-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 9:16 AM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 9/8/09
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 9/8/09
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email):
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, Sept 8, at 8
a.m.
Top birds this week are SWALLOW-TAILED KITE in MD and DE and LESSER
SAND-PLOVER* in VA.
Other birds of interest include WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, WHITE IBIS,
WOOD STORK*, MERLIN, shorebirds, BLACK TERN, CHIMNEY SWIFT,
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, WESTERN KINGBIRD,
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER*, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE*, PHILADELPHIA VIREO,
SEDGE WREN, warblers, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, and VESPER SPARROW.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE delighted birders at the impoundments at Hughes
Hollow near the intersection of Hughes Rd and River Rd, Montgomery Co,
MD on Sep 4 and 5. Another SWALLOW-TAILED KITE flew over the hawk
watch at the Ashland Nature Center, New Castle Co, DE on Sep 6.
A possible LESSER SAND-PLOVER*, accidental in eastern North America,
was spotted in Augusta Co, VA on Sep 6 and 7. The bird was seen in a
pond behind a Days Inn on Bell's Lane off I-81, exit 225. Some
observers believe the bird may be a GREATER SAND-PLOVER, perhaps the
first in the east.
A flock of 15 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS were seen from Scientists Cliffs,
Calvert Co, MD on Sep 1.
Flocks of WHITE IBIS were found in our region. At least 60 birds,
mostly juveniles, were at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA on Sep 5
and at least 30 juvenile birds were seen in the Bayside Campground,
north end of Assateague Island, Worcester Co, MD on Sep 4.
The WOOD STORK* discovered Aug 22 near Woodstock, Shenandoah Co, VA,
was seen again on Sep 1, 5, 6, and 7. The bird frequents ponds and
fields along Patmos Rd/Rte 763, in the vicinity of Fravel Rd.
A MERLIN flew over the intersection of Old Georgetown Rd and Democracy
Blvd, in Bethesda, Montgomery Co, MD on Sep 2.
Shorebirds, especially grasspipers, continue to be reported widely.
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER sightings include one on Rt 331 west of
Preston, Caroline Co, MD on Sep 6; 8 on the Patton Turf Farm on River
Rd near Whites Ferry, Montgomery Co, MD on Sep 6; one in the potato
fields on Rt 9 near Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co, DE on Sep 4 and 3 in
that spot on Sep 5; one on the Summit Hall Turf Farm on River Rd near
Poolesville, Montgomery Co, MD on Sep 7 and 10 at the Patton Turf Farm
that day. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER finds included one in the Rt 9
potato fields near Bombay Hook on Sep 4, two there on Sep 5 and one on
Sep 7; one on the north end of Assateague Island on Sep 7 and one at
the Patton Turf Farms on Sep 7.
In other shorebird news, a WHIMBREL was found on the Central Sod Farm,
John Brown Rd, Queen Annes Co, MD on Sep 3. A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was
seen in Bombay Hook NWR in either Shearness Pool or Bear Swamp on Sep
3, 4, and 5. Forty WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and 4 WILSON'S PHALAROPES
were along Broadkill Beach Rd, Sussex Co, DE on Sep 4 and up to two
dozen WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were there on Sep 5 and 7 along with a
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and 5 WILSON'S PHALAROPES. A STILT SANDPIPER was
seen in the Dulles Wetlands, Loudoun Co, VA on Sep 7.
A flock of BLACK TERNS were reported from Riverside Park near Mt
Vernon, Fairfax Co, VA on Sep 5.
Birders enjoyed a show of some 2000 CHIMNEY SWIFTS entering a stand
alone chimney on the parade ground at Ft Belvoir, Fairfax Co, VA on
Sep 5.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were seen at Schoolhouse Pond, Prince Georges
Co, MD on Sep 3; Selby's Landing, Prince Georges Co, MD on Sep 5, Long
Branch Stream Valley, Annandale, Fairfax Co, VA on Sep 6, Hughes
Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on Sep 5 and two birds at Cylburn,
Baltimore, MD on Sep 7.
Reports of YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER came from Hughes Hollow on Sep 4;
Cabin John Reg Park, Montgomery Co, MD, on Sep 4 and 5; Schooley Mill
Park, Howard Co, MD on Sep 6 and Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore Co,
MD on Sep 7.
An immature WESTERN KINGBIRD was found in Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co,
MD on Sep 5.
A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER* occasionally seen near Sudlersville,
Queen Anne's Co, MD was found on Sep 1 and 2; it has shed its tail
streamers. (From Rte 301, go east on Rte 300 to Sudlersville, then
turn north on Rte 313/Millington Rd for a couple of miles to 1421, a
house with a small produce stand. Check the power lines as well as a
line of trees bordering a field across the road and to the south.)
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE* was seen in Hagerstown, Washington Co, MD on Sep
4.
PHILADELPHIA VIREO appeared at Swan Creek, Anne Arundel Co, MD on Sep
2; the Gateway Business Park in Columbia, Howard Co, MD on Sep 5;
Middle Patuxent Environmental Area, Howard Co, MD on Sep 6; and the
north end of Assateague Island on Sep 7.
A SEDGE WREN was noted in Bear Swamp, Bombay Hook NWR on Sep 4.
Warbler reports were a bit slow over the past week with the notable
exception of a BREWSTER'S WARBLER (a hybrid) seen at the Fran Uhler
Natural Area, Bowie, Prince Georges Co, MD on Sep 5. The most
consistent reports of migrant warblers continue to come from the
maintenance area in Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found in Highland Co, VA on Sep 6. A VESPER
SPARROW was seen near the junction of West Offut and Mt Nebo Rds,
Montgomery Co, MD on Sep 7.
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 |