-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 12:33 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 2/17/09
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 2/17/09
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 February 17 at
8:00 A.M.
Top birds this week are TRUMPETER SWAN in MD and WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS* in MD.
Other birds of interest include BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK*, GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, ROSS'S GOOSE, eiders, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE*,
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RED-NECKED GREBE, EARED GREBE, AMERICAN WHITE
PELICAN, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, gulls,
alcids, SNOWY OWL*, SHORT-EARED OWL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE*, NORTHERN
SHRIKE, TREE SWALLOW, WESTERN TANAGER*, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW
BUNTING, and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.
Two young TRUMPETER SWANS were seen at Lakeside Business Park in
Edgewood, Harford Co, MD on Feb 11, 12, 13, and 15.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS* continue across the region. There were
reports this week from Centennial Park in Howard Co, MD as recently as
Feb 14; from Wrighton Road near the turn to Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
in Anne Arundel Co, MD as recently as Feb 15; and from the area around
Fairfax Rd and Rolling Rd in Washington Co, MD on Feb 15.
The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK* continues to be seen from Lake Drive
at Silver Lake in Rehoboth, DE.
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was spotted near the bridge at Solomons,
Calvert Co, MD, on Feb 10, 12 and 15. A ROSS'S GOOSE was found in the
Swoope area of Augusta Co, VA on Feb 12. Another ROSS'S GOOSE was seen
near the intersection of US Rt 9 and DE Rt 1 just west of Lewes,
Sussex Co, DE on Feb 14.
Both KING and COMMON EIDERS were seen at the south jetty of the Ocean
City inlet, Worcester Co, MD on Feb 14. A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was
found at Hains Point, Washington, DC on Feb 13 and 14. A male BARROW'S
GOLDENEYE* continued at Jefferson Patterson Park, Calvert Co, MD, seen
as recently as Feb 15.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was at the south jetty of the Ocean City inlet on
Feb 14. Another RED-NECKED GREBE was spotted near Tilghman's Island,
Talbot Co, MD on Feb 14. A juvenile RED-NECKED GREBE was seen from the
community park in Port Deposit, Cecil Co, MD on Feb 13. An EARED GREBE
was found bayside on 32nd St. in Ocean City, MD on Feb 14 and 15.
As many as eleven AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS are at Blackwater NWR,
Dorchester Co, MD.
A juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew over the Fairfax Rd/Rolling Rd area
of Washington Co, MD on Feb 15. Four GOLDEN EAGLES and three
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were spotted in Highland Co, VA on Feb 14. An adult
GOLDEN EAGLE was seen at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD, on
February 14. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen at Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co,
DE.
A first cycle THAYER'S Gull was found on the Tidal Basin, Washington,
DC, on Feb 13. Another first cycle THAYER'S GULL and three LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen at the Jug Bay Natural Area, Prince
Georges Co, MD on Feb 13. An adult ICELAND GULL was present during the
week at Fowler's Beach, Sussex Co, DE.
Six RAZORBILLS flew around the inlet at Ocean City, MD on Feb 14 and
three were seen there on Feb 15. One DOVEKIE was seen at the inlet on
Feb 14 and 15.
The SNOWY OWL* in the vicinity of Oxford Laboratory, Talbot Co, MD,
continued through the week, it was seen as recently as Feb 16. The Lab
is federal property and requires visitors to sign in, weekdays only,
between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM. The owl is seen frequently near the
Bachelor Point Boatyard and on Pleasant St. Two SHORT-EARED OWLS were
seen on Maple Dam Rd near Blackwater NWR on Feb 14. At least five
SHORT-EARED OWLS were along the Port Mahon Rd, Kent Co, DE on Feb 14.
The CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD in Lynchburg, VA has not been seen since Feb
13.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE* was found near the fishing pond at Sky Meadows
SP, Fauquier CO, VA on Feb 15. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen north of
Round Top Wharf Rd and Kibler Rd, Queen Annes Co, MD on Feb 15.
TREE SWALLOWS are evidently ignoring the forecasts of a certain
Pennsylvania groundhog. Two were seen over the Patuxent River from Jug
Bay Natural Area on Feb 11 and three were seen at Oxbow Lake, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on Feb 15.
A WESTERN TANAGER* continues in Williamsburg, VA.
A LAPLAND LONGSPUR and SNOW BUNTINGS were in the fields close to the
junction of Route 9 and White Neck Road on the way to the entrance of
Bombay Hook NWR, DE.
Yet another sign of spring was a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK at a feeder in
Beltsville, Prince Georges Co, MD on Feb 9 and 10.
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. |