-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 11:31 AM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 8/25/09
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 8/25/09
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email):
Compiler: Joe Coleman
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, August 25, at 10:00 am.
Top birds this week are GREAT WHITE EGRET*in VA, ROSEATE SPOONBILL* in DE,
WOOD STORK in VA, SWALLOW-TAILED KITE in VA, and SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER
in MD.
Other birds of interest include ducks, ANHINGA, LITTLE BLUE HERON, WHITE
IBIS, MISSISSIPPI KITE, MERLIN, KING RAIL, shorebirds, BLACK TERN, MONK
PARAKEET*, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER,
YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, PURPLE MARTIN, and PAINTED BUNTING.
The GREAT WHITE EGRET* at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA was seen again
at the beginning of the wildlife drive on Aug 22.
The ROSEATE SPOONBILL* continues to be reported on Fenwick Island, Sussex
Co, DE, in the vicinity of the Catch 54 Restaurant just over the canal to
the north, west of the intersection of Rtes 1 and 54.
A WOOD STORK* was found and photographed on Aug 22 near Woodstock,
Shenandoah Co, VA in a pond along Patmos Rd, Rte 763, between Fravel Rd and
Fairview Rd. On Aug 23 and 24 the WOOD STORK was found at a pond on Fravel
Rd.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was seen Aug 22 just south of the York River Crossing
Shopping Center at Hayes, Gloucester Co, VA soaring towards Sarah's Creek.
A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER* was found and photographed Aug 22 in MD near
Sudlersville in northern Queen Anne's Co. To find it take Rte 301 north to
Rte 300 and then go east to Sudlersville and turn north on Rte 313 for a
couple of miles to 1421 Millington Road (MD Rte 313).
Look on the power lines near a small produce stand. It was relocated in the
same area on both Aug 23 and 24.
The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK is still being seen at Silver Lake in
Rehoboth Beach, Sussex Co, DE. Fifteen BLUE-WINGED TEALS and six BLACK TERNS
were found during the regular weekly Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA bird walk on
Aug 23.
Two female ANHINGAS were found Aug 22 on the road that goes into the Stumpy
Lake Golf Course in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach, VA.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was found in the same area of Shenandoah Co as the WOOD
STORK on Aug 22; two were seen in that area on Aug 24.
The juvenile WHITE IBIS was still being seen, with a report from Aug 21, in
the Ten Mile Creek area of Little Seneca Creek Lake, Black Hill Regional
Park, Montgomery Co, MD. Six juvenile WHITE IBIS were found Aug 22 at
Staunton View Public Use Area in Mecklenburg Co, VA.
Three MISSISSIPPI KITES, one adult and two juveniles, were reported from the
Kings Park subdivision, Fairfax Co, VA on Aug 18. Three MISSISSIPPI KITES
were seen near 9695 Manteo Ct, Burke, Fairfax Co, VA, on Aug 20.
There were a couple of reports of MERLINS this past week. One was reported
on Aug 21 from Piney Reservoir in eastern Garrett Co, MD, and another was
seen on Aug 24 in the vicinity of the SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER in Queen
Anne's Co, MD.
A KING RAIL was the highlight of the weekly Huntley Meadows Park bird walk
in Fairfax Co, VA on Aug 24.
There were many shorebird reports this past week. An AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER
was spotted Aug 22 from the C&O Canal at the Summit Hall Turf Farm,
Montgomery Co, MD. An AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was found at the Murray Sod
Farm in Worcester Co, MD on Aug 23 and 24. And one was also reported at
Hurlock WWTP, Dorchester Co, MD on Aug 23.
UPLAND SANDPIPER and BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER reports continued from the
Cartanza Road area, near Route 9, Kent Co, DE, with sightings of both
throughout the week. Three UPLAND SANDPIPERS and two BUFF-BREASTED
SANDPIPERS were found between Gates 2 and 1.5 on Aug 23 along Newby Shop Rd
at the Woodward Turf Farm, Remington, Fauquier Co, VA. An UPLAND SANDPIPER
was found in the recently plowed mud at the Pleasant Plains Turf Farm in
Anne Arundel Co, MD on Aug 23. Another UPLAND SANDPIPER was found in Anne
Arundel Co on Aug 24 at the sod farm on Swamp Circle Rd. Four UPLAND
SANDPIPERS were found at the Shiloh Church Turf Farm, Dorchester Co, MD on
Aug 23.
Three HUDSONIAN GODWITS were reported at Raymond Pool in Bombay Hook NWR,
DE. Four MARBLED GODWITS were found at Skimmer Island, Ocean City, MD, on
Aug 19 and two were there on Aug 24. Six MARBLED GODWITS were seen flying
around Shearness Pool, Bombay Hook NWR, DE, on Aug 22. A BAIRD'S SANDPIPER
was reported at Wick's Potato Farm along Rte 9 north of Leipsic, DE. A
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was also reported from Chincoteague NWR, VA on Aug 23.
Four WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were found at Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD, on
the 21st. A WILSON'S PHALAROPE was also found at Poplar Island, MD, on Aug
21.
BLACK TERNS popped up in several locations including about 80 at Violette's
Lock, Montgomery Co, MD, on Aug 21 and on the same day, 25 were reported on
the trip to Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD.
Approximately 50 BLACK TERNS were found Aug 22 at the Staunton View Public
Use Area in Mecklenburg Co, VA.
The possibly wild MONK PARAKEET* continues to be seen at the Aquatic Center
at Woodland Beach, Kent Co, DE on Aug 16.
A juvenile BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was found at Bayside, Assateague Island,
Worcester Co, MD on Aug 23.
COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were widely reported this past week with reports of
25 to 30 flying over the storm water retention pond at NIH's Rockledge Drive
facility in Bethesda, Montgomery Co, MD, on Aug 18 and about 35 at Cromwell
Valley Park in Baltimore Co, MD on Aug 19. There were at least 20 swirling
around in the lights at the Air Force Memorial, Arlington Co, VA, the
evening of Aug 24.
An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was reported in the trees along the banks of the
Potomac River at Great Falls NP, Montgomery Co, MD on Aug 23.
A hatch-year YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was found at Huntley Meadows Park,
Fairfax Co, VA Aug 23. It was flying out of the cattails and across the
boardwalk near where the trail splits in the marsh. The same day a
YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was also found at Black Walnut Point on Tilghman
Island, Talbot Co, MD.
Over 2,000 PURPLE MARTINS were found settling into a roost near the Martin's
on Pleasant Valley Rd in Winchester, VA, on both Aug 20 and 21. The flock of
PURPLE MARTINS in the Shockhoe Bottom area of Richmond, VA was estimated at
around 6,300 birds on Aug 20. Several different flocks of PURPLE MARTINS,
some estimated as containing as many as 5,000 birds, were found in different
roosts in the marshes along the Pamunkey River in VA on Aug 20.
A juvenile PAINTED BUNTING was found Aug 22 along the boardwalk trail at
Prime Hook NWR, DE.
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 |