-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 6:45 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 2/3/09
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 2/03/09
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 February 3 at
5:30 PM.
Top birds this week are BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK* in DE, TUFTED
DUCK* in MD, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE* in MD and PAINTED BUNTING* in VA.
Other birds of interest include geese, REDHEAD, RED-NECKED GREBE,
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, GOLDEN EAGLE, PEREGRINE FALCON, AMERICAN
WOODCOCK, gulls, SNOWY OWL, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, NORTHERN SHRIKE,
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILL*, and COMMON REDPOLL.
The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK continues to be seen off Lake Drive
at Silver Lake in Rehoboth, DE.
The TUFTED DUCK* and a female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE*, which have been at
the Cambridge Marina, in Dorchester Co, MD, continues with the most
recent report from February 1. The EURASIAN WIGEON, also seen at the
same site, has been more sporadic, seen at the dock on January 31. 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 PAINTED BUNTING* continues at 2491 Fairview Road in the Mount
Crawford area of Rockingham Co, VA with the most recent report on
January 30.
Three CACKLING GEESE were spotted on Turkey Island Road, Henrico Co,
VA on January 28. A CACKLING GOOSE was seen at Brighton Dam on the
Howard/Montgomery Co line, MD on January 31. A CACKLING GOOSE was
observed at Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary, Prince George's Co, MD on
February 1. Another CACKLING GOOSE was sighted from Rte 333 in Talbot
Co, MD on February 1.
On February 1, two ROSS'S GEESE were on Leverage Road, Queen Anne's
Co, MD.
Ninety-nine REDHEADS were spotted at Pohick Bay Regional Park, Lorton,
Fairfax Co, VA on February 1. Over a thousand REDHEADS were seen from
Creighton Road, Hooper's Island, Dorchester Co, MD on the same day.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was found at Brighton Dam on the Howard-Montgomery
Co line with sightings on January 28, 31 and February 2. Another
RED-NECKED GREBE was seen on the Potomac just upstream from Mouth of
the Monocacy, Frederick Co, MD on February 2.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS continue to be seen at Blackwater NWR in
Dorchester Co, MD, with reports from January 31 and February 1 and 2.
A GOLDEN EAGLE was present at Jug Bay, Prince George's Co, MD on
January 31. A GOLDEN EAGLE was spotted from River Airport Road on
January 31 flying down river in wide circles.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was flying by the intersection of Underwood Road
and Old Frederick Road in Howard Co, MD on January 29. Another
PEREGRINE FALCON flew off the Solomon's Island Bridge, Calvert/St.
Mary's Co, MD on February 2.
Eight AMERICAN WOODCOCK were spotted at the edge of Holly Grove Road
in Worcester Co, MD on February 1 and another put in an appearance on
Capital Hill, DC on February 3.
A first winter ICELAND GULL and an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL were
picked out of a large flock at the Jug Bay Natural Area, Prince
Georges Co, MD on January 30. A birding trip to Virginia landfills on
January 31, located five LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS at Warrenton
landfill and a first year GLAUCOUS GULL at the Prince William
Landfill. The cumulative total for the Prince George's Co Mid-Winter
Count on January 31 for the Brown Station Landfill/Schoolhouse
Pond/Depot Pond sites was one each GLAUCOUS, KUMLIEN'S and THAYER'S
GULLS and six LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
was seen in Oxford, Talbot Co, MD on February 1.
A SNOWY OWL has been seen in the vicinity of the Oxford Laboratory,
Oxford, Talbot Co, MD with sightings during the week. The Lab is
Federal property and requires visitors to sign in, weekdays only,
between 8 am and 4:30 pm. Lately, the SNOWY OWL has preferred various
perches in the neighborhood of the Lab and can be seen from side
roads. Another SNOWY OWL was seen on Wroten Island, east of the Honga
Straits, Dorchester Co, MD on February 1.
The RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in Port Republic, Calvert Co, MD is still
present with the most recent sighting on January 29.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was sighted on Round Top Wharf Road about
one-quarter mile west of Kibler Road on January 31 in northern Queen
Anne's Co, MD. HORNED LARKS, AMERICAN PIPITS, LAPLAND LONGSPURS and
SNOW BUNTINGS were in the same area. Another NORTHERN SHRIKE was noted
southwest of Winchester and northwest of Stephens City, Frederick Co,
MD on the same day.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen in Elkton, Cecil Co, MD on February 3.
LAPLAND LONGSPURS were found in fields in northern Queen Anne's Co, MD
on January 28. Fifty SNOW BUNTINGS were seen along Pleasant Valley
Road near Oakland, Garrett Co, MD on February 1.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS* were spotted in numerous locations this past
week, most notably in Druid Ridge Cemetery, Baltimore Co, MD with
sightings on January 31 and February 1. Twenty or so WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS flew over Round Top Road, Queen Anne's Co, MD on February
1.
A COMMON REDPOLL paid a brief visit to a feeder in Gaithersburg,
Montgomery Co, MD on February 2.
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. |