VA) county line, recorded one juvenile bird on
Oct 28 and 3 subadults on Nov 2. One GOLDEN EAGLE flew over the Cromwell
Valley Park Hawk Watch, Baltimore Co, Oct 30, and another passed the hawk
watch at Town Hill, Allegany Co, MD, Nov 1. A likely GOLDEN EAGLE was
spotted from the C&O Canal in Montgomery Co Nov 1.
Urban falcons included an adult PEREGRINE at Schoolhouse Pond, Upper
Marlboro, Prince George's Co, MD, Oct 30; and, on Nov 2, 2 PEREGRINES (and 2
NORTHERN HARRIERS) over a yard in Arlington, VA, a PEREGRINE over Accotink
Bay, seen from Occoquan NWR, and a PEREGRINE sitting on rocks below the
Wilson Bridge south of Alexandria. MERLINS were spotted Nov 2 in South
Cumberland, Allegany Co, MD, and at Waterworks Park in Annapolis, Anne
Arundel Co, MD.
A MARBLED GODWIT was again found at Raymond Pool, Bombay Hook Nov 3.
Volunteers at a work weekend at the Maryland Ornithological Society's
sanctuary at Irish Grove, near Rumbly Point, Somerset Co, MD, were rewarded
with sightings of EASTERN SCREECH-OWL, 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS, and 4 SEDGE
WRENS. On Nov 1, a SHORT-EARED OWL flushed from a hedgerow at Milltown
Landing, Prince George's Co. Two SEDGE WRENS were found Nov 2 at Truitt's
Landing, Worcester Co, MD.
An extraordinary count of 14 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS was registered at Hughes
Hollow on Nov 3.
As recently as Nov 3, a feeder in Fairfax, VA, was drawing both a
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD and a SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRD.
AMERICAN PIPITS showed up Nov 1 at Kenilworth Park, NE DC, and Nov 2 at the
entrance to Woodmont Academy in western Howard Co, MD, as well as in VA, at
Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co.
Sparse warbler reports included a YELLOW WARBLER Oct 30 pm on private lands
in King William Co, VA, a NASHVILLE WARBLER Nov 1 at Kenilworth Park, and a
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER Nov 2 in a yard in Herndon, Fairfax Co.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was discovered Nov 2 at Assateague Island's Bayside
Campground, Worcester Co.
Two VESPER SPARROWS turned up at Kenilworth Park Nov 1. A VESPER SPARROW
paid a rare visit to Charles Co, MD on Nov 1, when one was found at Maxwell
Hill Park, just northwest of Benedict. A VESPER SPARROW was spotted Nov 1 at
Milltown Landing, Prince George's Co, Nov 1. Soy bean fields in Charles City
Co drew a VESPER SPARROW on Nov 2.
Shirley Plantation hosted a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW Nov 1 and a LINCOLN'S
SPARROW Oct 30. Other LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were seen at the Elkhorn garden
plots in Columbia, Howard Co, MD, Oct 30; at the at entrance to the Woodmont
Academy in western Howard Co Nov 2; and at Brandywine Creek SP, DE, Nov 1.
On Nov 2, a LINCOLN'S SPARROW appeared at the end of the hike/bike trail at
Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co.
A NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was found Oct 29 at the Horsehead
sanctuary, Queen Anne's Co, MD.
A FOX SPARROW visited a feeder at Ellicott City, Howard Co, Nov 1, and FOX
SPARROWS showed up at Pickering Creek Oct 31. Two FOX SPARROWS
were spotted Nov 2 at Sully Woodlands, Centreville, Fairfax Co.
On Nov 2, EA Vaughn hosted a huge concentration of SWAMP SPARROWS--perhaps
as many as 300.
A SNOW BUNTING was again present at Kiptopeke SP, Northampton Co, VA on Oct
26.
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS also joined the wintry mix, with 40 noted at Hughes
Hollow on Nov 2.
PURPLE FINCHES were widely reported.
PINE SISKINS arrived in force. In addition to small numbers at such places
as Fort Smallwood, Anne Arundel Co; Rock Creek Park, NW DC; Blandy
Experimental Farm, Clarke Co, VA; and Hughes Hollow. At least 100 SISKINS
were tallied Oct 30 in Bedford Co, VA, and flocks totaling 250 and 350 were
reported Nov 1 from, respectively, Town Hill and sites in Garrett 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. |