-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 9:40 AM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 10/20/09

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               10/20/09
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, October 20, at 8:00 am.

Top bird this week is TROPICAL KINGBIRD* in DE.

Other birds of interest include BRANT, scoters, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN,
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, GREAT CORMORANT, NORTHERN HARRIER, GOLDEN EAGLE,
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, AMERICAN
WOODCOCK, PARASITIC JAEGER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE*,
NORTHERN SHRIKE, CAVE SWALLOW, CONNECTICUT WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER,
NELSON'S SPARROW, and LINCOLN'S SPARROW.

A TROPICAL KINGBIRD* made a one-day appearance on Oct 13 near the end of
Prime Hook Beach Rd, Sussex Co, DE.

A single BRANT was seen at Sandy Point, Anne Arundel Co, MD on October
16 and 17. Four BRANT were spotted there on Oct 18 and another four were
seen at Thomas Point Park in Anne Arundel Co that day.

Although the cold rainy days this week were not optimal for hawk watchers,
observers at the Cape Henlopen, DE hawk watch had an outstanding sea watch
on Oct 17 counting 217 BRANT, 3080 BLACK SCOTERS, 4450 SURF SCOTERS, 4
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 14 RED-THROATED LOONS, 20,450 DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANTS, and 4 PARASITIC JAEGERS.

An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was seen from Key Wallace Dr, Blackwater NWR,
Dorchester Co, MD on Oct 15.

An immature GREAT CORMORANT was at the Ocean City inlet, Worcester Co, MD on
Oct 16.

There were hawks aloft even with the continuing rains; notable were a
NORTHERN HARRIER seen over Poplar Pt., Washington, DC on Oct 17 and an
adult GOLDEN EAGLE over Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co, MD on Oct 18.   

The Summit Hall Turf Farm on River Road, Montgomery Co, MD had 2 AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVERS on Oct 17 and 3 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS and a WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPER on Oct 18. PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN, and WILSON's SNIPE were
also seen there. Two WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were seen at Swan Creek, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on Oct 19. A BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was found at Sandy Point SP,
MD on Oct 18. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was found in Chevy Chase, Montgomery Co,
MD on Oct 13.

An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and a juvenile LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
were seen at Sandy Point SP on Oct 18; another adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL was at Anacostia River Park, Washington, DC on Oct 17. A very late
COMMON TERN was also in Anacostia River Park on Oct 17.

A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE* was found on Blandy Farm, Clarke Co, VA on Oct 13. A
NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on Chino Farm, Queen Anne's Co, MD on Oct 13.

Two CAVE SWALLOWS flew by the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch, Northampton Co, VA on Oct
18.
 
An immature CONNECTICUT WARBLER was spotted at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co,
MD on Oct 14. A MOURNING WARBLER was found at Violette's Lock, C&O Canal,
Montgomery Co, MD on Oct 18. Birders enjoyed a variety of warblers this last
week especially noting PALM WARBLERS and growing numbers of YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS. Both Rock Creek Park in DC and Monticello Park in Alexandria, VA
had several species of warblers and other songbirds as their migration winds
down.

LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were reported across the region. A NELSON'S SPARROW was
seen on overgrown state property off of Dent Rd in Anne Arundel Co, MD on
Oct 18.

There were numerous reports of returning winter residents, particularly
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, BROWN CREEPER, WINTER WREN, kinglets, HERMIT
THRUSH, AMERICAN PIPIT, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW,
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, and DARK-EYED JUNCO.
And there were a few reports of lingering summer birds like BALTIMORE
ORIOLE and INDIGO BUNTING.   

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