-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 8:38 AM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 7/21/09

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               7/21/09
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, July 21, at 8 am.

Top birds this week are GREAT WHITE EGRET* in VA, ROSEATE SPOONBILL* in DE,
and WHITE-WINGED DOVE* in DE.

Other birds of interest include BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK*, GREATER
SHEARWATER, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, ANHINGA, WHITE
IBIS, MISSISSIPPI KITE, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, terns, SHORT-EARED OWL,
HENSLOW'S SPARROW, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and DICKCISSEL, 

The GREAT WHITE EGRET* was seen again at  Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA
on Jul 18. The bird was in Swan Pool. Birders noted that the black bill,
characteristic of this subspecies, is beginning to turn yellow.

ROSEATE SPOONBILLS* continue to be seen in DE with reports during the week
of one bird in the vicinity of the Catch 54 Restaurant off Rte 54 on Fenwick
Island, Sussex Co, DE. Another ROSEATE SPOONBILL was found in Thousand Acre
Marsh near the intersection of Rt 9 and Dutch Neck Road, New Castle Co, DE
on Jul 16, 17, and 18.

A WHITE-WINGED DOVE* was spotted on Jul 18 along Rt 9 in Kent Co, DE about
one-half mile south of the intersection with Rt 6.

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

A GREATER SHEARWATER floated and flew close to shore at Assateague Island
National Seashore, Worcester Co, MD on Jul 19. Nine WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS
were seen from Assateague Island National Seashore on Jul 15. A WILSON'S
STORM-PETREL was spotted from Point Lookout, St Mary's Co, MD on Jul 19.

Two AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS accompanied the Spoonbill at Thousand Acre Marsh
in DE on Jul 15 and 17. One of the birds was seen on Jul 20.

An ANHINGA was found on Betts Pond on Betts Bottom Road near Heathsville,
Northumberland Co, VA on Jul 18.

An immature WHITE IBIS was seen at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on
Jul 18, 19, and 20.

Three MISSISSIPPI KITES were spotted over North Springfield, Fairfax Co, VA
on Jul 15 and three kites were seen over Burke in Fairfax Co on Jul 17.

A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE in partial alternate  plumage was seen at Taylor's
Gut near Woodland Beach, Kent Co, DE on Jul 18.

A GULL-BILLED TERN and three SANDWICH TERNS were found July 19 from
Castaways Campground overlooking Assateague Island, MD. A ROSEATE TERN and
three BLACK TERNS were seen from the ORV/OSV Zone of Assateague Island
National Seashore on July 19. Two GULL-BILLED TERNS and a juvenile BLACK
TERN were spotted at Chincoteague NWR on Jul 18. A trip to Poplar Island,
Talbot Co, MD on Jul 14 produced at least 175 LEAST TERNS and three BLACK
TERNS.

Two SHORT-EARED OWLS were reported from Elliott Island Rd, Dorchester Co, MD
on Jul 18.

One HENSLOW'S SPARROW was spotted at Pea Ridge, Garrett Co, MD this week and
three more were found along Old Legislative Rd, Allegany Co, MD on Jul 15.

A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK foreshadowed  the fall songbird migration at
Fort Smallwood Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD on Jul 17.

A DICKCISSEL was found on Dunker Church Rd, Antietam National Battlefield,
Washington Co, MD on Jul 15. DICKCISSELS were also seen at Beauvue Ponds, St
Mary's Co, MD on Jul 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