-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 5:36 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 12/29/09
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 12/29/09
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, December 29, at
4:30 pm.
Top birds this week were WOOD STORK* in VA and BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE
in MD.
Other birds of interest include Geese, GOLDEN EAGLE, MERLIN, PEREGRINE
FALCON, COMMON MOORHEN, SANDHILL CRANE, PURPLE SANDPIPER, AMERICAN
WOODCOCK, gulls, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, shrike, HORNED LARK,
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, sparrows, PAINTED BUNTING, RUSTY BLACKBIRD,
BALTIMORE ORIOLE, PURPLE FINCH and RED CROSSBILL.
Several Christmas Bird Counts were snowed out this year and have been
rescheduled. Please look for details online or directly from the
relevant compiler. Your help is needed more than ever.
A WOOD STORK* seen flying north from the Back Bay NWR, Virginia Beach,
VA on December 27.
A BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was noted at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester
Co, MD on December 25.
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at Herrington Harbor, Anne Arundel
Co, MD on Dec 21. Four ROSS'S GEESE and a CACKLING GOOSE were found on
December 23 at the corner of Rte. 50 and Woodyard Rd., Wicomico Co, MD
in a flock of 50,000 SNOW GEESE. A CACKLING GOOSE was seen at Hains
Point, DC on December 27. A ROSS'S GOOSE was spotted in Leeds Creek,
Talbot Co, MD on December 24 and 25.
Ducks in ever increasing numbers have been reported throughout the
region during the week.
A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen along Hickory Point Road, Worcester Co, MD on
December 27.
A MERLIN was spotted during the Manassas CBC, Prince William Co, VA on
December 27. Two PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen capturing a EUROPEAN
STARLING in Anacostia Park, DC on December 23. A drenched PEREGRINE
FALCON was soaking in the rain on the Whorton water tower, Kent Co, MD
on December 26. A PEREGRINE FALCON was spotted on the South River
Bridge, Anne Arundel Co, MD, most recently on December 27. Two
PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen resting on the 14th Street Bridge, DC on
December 28
The Crisfield CBC, Somerset Co, MD on December 27 tallied two COMMON
MOORHENS - one in Fairmount WMA-Rumbley-Frenchtown Intersection, and
another in the Ellis Bay WMA.
A SANDHILL CRANE was seen at the Great Oak Landing pond on December
24, 25 and 26.
Five PURPLE SANDPIPERS were seen at Herrington Harbor in Rosehaven,
Anne Arundel Co, MD on December 22. One PURPLE SANDPIPER lingered at
Herrington Harbor, seen on December 26 and 27. Fourteen PURPLE
SANDPIPERS were at Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD on December 23.
An AMERICAN WOODCOCK visited a yard in Talbot Co, MD on December 24.
An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen and photographed in North East
Town Park, Cecil Co, MD on December 24 and the THAYER'S GULL reported
last week was still there on December 24. Another BLACK-HEADED GULL
was spotted at the Ocean City Inlet on December 25. Yet another
BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen at Chincoteague Bay, VA on December 29. A
KUMLIEN'S ICELAND GULL was at the Tidal Basin, DC, seen on December 26
and another was at North East Town Park on the same day. The Rock Run
CBC tallied two THAYER'S GULLS, an ICELAND GULL and three LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS at Conowingo Dam, Harford Co, MD on December 27.
An adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at the intersection of Bar
Neck Road and Feather Lane in Talbot Co, MD on December 23.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE* was seen on Laws Ford Road, off Elk Run Road
south of Catlett, Fauquier Co, VA on December 27. A NORTHERN SHIKE
made a cooperative appearance near the intersection of Roundtop and
Kibler Roads, Kent Co, MD on December 24. The bird was seen again on
December 26.
HORNED LARKS were seen in a variety of places throughout the region
including a high count of 450 in Kennedyville, Kent Co, MD seen on
December 21.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was sighted in a mixed-species flock at
Jones Point, near Alexandria, VA on December 23. Three or more
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen also at Anacostia Park on December
24.
Sparrows were reported in great numbers throughout the area, many
feeding on roadsides after the snow storm. An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
was seen at the Lock Raven Skeet & Trap Center, Baltimore Co, MD on
December 22. FOX, SAVANNAH and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were noted from
many venues. The Crisfield CBC in Somerset Co, MD tallied a NESLON'S
SPARROW and four SEASIDE SPARROWS. LAPLAND LONGSPURS were observed in
many places throughout the region most notably in Caroline, Queen
Anne's and Talbot Co, MD. Two SNOW BUNTINGS were at Jefferson
Patterson Park, Calvert Co, MD on December 21.
A male PAINTED BUNTING was observed at a residence near Wicomico
Church in lower Northumberland Co, Northern Neck, VA on December 23
and 26.
Thirty plus RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were noted at the Edgewood area of the
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Harford Co, MD on December 23. A BALTIMORE
ORIOLE visited a feeder in Talbot Co, MD on December 24. A BALTIMORE
ORIOLE visited a feeder in Charles Co, MD seen most recently on
December 27.
Small numbers of PURPLE FINCHES were reported at feeders across the
region. A RED CROSSBILL was heard in a yard in Croom, Prince George's
Co, MD on December 27.
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 |