-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 12:15 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 6/30/09

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               6/30/09
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, June 30, at 8 a.m.

Top birds this week are NEOTROPIC CORMORANT* in MD, ROSEATE
SPOONBILL* in DE and MD, and VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD* in VA..

Other birds of interest include BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK*, NORTHERN
BOBWHITE, COMMON LOON, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, herons, WHITE IBIS,
MISSISSIPPI KITE, rails, PIPING PLOVER, BONAPARTE'S GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL,
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, CERULEAN WARBLER, SUMMER TANAGER, DICKCISSEL, and PINE
SISKIN.

A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT* continues  on the Potomac River in the vicinity of
Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD; it has also been seen at Riley's Lock.
The most recent report is for June 27. 

A ROSEATE SPOONBILL* was discovered  near the Catch 54 Restaurant  off Rt 54
on Fenwick Island, Sussex Co, DE on June 24. The bird was seen throughout
the past week. It is often seen in a private yard on Madison Av or in the
wetlands  behind the Happy Harry's Pharmacy.  The bird has been seen twice
in MD; once as a flyover and a second time on June 26 in a small bay
approximately a half mile south of Rt 54 near the southeast cul de sac of
Madison Av.

A VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD, perhaps the first east of Texas, has been at
feeders at the Huffman House Bed and Breakfast, Craig Co, VA since June 25.
The latest report is for June 28; monitors on June 29 did not see the bird.
To get to the B&B follow Rt. 460 West from Blacksburg, Virginia  towards
Pearisburg. Stay on it for approximately
18 miles until you reach Newport. Turn right onto Rt. 42 and follow for 7.1
miles. 

The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK continues at Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach,
Sussex Co, DE.

A NORTHERN BOBWHITE, scarce  west of the Bay, was found at Milltown Landing,
Prince Georges Co, MD on June 27. 

A COMMON LOON was spotted offshore at South Bethany, Sussex Co, DE.

A flock of 23 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS was seen from north Assateague Island,
Worcester Co, MD on June 24.

During the weekly walk at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA on June 28,
participants had great views of an adult and a juvenile  LEAST BITTERN in
flight  at the boardwalk overlook. Five TRICOLORED HERONS, a LEAST BITTERN,
an AMERICAN BITTERN, and two BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were seen along
Elliott Island Rd, Dorchester Co, MD on June 27. 

An immature WHITE IBIS was found at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA on
June 26.

On June 25 three MISSISSIPPI KITES flew over the Kings Park subdivision in
Springfield, Fairfax Co. Also in Fairfax Co, single MISSISSIPPI KITES were
seen over the intersection of Burke Lake Rd and Rolling Rd on June 23 and
over Waynewood on June 25.

BLACK RAILS were heard at two stops along Elliott Island Rd on June 23.

National Park Service census takers report  43 active PIPING PLOVER nests on
Assateague Island.

A BONAPARTE's GULL in full breeding plumage  was found at Fowler's Beach,
Sussex Co, DE. A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen in Oyster, Northampton Co, VA on
June 26.

A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO sang near Jug Bay, Prince Georges Co, MD on June 29.

Two singing  CERULEAN WARBLERS were seen at the Blue Ridge Center for
Environmental Stewardship , Loudoun Co, VA on June 27. Birders found eight
SUMMER TANAGERS on the North Tract of Patuxent Research Refuge, Anne Arundel
Co, MD on June 27.

There were a heartening number of DICKCISSEL reports this week.
Sightings include: one on Abell's Wharf Rd, St Marys Co, MD on June 24; two
across from Beauvue Ponds, St Marys Co, MD on June 28; two on Sixes Bridge
Rd between Sixes and Grimes Rd, Frederick Co, MD on June 27; up to 6 singing
birds at Keyesville and Creamery Rds, Frederick Co, MD on June 27 and 28;
one on Harney RD just west of Bullfrog Rd, and two west of Bollinger School
Rd, Frederick Co, MD on June 27; two in Old White Marsh Cemetery, Trappe,
Talbot Co, MD on June 27; two on Bradley Rd, Caroline Co, MD on June 28; and
two at the intersection of Lovers Rd and Rt 318 in Dorchester Co, MD on June
28. 

A PINE SISKIN ignored the summer and visited a feeder in Howard Co, MD on
June 28.

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