-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 8:36 AM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 3/24/09
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 3/24/09
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, March 24 at 8 am.
Top birds this week are BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK* in DE and PAINTED
BUNTING and HARRIS'S SPARROW* in MD.
Other birds of interest include GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, TRUMPETER
SWAN*, ducks, RED-NECKED GREBE, EARED GREBE, NORTHERN GANNET, AMERICAN WHITE
PELICAN, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, MERLIN, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, PIPING
PLOVER, dowitchers, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, SHORT-EARED OWL, LOGGERHEAD
SHRIKE*, COMMON RAVEN, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, VESPER SPARROW, RUSTY
BLACKBIRD, and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL.
The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK* continues to be seen from Lake Drive at
Silver Lake in Rehoboth, DE.
A HARRIS'S SPARROW* was at a business park in Howard Co, MD this week.
Birders are advised to pay attention to the cautions about visiting this
private property fully detailed on the MDOsprey list server.
A male PAINTED BUNTING appeared in a yard near the Naval Academy in
Annapolis, Anne Arundel Co, MD on Mar 17 and 21.
A WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen this week near the Gibson Island Causeway,
Anne Arundel Co, MD. It is viewable from the entry security station, the
latest report was Mar 23.
The juvenile TRUMPETER SWANS* at Lakeside Business Park at the Rt 24 exit on
I-95 in Harford Co, MD were seen on Mar 21.
A male and female COMMON EIDER were on the south side of the jetty at the
Ocean City inlet, Worcester Co, MD on Mar 18. Up to two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS
were seen at Riley's Lock on the Potomac River in Montgomery Co, MD on Mar
18, 19, and 21. At least one SURF SCOTER and BLACK SCOTER were also present.
RED-NECKED GREBES were widespread across the area. Reports included
Solomon's Island Bridge, Calvert Co, MD on Mar 18, 19, and 20; Wilde Lake,
Columbia, Howard Co, MD on Mar 19; Lake Elkhorn, Howard Co, MD on Mar 20;
Rocky Gap SP, Allegany Co, MD on Mar 19; the Talbot Co, MD fishing pier on
the Choptank River on Mar 21 and 22; in the Potomac River off Riley's Lock,
Seneca, Montgomery Co, MD on Mar 19 and 21; Brighton Dam, Triadelphia
Reservoir, Howard and Montgomery Counties, MD on Mar 19 and 22; Dyke Marsh
on the Potomac River, Fairfax Co, VA on Mar 22; and Riverbend Park, Fairfax
Co, VA on Mar 22.
The EARED GREBE continued at 32nd St bayside in Ocean City, MD. It was found
on Mar 18 and 21.
Up to 1500 NORTHERN GANNETS were seen from Cape Henlopen SP, Sussex Co, DE
on Mar 20.
The Wildlife Drive at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD has hosted as many
as 30 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS this week.
A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON is back near the intersection of Sligo Creek
Parkway and Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring, Montgomery Co, MD.
A MERLIN was spotted at the Soccerplex in Germantown, Montgomery Co, MD on
Mar 19.
A flyover AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was reported from Albemarle Co, VA on Mar
22. Two PIPING PLOVERS were seen at Bethel Beach, Mathews Co, VA on Mar 17
and 21. A single PIPING PLOVER was found at Cape Henlopen SP, Sussex Co, DE
on Mar 18. Five SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen at Tanyard Marsh, Caroline
Co, MD on Mar 20. A single LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was reported from Deal
Island WMA, Somerset Co, MD on Mar 18.
Two first winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS flew over National Audubon's
office in downtown Washington, DC on Mar 20.
A SHORT-EARED OWL was found at Grove Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Cecil Co, MD
on Mar 21.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen on Mar 17 near the intersection of Tail Race Rd
and Rt 15 in central Loudoun Co, VA. Another LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was near Rt
652 in the Stuarts Draft area of Augusta Co, VA on Mar 21.
A COMMON RAVEN flew over Bethesda, Montgomery Co, MD near Suburban Hospital
on Mar 21.
Warblers are headed back to our area. A LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was seen along
Sligo Creek, Silver Spring, MD on Mar 20. Another was in Front Royal, VA on
Mar 22.
A VESPER SPARROW was spotted in Price William Co, VA on Mar 22.
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS made appearances in several areas this past week including
200 along Sycamore Landing Rd, Montgomery Co, MD on Mar 18.
Other locations included Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA; Banshee
Reeks Preserve, Loudoun Co, VA; and Huntley Meadows Pk, Fairfax Co, VA.
The only WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL report this week was of 3 females in a
garden in West Annapolis, Anne Arundel Co, MD on Mar 22.
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. |