-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 1:16 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 5/19/09
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 5/19/09
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, May 19 at 7:00 AM.
Top birds this week are MISSISSIPPI KITE in VA and ROSEATE TERN and PACIFIC
LOON* in MD.
Other birds of interest include BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK*, HARLEQUIN
DUCK, SOOTY SHEARWATER, GREAT CORMORANT, AMERICAN BITTERN, GLOSSY IBIS, BALD
EAGLE, PURPLE GALLINULE*, WHIMBREL and other shorebirds, ICELAND GULL, LEAST
TERN, BLACK TERN, flycatchers, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, COMMON RAVEN, thrushes,
warblers including SWAINSON'S and MOURNING, sparrows, and DICKCISSEL.
A PACIFIC LOON* was found on the boat trip to Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD
on May 18.
Two MISSISSIPPI KITES, one carrying nesting material, were seen in the King
Park Subdivision, Springfield, Fairfax Co, VA on May 15. Three kites were
seen there on May 17.
A ROSEATE TERN was at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD on May 17 and
seen again near Skimmer Island in Ocean City on May 18.
The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK* continues at Silver Lake, Rehoboth, DE. An
immature male HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen at the Ocean City Inlet on May 17.
Two SOOTY SHEARWATERS and a GREAT CORMORANT were spotted at the Ocean City
Inlet on May 17. A SOOTY SHEARWATER was seen from Ocean City on May 18.
Another SOOTY SHEARWATER was seen from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry on May 16.
An AMERICAN BITTERN flew over Hains Point, Washington, DC on May 14. A
GLOSSY IBIS flew by Hains Point on May 15.
A gathering of 64 BALD EAGLES was found on Maple Dam Rd about three-quarters
of a mile north of the Blackwater River bridge, Dorchester Co, MD on May 13.
There is a report of a possible PEREGRINE FALCON nesting on the Independence
Av side of the Rayburn House Office Bldg. in Washington, DC.
A PURPLE GALLINULE* was briefly seen in James River State Park, Buckingham
Co, VA on May 14.
Shorebird migration is peaking. An astounding 147 WHIMBREL were seen on the
Hunting Creek mudflats, Fairfax Co, VA and Potomac River, Washington, DC on
May 17. Ten SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were on the Monocacy National Battlefield,
Frederick Co, MD on May 13. There were 400 RED KNOTS at Mispillion Harbor,
Sussex Co, DE, on May 14. A STILT SANDPIPER was found at Brown Station, near
Upper Marlboro, Prince Georges Co, MD on May 16. Two female RED-NECKED
PHALAROPES were spotted in one of the impoundments on Poplar Island on May
18.
An ICELAND GULL was seen on Skimmer Island in Ocean City, MD on May 17,
along with a subadult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL.
The Roseate Tern at the Ocean City Inlet on May 17 was in company with 200
COMMON TERNS, 150 FORSTER'S TERNS, and LEAST and ROYAL TERNS. Two BLACK
TERNS were seen from Hains Point, Washington, DC on May 17.
Flycatcher reports came from many areas. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was
spotted in Upper Watts Branch Park, Montgomery Co, MD, on May 16. An ALDER
FLYCATCHER was singing in the Banshee Reeks Preserve, Loudoun Co, VA on May
16.
Vireos have arrived. A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was found at the Merrimac Farm,
Prince William Co, VA on May 17.
Another COMMON RAVEN wandered through northern Anne Arundel Co, MD on May
14. The bird was seen near the Swan Creek/Cox Creek Dredge facility.
Thrushes thrilled many birders this past week. Especially notable were
reports of GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH from several locations including the
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD; Morgan Run,
Carroll Co, MD; Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA; Leesylvania State
Park, Prince William Co, VA; and Great Falls National Park, VA.
A BICKNELL'S THRUSH was heard and seen in a yard in Pasadena, Anne Arundel
Co, MD on May 18.
Warbler sightings continue. A SWAINSON'S WARBLER sings loudly on Jericho
Ditch Lane in Great Dismal Swamp NWR, Suffolk, VA. MOURNING WARBLERS were
seen in Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC, on May 12 and
13 and in Upper Watts Branch Park on May 12. There were 17 species of
warblers in Upper Watts Branch on May 12; 21 species in Rock Creek Park on
May 12; 23 species in Rock Run Mill/Susquehanna SP on May 12; and 25 species
at the Rockfish Valley Trail System and Spruce Creek Park, Nelson Co, VA on
May 13.
A VESPER SPARROW was singing near the Robert Hawkins Sod Farm on Rt 107,
Montgomery Co, MD on May 17. A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was in Kenilworth Park,
Washington, DC on May 16. HENSLOW'S SPARROWS* were found on Pea Ridge,
Garrett Co, MD on May 16. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was near the maintenance road
at Hains Point, Washington, DC, on May 15.
DICKCISSELS were found along Hunting Quarter Road near Harrington, Sussex
Co, DE. A DICKCISSEL was about a quarter mile from the intersection of
Valley View Drive and Colvin Lane, Prince William Co, VA on May 17.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey, VA-Bird,
and DE-BIRDS 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. |