-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 4:22 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 11/11/08

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               11/11/2008 
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, November 11, at 2:30 p.m.

Top birds this week are SNOWY OWLS and AUDUBON'S YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLER* in MD. 

Other birds of interest include arriving waterfowl, RUFFED GROUSE, NORTHERN
BOBWHITE, AMERICAN BITTERN, GOLDEN EAGLE and other raptors, shorebirds,
RUBY-THROATED and SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRDS, LOGGERHEAD and NORTHERN SHRIKE,
AMERICAN PIPIT, warblers, sparrows, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRD, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, PURPLE FINCH, PINE SISKIN and EVENING GROSBEAK.

Following multiple reports of SNOWY OWLS from states to the north of our
region, there were two sightings in Maryland: A SNOWY OWL was spotted at the
north end of Assateague Island, Worcester Co, MD on November 7.  Another
SNOWY OWL was seen at Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD on November 10.

An AUDUBON'S YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER* was discovered on Assateague Island,
Worcester Co, MD on November 9.

A ROSS'S GOOSE was found among over 200 CANADA GEESE at the intersection of
Carroll Clark Road and Rt. 313, Kent Co, MD on November 6. Two ROSS'S GEESE
were in a SNOW GOOSE flock in eastern Henrico Co, VA on November 8.

A male EURASIAN WIGEON was located on Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD
on November 8. Two immature SURF SCOTERS were in the Potomac River, seen
from Hains Point, DC on November 4.  The female WHITE-WINGED SCOTER,
previously reported at Charles City County, VA was seen again on November 8.
Thirty seven LONG-TAILED DUCKS were by the dam at Triadelphia Reservoir,
Montgomery/Howard Cos, MD on November 10.

Two RUFFED GROUSE were spotted at the Harvey's Knob hawk watch, VA on
November 6. About a dozen NORTHERN BOBWHITE were flushed at Blandy
Experimental Farm, Clarke Co, VA on November 5.
Two AMERICAN BITTERNS were seen on Hart-Miller Island on November 8.

GOLDEN EAGLES were noted at several locations. Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co, MD
had one GOLDEN and eight BALD EAGLES on November 6.  An immature GOLDEN
EAGLE circled over Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore Co, MD on November 7.
Two GOLDEN EAGLES were spotted from the Rockfish Gap Hawk watch, VA on
November 8 and another GOLDEN EAGLE was at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve,
Loudoun Co, VA on the same day.  A GOLDEN EAGLE made a slow circle over
Turkey Point, Cecil Co, MD on November 9.
 
A PEREGRINE FALCON sailed over Bethesda, Montgomery Co, MD on November
6 while another PEREGRINE FALCON was at the Poplar Neck marshes, Caroline
Co, MD on November 8.  A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax
Co, VA on November 9 and another was at Fort Reno, NW DC on the same day.  A
PEREGRINE FALCON sped through the Ballston, VA area on November 10.

Two AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS were noted on a sod field near Chestertown, Kent
Co, MD on November 7.

A weekend trip to the Virginia Eastern Shore produced some highlights
including MARBLED GODWITS, a WHIMBREL and SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW at
Willis Wharf plus a NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW at Magotha Road. 

A RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD and a SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRD continue to visit
a feeder in Fairfax, VA. 

A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was photographed at Sky Meadows State Park, Fauquier Co,
VA on November 10.  A NORTHERN SHRIKE was observed in northern Queen Anne's
Co, MD, near Chestertown with sightings through the week.

Two AMERICAN PIPITS showed up November 8 on Hart-Miller Island and 90
AMERICAN PIPITS, along with 30 HORNED LARKS, were at the Ninetown Road
fields, Caroline Co, MD on the same day.

An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen at Julie Metz Wetland Mitigation Bank,
Prince William Co, VA on November 8.

A very cooperative CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen at Wakefield Park, Fairfax
Co, VA on November 9.  Two FOX, a LINCOLN'S and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW were
among seven sparrow species seen at the Blue Mash Nature Trail on November
4.  WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and a VESPER SPARROW were found during a Caroline
County Big Day on November 8.  A LE CONT'S SPARROW was spotted at the Old
Trail Golf Course near Crozet, Albemarle Co, VA on November 4.  A
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen at a feeder in Darlington, Harford Co, MD on
November 8.
 
A VESPER SPARROW and a SAVANNAH SPARROW shared a fence at Gravelly Point,
Arlington Co, VA on November 8.

A DICKCISSEL was picked out of a large flock at the Bayside campground loop
in Assateague Island on November 8.

An amazing flock of 323 EASTERN MEADOWLARKS were seen north of Kiptopeke SP,
Northampton Co, VA on November 8.

A female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was found in a mixed flock at Kiptopeke SP
on November 8.  A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was observed at Fort Smallwood Park, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on November 9.

Two PURPLE FINCHES were at a feeder in Darnestown, Montgomery Co, MD on
November 10.

PINE SISKINS were widely reported. 

EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen from the Harvey's Knob Hawk watch, VA - 30 on
November 5 and another one on November 6.

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.