-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 12:10 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 11/17/09
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 11/17/09
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, Nov. 17, at 7:30 am.
Top birds this week are CALIFORNIA GULL* in MD and ASH-THROATED
FLYCATCHER* in DE
Other birds of interest include waterfowl, RED-THROATED LOON, grebes,
OSPREY, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, MERLIN, SANDHILL CRANE, POMARINE
JAEGER, PARASITIC JAEGER, gulls, SANDWICH TERN, SHORT-EARED OWL, RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER, LEAST FLYCATCHER, COMMON RAVEN, WOOD THRUSH, ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLER, WESTERN TANAGER*, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, NELSON'S SPARROW, and SNOW
BUNTING.
A second year CALIFORNIA GULL* was seen near Great Oak Pond, Kent Co, MD on
Nov 15. Another CALIFORNIA GULL was in Worcester Co, MD during the weekend.
An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER* was found on Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, DE on
Nov 14, 15 and 16. The bird has been seen about two-thirds of the way out
the Dike Trail and also in the woods behind the Headquarters building near
the trailer.
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen at the Chestertown wastewater
treatment plant, Kent Co, MD on Nov 15. Two ROSS' GEESE and a CACKLING GOOSE
were reported from Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co, DE. A CACKLING GOOSE was at
Piscataway Park, Prince Georges Co, MD on Nov 16.
A HARLEQUIN DUCK and up to 17 COMMON EIDERS were found in the Ocean City
inlet, Worcester Co, MD on Nov 13, 14, and 15. A COMMON EIDER was seen from
Island 1 of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Northampton Co, VA on Nov 14.
Four SURF SCOTERS and two LONG-TAILED DUCKS were on the Potomac River
between the 14th Street and Memorial Bridges, Washington, DC on Nov 11. Two
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen there on Nov 12. Three WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS
and 150-200 BLACK and SURF SCOTERS were at Thomas Point SP, Anne Arundel Co,
MD on Nov 14. Small numbers of BLACK SCOTERS, SURF SCOTERS, and LONG-TAILED
DUCKS were found on the Triadelphia Reservoir from the Montgomery Co, MD
side on Nov 11.
RED-THROATED LOON made several inland appearances in the last week. Up to
two birds were on Triadelphia Reservoir on Nov 11, 12, and 13, seen from
both Montgomery Co and Howard Co. A RED-THROATED LOON was spotted on Lake
Shenandoah, Rockingham Co, VA on Nov 13 and another was at Claytor Lake SP,
Pulaski Co, VA on Nov 13.
An EARED GREBE was found bayside at 41st St in Ocean City, MD on Nov
14 and 15. Another EARED GREBE was in the cove near the boardwalk at
Piscataway Park, Prince Georges Co, MD on Nov 16. A WESTERN GREBE* was seen
in Claytor Lake SP on Nov 13.
Late OSPREY were spotted at Ft Smallwood, Anne Arundel Co, MD on Nov 10 and
at Piney Run Park, Carroll Co, MD on Nov 12. An immature light phase
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen near the north section of E A Vaughn WMA,
Worcester Co, MD on Nov 12. An immature GOLDEN EAGLE flew over Centennial
Park, Howard Co, MD on Nov 15 and another flew by Pickering Creek Audubon
Center, Talbot Co, MD that day. Another possible GOLDEN EAGLE sighting came
from Wooton's Landing on the Patuxent River, Prince Georges Co, MD on Nov
14. Two GOLDEN EAGLES were reported from the Turkey Point hawk watch, Cecil
Co, MD on Nov 16. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was found in Harford Co on Nov 16. A
MERLIN was seen in Difficult Run Stream Valley Park, Fairfax Co, VA on Nov
15.
A SANDHILL CRANE flew over the West Ocean City pond, Worcester Co, MD on Nov
11.
An adult POMARINE JAEGER and a PARASITIC JAEGER were seen from the causeway
to Assateague Island, Worcester Co, MD on Nov 14.
A fine collection of interesting gulls were seen this week in addition to
the California Gulls. A first cycle BLACK-HEADED GULL was at the Ocean City
inlet on Nov 13. A possible YELLOW-LEGGED GULL* was reported from Egypt Road
near Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on Nov 13. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS
were seen at several locations including Occoquan, VA on Nov 15 and
Conowingo Dam, Harford Co, MD on that day.
A first cycle GLAUCOUS GULL was found at the Ocean City inlet on Nov 15. A
juvenile BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was seen at Cape Charles, VA on Nov 14.
Twelve SANDWICH TERNS were spotted on Assateague Island, MD on Nov 10.
A SHORT-EARED OWL was along Shorter's Wharf Rd, Dorchester Co, MD on Nov 14.
Fourteen RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS highlighted a walk at Algonkian Park,
Loudoun Co, VA on Nov 10.
A very late but probable LEAST FLYCATCHER was seen on Evans Rd near Cedar
Lane, Worcester Co, MD on Nov 14 and 15. A WESTERN KINGBIRD was spotted near
pump house 2 at Assateague SP, MD on Nov 15.
A COMMON RAVEN was near the Beltway at Tyson's Corner, VA on Nov 13.
A WOOD THRUSH was found in Oakton, Fairfax Co, VA on Nov 15.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen at the Visitor's Center, Assateague
Island SP, MD on Nov 14 and 15.
A WESTERN TANAGER* was seen again at the end of Shirley Plantation Rd
(SR608), Charles City Co, VA on Nov 15.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was observed near the tennis courts at Meadowbrook
Park, Howard Co, MD from Nov 11 through 14. A NELSON'S SPARROW was found at
Ragged Island WMA, Isle of Wight Co, VA on Nov 14. Six NELSON'S SPARROWS
were seen at Bethel Beach, Mathews Co, VA on Nov 15.
One SNOW BUNTING was near the Kiptopeke Pier, Northampton Co, VA Nov
15 and 16. A flock of 24 SNOW BUNTINGS were at the point in Cape Henlopen
SP, Sussex Co, DE on Nov 14.
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 |