-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 5:28 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 11/24/09

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               11/24/09
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE 
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1 
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2 
        (email):     
Compiler:           Helen Patton
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. 24, at
2:15 pm.

Top birds this week are ICELAND GULL in DE/MD and CAVE SWALLOW in DE and VA.

Other birds of interest include waterfowl, RED-THROATED LOON, grebes,
AMERICAN BITTERN, WHITE IBIS, GOLDEN EAGLE, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, gulls,
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE, wrens, AMERICAN
PIPIT, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, sparrows, SNOW BUNTING, DICKCISSEL, RUSTY
BLACKBIRD and PURPLE FINCH.

A first winter ICELAND GULL was in the fields on Oak Grove Road, Caroline
Co, MD/Sussex Co, DE on November 23.

A CAVE SWALLOW was seen over Fowler Beach, Sussex Co, DE on November 18. A
CAVE SWALLOW flew by the Toms Cove Nature Center at Chincoteague NWR,
Accomack Co, VA on November 22.

The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE continued to be seen at the Chestertown
WWTP, Kent Co, MD on November 19 and 22.  A ROSS'S GOOSE was at Great Oak
Landing Pond, Kent Co, MD on November 22. A CACKLING GOOSE was among the
many CANADA GEESE at Kirshner's Pond, Frederick Co, MD on November 22. A
flock of about fifteen TUNDRA SWANS flew over Haines Point, DC on November
18.  Two TUNDRA SWANS flew around the south side of DuPont Circle, NW DC on
November 19. TUNDRA SWANS were spotted at Pickering Creek Audubon Center,
Talbot Co. MD on November 21.

Two REDHEADS were spotted in a pond at the University of Richmond, VA on
November 20.  More REDHEADS were at Lock Raven Reservoir, Baltimore Co, MD
on November 22.  A LONG-TAILED DUCK and seven COMMON GOLDENEYES were noted
at Piney Run Park, Carroll Co, MD on November 18.  Two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS
were seen at Cape Charles, Northampton Co, VA on November 22.  Seven BLACK
SCOTERS were spotted at Black Walnut Point, Talbot Co, MD on November 21.
All three SCOTER species (SURF, WHITE-WINGED and BLACK) were seen at
Triadelphia Reservoir in Howard Co, MD on November 23. A SURF and a
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER were at Piney Run Lake, Carroll Co, MD on November 24. A
COMMON EIDER was seen from Island 1 of the CBBT, Northampton Co, VA on
November 22.

The Jean Shehan Audubon Sanctuary and the Pickering Creek Audubon Center,
both in Talbot Co, MD each hosted a RED-THROATED LOON on November 21. A
RED-THROATED LOON was noted at Triadelphia Reservoir near the Greenridge
ramp, Montgomery Co, MD on November 22.

The EARED GREBE found last week in the cove near the boardwalk at Piscataway
Park, Prince Georges Co, MD continues to be seen with reports from November
17 through November 22.  A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen for a short time at the
same place also on November 17.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was spotted on Elliott Island Road, Dorchester Co, MD on
November 21.

Birders on a field trip to Chincoteague NWR encountered a flock of
forty-seven immature WHITE IBIS on November 22.

Two immature GOLDEN EAGLES were seen in Corn Valley, Russell Co, VA on
November 20. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was spotted at Sideling Hill, Washington
Co, MD on November 22 and another flew over Great Oak Landing on the same
day.

Seven AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were noted as they flew by at Eastern Neck
NWR, Kent Co, MD on November 22. A WILSON'S SNIPE was present at the Oxbow
Lake Nature Preserve, Anne Arundel Co, MD on November 21.

A LITTLE GULL was spotted in a group of BONAPARTE'S GULLS near Kent Island,
Queen Anne's Co, MD on November 17.  A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen
near Occoquan, VA on November 18.

A RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD visited a feeder in Vienna, VA on November 17 and 18.
He was banded on November 21.

A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was noted at Fountainhead Regional Park, Fairfax Co,
VA on November 21.  Two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were at Lawson's Creek WMA,
Halifax Co, VA on November 22. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at Liberty
Reservoir, Baltimore Co, MD on November 23.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen in Northern Queen Anne's Co, MD near Chino Farms
on November 19.

Two cooperative WINTER WRENS were spotted at Great Falls NP, Fairfax Co, VA
on November 22.  More WINTER WRENS were at Little Bennett Regional Park and
Ten Mile Creek, Montgomery Co, MD on the same day. A SEDGE WREN was seen at
close range at Bethel Beach, Matthews Co, VA on November 21.

Twenty-five AMERICAN PIPITS were seen on Egypt Road near Blackwater NWR,
Dorchester Co, MD on November 21.

An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen at the Railroad Ditch, Great Dismal Swamp
NWR, Suffolk Co, VA on November 18.  Another ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen
at Schooley Mill Park, Howard Co, MD on November 20.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were noted in the City of Hopewell, VA on November
22.

One AMERICAN TREE SPARROW and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW were seen at Lilypons
Water Gardens, Frederick Co, MD on November 22.  One, possibly two VESPER
SPARROWS were at the Jean Shehan Audubon Sanctuary, Talbot Co, MD on
November 17 and 18.  FOX SPARROWS began appearing in the area with reports
from Western Regional Park, Howard Co, MD on November 21; Carr Road near Sky
Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, VA on November 17 and Little Bennett Regional Park
and Blue Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery Co, Schooley Mill Park, Howard Co,
MD, Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA, Lawson's Creek WMA, Halifax Co, VA on
November 22. Two WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were at Woodmont Academy, Howard Co,
MD on November 21. Ten WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were seen in Hagerstown,
Washington Co, MD on November 22.

One SNOW BUNTING was near the Kiptopeke boat launch, Northampton Co, VA on
November 22. 

A DICKCISSEL has been visiting a feeder in Bridgewater, Rockingham Co, VA
every day since November 15.

Thirteen RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen at the Great Dismal Swamp NWR on
November 18.  A flock of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS was at Lawson's Creek WMA on
November 22.

PURPLE FINCHES were seen at Prettyboy Reservoir, Baltimore Co, MD and at
Bridle Creek/Gold Hill, VA, on November 17.  A beautiful male PURPLE FINCH
was seen at Claytor Lake, Pulaski Co, VA on November 18.
Another PURPLE FINCH was at Difficult Run parklands, Fairfax Co, VA on
November 22.

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