-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 2:04 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 11/10/09

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               11/10/09
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE 
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1 
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2 
        (email):     
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, Nov. 10, at 8:30 am.

Top birds this week are GREAT WHITE HERON* in DE, ANHINGA* in VA, and
WESTERN TANAGER* in VA.

Other birds of interest include RED-THROATED LOON, HORNED GREBE, NORTHERN
GANNET, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, TUNDRA SWAN, EURASIAN WIGEON and other
waterfowl, RUFFED GROUSE, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, AMERICAN GOLDEN
PLOVER, PIPING PLOVER, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, FRANKLIN'S GULL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE,
BLUE-HEADED VIREO, SEDGE WREN, AMERICAN PIPIT, sparrows, RUSTY BLACKBIRD and
BALTIMORE ORIOLE.

The GREAT WHITE HERON*, a white morph of the GREAT BLUE HERON, previously
reported on Nov 1 was observed again on Nov 3 and 7.  It has been on a small
pond in Bethany Beach, DE located on Fred Hudson Rd south of Indian River
Inlet, 0.1 miles before the intersection with Cedar Neck Rd.

An ANHINGA* was reported at Cavalier WMA in southern Chesapeake, VA on Nov
8. Note that the WMA is open to non-hunters only on Sundays until Nov 30.

A WESTERN TANAGER* was reported at the end of Shirley Plantation Rd (SR608),
Charles City Co, VA on Nov 8. Elsewhere, a late SUMMER TANAGER was spotted
on Nov 3 at Weyanoke Sanctuary, Norfolk, VA and a late SCARLET TANAGER was
reported at Abbott's Mill Nature Center, Sussex Co, DE on Nov 3.

A RED-THROATED LOON showed at Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co, MD on Nov 8. 

Three HORNED GREBES were at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA on Nov
8.

NORTHERN GANNET reports have included at least 60 in the sky offshore at
Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD on Nov 7 and another 50 at Shady Side,
Anne Arundel Co, MD on Nov 7. 
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was found at the Chestertown wastewater
treatment plant, Kent Co, MD on Nov 8. At least seven ROSS'S GEESE were
among an estimated 10,000 SNOW GEESE at Chincoteague NWR, VA on Nov 7. Three
CACKLING GEESE were at Cranberry Reservoir, Carroll Co, MD on Nov 5. Reports
of BRANT have come from many locations including 80 at Ocean City Inlet,
Worcester Co, MD on Nov 7. 

TUNDRA SWAN sightings included 73 flying over Oxford, Talbot Co, MD on Nov 3
and five TUNDRA SWANS at Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co, MD on Nov 8.

Waterfowl of all types continue to grow in number. A EURASIAN WIGEON was
reported on Nov 7 at the West Ocean City Pond off of Golf Course Rd,
Worcester Co, MD. A COMMON EIDER was at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co,
MD on Nov 7. Scoter reports included a SURF SCOTER at Eastern Neck NWR, Kent
Co, MD on Nov 8, a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER at Perryville Community Park, Cecil
Co, MD on Nov 8 and 9, and a female BLACK SCOTER at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince
William Co, VA on Nov 8. 

A RUFFED GROUSE was seen on the road at Dan's Rock, Allegany Co, MD on Nov
7. 

Two NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were reported from the Ashland Nature Center Hawk
Watch, New Castle Co, DE on Nov 4. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was reported at the
Harvey's Knob Hawk Watch, Botetourt Co, VA on Nov 7.
GOLDEN EAGLE sightings have occurred at many hawk watches including five at
Kiptopeke Hawk Watch, Northampton Co, VA on Nov 5. Elsewhere, a single
subadult GOLDEN EAGLE was reported flying over the National Arboretum,
Washington, DC, on Nov 7

An AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was at Kiptopeke SP, Northampton Co, VA on Nov 7.
A PIPING PLOVER was on the beach at Assateague Island SP, MD on Nov 7. 

The two HUDSONIAN GODWITS spotted previously at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester
Co, MD were seen again on November 3 but have not been reported since that
day. A MARBLED GODWIT was found at the Eagle's Nest Campground, Worcester
Co, MD on Nov 7. A PURPLE SANDPIPER was at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester
Co, MD on Nov 7. 

An adult FRANKLIN'S GULL was found on Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro,
Prince George's Co, MD on Nov 4, 5, and 6 amidst LAUGHING GULLS, HERRING
GULLS, and RING-BILLED GULLS. A BONAPARTE'S GULL was seen at Assateague
Island SP, Worcester Co, MD on Nov 7. Three LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were
on the beach at Chincoteague NWR, VA on Nov 8.

A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was in the western section of Stuarts Draft Park,
Augusta Co, VA on Nov 6. 

A BLUE-HEADED VIREO was in the vicinity of Vessey Orchards Rd, Somerset Co,
MD on Nov 8.

A SEDGE WREN was found along the towpath just north of Violette's Lock,
Montgomery Co, MD on Nov 4. At least six SEDGE WRENS were at Irish Grove,
near Rumbly Point, Somerset Co, MD on Nov 6.

About 200 AMERICAN PIPITS were in a field on Keymar Rd north of Good Intent
Rd, Frederick Co, MD on Nov 7.

Sparrow reports are widespread. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found Bayside, on
the west side of the campground loop, Assateague Island SP, Worcester Co, MD
on Nov 7. A NELSON'S SPARROW and four SALTMARSH SPARROWS were reported along
Rumbly Point Road, Somerset Co, MD on Nov 7. A NELSON'S SPARROW was at Sands
Road Park in Anne Arundel Co, MD on Nov 9. A SALTMARSH SPARROW was reported
at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA on Nov 4. Seven FOX SPARROWS were seen in a
field along Study Rd, Westminster, Carroll Co, MD on Nov 5. A LINCOLN'S
SPARROW was at the corner of Florence RD and Shaffersville RD, Howard Co, MD
on Nov 8.
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS have been reported from various locations across the
region.

A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was seen among HORNED LARKS on Sixes Bridge Rd, east of
Keysville Rd, Carroll Co, MD on Nov 7.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD reports have come from many locations but usually in small
numbers. However, on Nov 9 there was a report of 145 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS in the
impoundment and swamp areas at McKee-Beshers WMA, Montgomery Co, MD.

A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was found in the vicinity of the hawk watch at Cape
Henlopen SP, Sussex Co, DE on Nov 4. Two BALTIMORE ORIOLES were reported
Bayside, Assateague Island SP, Worcester Co, MD on Nov 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