-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 8:41 AM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 1/20/09
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 1/20/09
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email):
(deadline): midnight Mondays
Compiler: John Bjerke
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 January 20 at
8:00 AM.
Top birds this week are TUFTED DUCK* in MD, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE* in MD,
and CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD* in VA.
Other birds of interest include geese and other waterfowl, EARED
GREBE, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, GREAT CORMORANT, BALD EAGLE, SWAINSON'S
HAWK*, GOLDEN EAGLE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, LONG-BILLED CURLEW*, gulls,
DOVEKIE, SNOWY OWL*, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, LARK
SPARROW, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, PAINTED BUNTING*, DICKCISSEL,
BALTIMORE ORIOLE, RED CROSSBILL, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL*, COMMON
REDPOLL, and PINE SISKIN.
A TUFTED DUCK* has been seen throughout the week at the Cambridge
Marina, in Dorchester Co, MD, most recent report is Jan 19. Also
present at the marina were a female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE* seen most
recently on Jan 19 and a EURASIAN WIGEON, seen as recently as Jan 17.
The Dock Master at the Marina asks that birders sign in on the clip
board near the stainless steel panel boxes at the High Street
entrance.
The CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD*, which has been visiting a feeder just north
of Lynchburg, Bedford Co, VA, continues to be seen, thanks to the kind
hospitality of the property owners at 207 Sandown Circle, with the
most recent report on Jan 17.
The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK* on Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach,
Sussex Co, DE was seen again on Jan 18 and 19. Three GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were found near Bluemont, Loudoun Co, VA on Jan
19. A ROSS'S GOOSE was a flyover at the Worcester Co, MD landfill on
Jan 17 and two others were seen in the county on Jan 18. A ROSS'S
GOOSE was at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on Jan 19. CACKLING
GEESE were found at numerous locations. A CACKLING GOOSE was seen
near Rolling Bridge Rd and Rt 301 in Queen Annes Co, MD on Jan 16.
Another CACKLING GOOSE was at Hunting Creek, Fairfax Co, VA on Jan 17.
Three CACKLING GEESE were near Solomons, Calvert Co, MD on Jan 17. A
BAR-HEADED GOOSE was reported at Lake Fairfax Park, Fairfax Co, VA on
Jan 18 and 19.
A EURASIAN WIGEON was seen on the Potomac River from Piscataway Park,
Prince Georges Co, MD on Jan 19.
REDHEADS were seen at various locations. Notable were 45 in the
Potomac above Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD on Jan 15 and 78 near
Hunting Creek on Jan 17. Five REDHEADS were found in a subdivision
runoff pond near Herndon, Fairfax Co, VA on Jan 18. An estimated two
thousand CANVASBACKS were seen off Thomas Point Park, Anne Arundel Co,
MD on Jan 16.
An immature male KING EIDER was at the Ocean City inlet, Worcester Co,
MD on Jan 13. A female KING EIDER was seen there on Jan 14. Two KING
EIDERS were near the southern jetty at the Ocean City inlet on Jan 19.
An EARED GREBE was found bayside at 33rd Street in Ocean City, MD, on
Jan 13 and 14.
Single GREAT CORMORANTS were spotted at the Ocean City inlet on Jan 13
and 14.
A flock of twenty AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen at Blackwater NWR
in Dorchester Co, MD, on Jan 14.
Waterfowl searchers in northern Virginia were treated to large numbers
of BALD EAGLES on Jan 18. There were 35 eagles on the icy Potomac seen
from Leesylvania SP. Birders looking from the vantage point of
Occoquan NWR saw 50 eagles. Mason Neck hosted at least 21 eagles that
were seen simultaneously.
A possible juvenile SWAINSON'S HAWK* was spotted along the wildlife
drive in Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on Jan 17. A juvenile
GOLDEN EAGLE was seen near the Visitor Center at Blackwater NWR on
Jan 19. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen on the Elliott Island Rd,
Dorchester Co, MD on Jan 17.
The LONG-BILLED CURLEW* continued in Buchanan Co, VA. It was seen Jan
15-17.
An adult LITTLE GULL made a brief appearance over the Ocean City, MD
inlet on Jan 19. A first-winter THAYER'S GULL was seen on Schoolhouse
Pond, Upper Marlboro, Prince Georges Co, MD on Jan 15. Possibly the
same bird was at nearby Depot Pond on Jan 17. A first-winter ICELAND
GULL was on Schoolhouse Pond on Jan 15. Another first year ICELAND
GULL was at North East Town Park, Cecil Co, MD on Jan 17 and 19. An
ICELAND GULL was seen at Depot Pond on Jan 18.
A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was found at Conowingo Dam, Harford Co, MD
on Jan 13. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was on Schoolhouse Pond on Jan
13 and another was on Depot Pond on Jan 18 and 19. Four adult LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS and some sub-adults were seen from North East Town
Park on Jan 19. A few LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at the Salisbury
landfill, Wicomico CO, MD on Jan 17 and 19. Also at the landfill those
days was a second year GLAUCOUS GULL. A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at the
Worcester Co, MD landfill on Jan 17 and a first cycle GLAUCOUS GULL
was found on Depot Pond on Jan 19.
A DOVEKIE was close to the beach in the ORV Zone on Assateague Island,
Worcester Co, MD on Jan 17.
Two SNOWY OWLS were seen in the ORV Zone on Assateague Island, MD Jan
14 through 17; they were occasionally seen near KM marker 22. Two
other SNOWY OWLS were found near the Indian River inlet, Sussex Co, DE
on Jan 17. One was along Savage's Ditch Road north of the inlet and
the other was in the dunes on the south side of the inlet.
The RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in Port Republic, Calvert Co, MD is still
present with the most recent sighting on Jan 18. The female RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD at a feeder in Fairfax, VA was seen on Jan 13.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen at Milltown Landing, Prince Georges
Co, MD on Jan 15. Another was at the FDR Memorial, Washington, DC on
Jan 14.
A LARK SPARROW was found again on Vessey Orchard Road, Somerset Co,
MD, on Jan 17.
A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was in a flock of HORNED LARKS on Marblehead Rd,
Caroline Co, MD on Jan 16. Six SNOW BUNTINGS were seen on Assateague
Island, MD on Jan 17.
There is a second hand report of an adult male PAINTED BUNTING* near
Lake Artemesia, Prince Georges Co, MD on Jan 14 and 15. A DICKCISSEL
graced a feeder in St. Mary's Co, MD on Jan 18.
There are apparently eight different BALTIMORE ORIOLES appearing
irregularly at five feeders in Williamsburg, VA.
A flock of twelve RED CROSSBILLS flew over Soldiers Delight Natural
Area, Baltimore Co, MD on Jan 18. Twelve WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS* were
spotted at the Skeet Trap Trail, Loch Raven Reservoir, Baltimore Co,
MD on Jan 13. Another nine to twelve flew past Sykesville, Carroll Co,
MD on Jan 14. Yet another group of 7 to 11 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS*
were found in Druid Ridge Cemetery, Baltimore Co, MD on Jan 18 and 19.
A COMMON REDPOLL was at a feeder in Darnestown, Montgomery Co, MD on
Jan 15.
PINE SISKINS continue to show at many locations across the region.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey,
VA-Bird, and Delaware list servers.
The Audubon Sanctuary Shop (301-652-3606,
http://www.audubonnaturalist.org/default.asp?page=511) is an excellent
source for guidebooks 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. |