-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:00 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 6/23/09

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               6/23/09
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE 
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1 
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2 
       (email):      
    (deadline):     midnight Mondays 
Compiler:           Lydia Schindler
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, June 23, at 9 a.m.

Top birds this week are NEOTROPIC CORMORANT* in MD and ROSEATE
SPOONBILL* in VA.

Other birds of interest include waterfowl, seabirds, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN,
LEAST BITTERN, MISSISSIPPI KITE, shorebirds, LESSER BLACK-BACKED and
GLAUCOUS GULLS, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, CERULEAN
WARBLER, sparrows, DICKCISSEL, and PINE SISKIN.

A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT* was discovered June 17 on the Potomac River in the
vicinity of Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD; it has been relocated daily
through June 21. The most reliable viewing appears to be in the evening,
when the bird roosts (along with many Double-crested Cormorants) on a small
island about 1 mile downstream from Violette's. 

The ROSEATE SPOONBILL* found June 15 south of Waynesboro, Augusta Co, VA,
continued through the evening of June 19, but it has not been seen since;
the flooded corn field where it had been foraging (and where birders' cars
lined up facing the field "almost as if we were at a drive-in movie") has
been drying up.

Reports of a male RING-NECKED DUCK came from Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co,
VA, on June 20--and also from a large pond in Loudoun Co, VA, about 6 miles
NE of Sky Meadows that same day. On June 21 a juvenile RING-NECKED DUCK was
observed in the Potomac River from Great Falls NP, Fairfax Co, VA. A COMMON
MERGANSER and nine ducklings were seen near Violette's Lock June 18.

On June 17 in Worcester Co, MD, waters off the ORV zone at Assateague Island
hosted CORY'S and GREATER SHEARWATERS, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, and NORTHERN
GANNET. Similar seabirds were seen that day from the Ocean City Inlet. 

On June 16, an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was observed at Poplar Island, Talbot
Co, MD, and on June 17 one was found at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD
(along Key Wallace Dr "near open water by the maintenance yard"). More
surprisingly, at midday on June 18 an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was spotted
over downtown DC, flying south down 16th St. At 3 that afternoon, an
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN flew over the Patuxent Research Refuge 3/4 mile south
of Powder Mill Rd in Prince George's Co, MD.

An ANHINGA was found June 17 in Southampton City, VA; it perched at a small
pond about 7 miles east of the Emporia Municipal Airport, along Rte 615
south of Rte 58. On June 21, 2 ANHINGAS, apparently fledglings, were seen at
the Harwood Mills Reservoir, Oriana Rd, York Co, VA.

During the weekly walk at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, on June 21, "one lucky
participant" got to see a LEAST BITTERN in flight. A LEAST BITTERN was seen
June 17 at Blackwater NWR.

On June 19 an adult MISSISSIPPI KITE flew over the Kings Park subdivision in
Springfield, Fairfax Co. On June 17 a MISSISSIPPI KITE was again found in
Greensville Co, VA; it perched near the Three Creeks WWTP, at the north end
of Rte 616 and east of Rte 301.

On June 17, Skimmer's Island in Ocean City held a dozen RED KNOTS, plus
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS and, appropriately, BLACK SKIMMERS. The Skimmers
were still in evidence June 21.

On June 21 a GLAUCOUS GULL was at Skimmer Island and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL at the Ocean City Inlet.

A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO visited a yard in Waldorf, Charles Co, MD, the morning
of June 23.

A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER seen June 16 at Prince William Forest Park, VA, was
a first for the area; it was found along Rte 619 at Johnson's Corner. A
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was noted June 17 on Bestpitch Ferry Rd, in the
vicinity of Blackwater NWR. On June 22, Keysville Rd, Carroll Co, MD, hosted
a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER as well as VESPER and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS. 

On June 21, an adult CERULEAN WARBLER and a fledgling were discovered near
Conowingo Dam, Harford Co, MD; the birds were on the west side of the old
railroad trail a few hundred yards south of the parking lot.
Eight CERULEANS were among 8 species of warblers singing at G Richard
Thompson WMA in western Fauquier Co on the evening of June 22.

On June 19 at least 6 DICKCISSELS were still singing along Red House Rd/Rte
615 in Campbell Co, VA; one of the birds was found there June 22. [From
Rustburg, take Rte 24 east .7 mile to a right turn onto Rte 615; about 1 m
past Rte 805, look for a small pond on the left.] In Talbot Co, MD,
DICKCISSELS continue to frequent a large field north of White Marsh
Cemetery, south of Easton. 

PINE SISKINS visited a feeder in Ashton, Carroll Co, on June 18 and 19.

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.