-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 1:04 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 12/15/09

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               12/15/09
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, Dec 15, at 9:15
am.

Top bird this week is SANDHILL CRANE in DE and MD.

Other birds of interest include RED-THROATED LOON, HORNED GREBE,
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, ROSS'S GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, waterfowl,
KING RAIL, VIRGINIA RAIL, PURPLE SANDPIPER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL,
GLAUCOUS GULL, SHORT-EARED OWL, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, sparrows, SNOW
BUNTING, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, and PURPLE FINCH

A SANDHILL CRANE flew over Point Lookout SP, St. Mary's Co, MD on Dec
12. Four SANDHILL CRANES were reported flying SW over Mt. Cuba Center,
New Castle Co, DE on Dec 14.

Three RED-THROATED LOONS were spotted in the water on Dec 13 at Ocean
City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD and a single RED-THROATED LOON was seen
at Tyaskin Park, Wicomico Co, MD on Dec 13. 

A HORNED GREBE was reported on the Dulles Airport pond, Loudon Co, VA
on Dec 13.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, two ROSS'S GEESE, and a CACKLING GOOSE
were all reported at Woodland Beach Wildlife Area, Kent Co, DE on Dec
9. A CACKLING GOOSE was seen from the Dyke Marsh picnic grove, Fairfax
Co, VA on Dec 12 and a CACKLING GOOSE was spotted on the Anacostia
River in Washington, DC on Dec 13.

Waterfowl are present in great variety and numbers across our region.
A REDHEAD was at the West Ocean City Pond, Worcester Co, MD on Dec 12
and a REDHEAD was spotted at Hains Point, Washington, DC on Dec 13.
Ten COMMON EIDERS were at the Ocean City Inlet on Dec 11. Three
HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at the Ocean City Inlet on Dec 13. A SURF SCOTER
was seen at Little Seneca Reservoir, Montgomery Co, MD on Dec 8. A
female WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was found at Ft. Smallwood SP, Anne Arundel
Co, MD on Dec 12. A LONG-TAILED DUCK was found at Hart-Miller Island,
Baltimore Co, MD on Dec 12. Two COMMON GOLDENEYES were at the
Georgetown Reservoir, Washington, DC on Dec 13.

A bird walk at Huntley Meadows Pk, Fairfax Co, VA on Dec 14 located
two KING RAILS and two VIRGINIA RAILS.

Numerous PURPLE SANDPIPERS were reported on the rocks at the Ocean
City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD on Dec 12.

A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was spotted at Conowingo Dam, near the
Harford Co and Cecil Co line in MD on Dec 11. A first winter GLAUCOUS
GULL was reported on Dec 11 and 12 at Schoolhouse Pond and nearby on
the pond behind the Home Depot store, Prince George's Co, MD on Dec 11
and 12.

On Dec 12 a SHORT-EARED OWL was seen cruising over the marshes along
Cornfield Harbor Rd, St. Mary's Co, MD.

A female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was seen again in Lynchburg, VA on Dec 12.

A late BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was found Dec 8 in the Belle Haven picnic
area, Fairfax Co, VA.

An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was spotted in the City of Hopewell, VA on
Dec 12. Another ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was at Poplar Point in the
weeds along the Anacostia River, Washington, DC on Dec 13 and 14.The
lingering NORTHERN PARULA in the City of Hopewell, VA was seen again
on Dec 12. A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was spotted along the Blue Mash
Nature Trail, Montgomery Co, MD on Dec 11.

Sparrow sightings included an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW at Huntley Meadows
Pk, Fairfax Co, VA on Dec 14, a FIELD SPARROW and a FOX SPARROW, each
on Trappe Church Rd, Harford Co, MD on Dec 11, an immature
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on Stone Hill Rd in the vicinity of Loch Raven
Reservoir, Baltimore Co, MD on Dec 8, and a SAVANNAH (IPSWICH) SPARROW
in the tall grass on the bay side of Cape Henlopen SP, DE on Dec 8.

About 50 SNOW BUNTINGS were found on the east side of the point at
Cape Henlopen SP, DE on Dec 8. Six SNOW BUNTINGS were reported at
Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD on Dec 12.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD reports included 15 birds at Ft. Smallwood Pk, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on Dec 12. A flock of about 50 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were at
Fort Hunt Pk, Fairfax Co, VA on Dec 12.

A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was reported at a feeder in Charles Co, MD on Dec
14.

A PURPLE FINCH showed on Dec 14 in Blue Ridge, Botetourt Co, VA.
 
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