-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 1:23 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 7/7/09
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 7/07/09
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email):
(deadline): midnight Mondays
Compiler: Lou DeMouy
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, July 7, at 8:45 a.m.
Top birds this week are NEOTROPIC CORMORANT* in MD, GREAT WHITE EGRET* in
VA, and ROSEATE SPOONBILL* in DE and MD
Other birds of interest include AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, LEAST BITTERN,
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK*, waterfowl,
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, MISSISSIPPI KITE, PIPING PLOVER, SHORT-EARED OWL,
WHITE-WINGED DOVE, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, CHUCK WILL'S WIDOW, PURPLE MARTIN,
SUMMER TANAGER, DICKCISSEL, field birds, and PINE SISKIN
A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT* was observed again on June 30 in the area of
Violette's Lock and the Potomac River in Montgomery Co, MD but has not been
reported since.
A GREAT WHITE EGRET* was reported at Chincoteague NWR, VA on July 1, 2, and
3. The bird showed as a great egret of the melanorhyncos subspecies, which
is resident in Africa and has the appearance of a great egret with black
bill and facial skin. The bird sightings were on the left of the wildlife
drive just beyond the entry point where the road opens in the proximity of
Snow Goose Pool.
A ROSEATE SPOONBILL* first discovered on June 24 in the area near the Catch
54 Restaurant off Route 54 on Fenwick Island, Sussex Co, DE continued
through July 6 with daily sightings including a few visits to Maryland
mostly as a flyover. On July 6 there was also a report of a ROSEATE
SPOONBILL* at Fowler's Beach, Sussex Co, DE. It was not clear if this was
the same bird.
An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was found on the Little Blackwater River,
Dorchester Co, MD on July 4.
Three LEAST BITTERNS were spotted at Dyke Marsh on the boardwalk overlook at
the end of Haul Road, Fairfax Co, VA on July 5. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
was found at the Swan Creek dredge containment facility, Anne Arundel, Co,
MD on July 1. Another BLACK- CROWNED NIGHT HERON was at the eastern end of
Sewell's Orchard Ponds on the dock near the dam in Columbia, Howard Co, MD
on July 1.
The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK* continues at Silver Lake in Rehoboth
Beach, Sussex Co, DE.
Some waterfowl are showing in unusual summer locales. A male BUFFLEHEAD was
on the Potomac River close to Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD on June 30.
A female BUFFLEHEAD showed at Patuxent River Park, Jug Bay, Prince George's
Co, MD on June 30. Two adult male RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were found west of
Savage's Ditch, Rehoboth Bay, DE on July 4. A RUDDY DUCK was swimming
offshore of the Belle Haven Picnic Area in Alexandria, Fairfax Co, VA on
July 5.
A WILSON'S STORM PETREL was spotted flying past the Ocean City Inlet,
Worcester Co, MD on July 5.
On July 2 and 3, a sub-adult MISSISSIPPI KITE flew over Long Island near the
south channel of the Staunton River, Campbell Co, VA. A MISSISSIPPI KITE
flew over the intersection of Braddock Road and Burke Lake Road in
Springfield, Fairfax Co, VA on July 6.
On July 5, 19 PIPING PLOVERS were at Eagle's Nest Campground, south of Ocean
City, Worcester Co, MD.
Two SHORT-EARED OWLS were observed in the marshes at Elliott Island,
Dorchester Co, MD on July 5.
On July 1, a WHITE-WINGED DOVE was seen about a half mile south of the
intersection of Route 6 and Route 9 near Woodland Beach, Kent Co, DE.
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO reports have come from Patuxent River Park, Jug Bay,
Prince George's Co, MD on June 30; McIntosh Road in St. Mary's Co on July 2;
Harwood in Anne Arundel Co, on July 5, and other locations.
CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOWS were heard in Union Springs, Rockingham Co, VA on June
30; also at the intersection of Perryman, Perryman Church, and Dublin Roads
in Somerset Co, MD on June 30; and at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Park
in Pasadena, Anne Arundel Co, MD on July 2.
On July 4, a flock of PURPLE MARTINS numbering 500 or more were moving close
to Walney Road and Route 5 in Chantilly, Fairfax Co, VA.
Two SUMMER TANAGERS were seen at Blackwater NWR, MD about 100 yards past
auto stop number 7 on July 3.
Reports of DICKCISSELS came from many locations including: one on Bradley
Road, Caroline Co, MD on June 30; six along Sixes Bridge Road, Frederick Co,
MD on July 1; two on Fleatown Road close to Milford Neck, Kent Co, DE on
July 1; four along Route 615/Redhouse Road, southeast of Rustburg, Campbell
Co, VA on July 2; and two at Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, DE on July 5. The
DICKCISSELS were sometimes in the company of other field and grassland birds
such as GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, EASTERN MEADOWLARKS, and BLUE GROSBEAKS.
A PINE SISKIN showed at George Washington's Ferry Farm, on the right side of
the meadow, Stafford Co, VA on July 2.
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 |