-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 11:44 AM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 01/26/10

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               01/26/10
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE 
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1 
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2 
        (email):     
Compiler:           Joe Coleman
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, January 26, at 9:00 AM.

Top bird this week is ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER* in VA.

Other birds of interest include geese, TRUMPETER SWAN, ducks including
COMMON TEAL*, EARED and RED-NECKED GREBE, GREAT CORMORANT, raptors, rails,
SANDHIIL CRANE, gulls, RAZORBILL, SHORT-EARED OWL,  shrikes, COMMON RAVEN,
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, sparrows, PAINTED BUNTING, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.

An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER* was seen again Jan 23 and 24 on Tim Rd, Virginia
Beach, VA.  Birders are cautioned to be careful in this area.

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE sightings included four on Jan 19 in Queen
Anne's Co, MD near a small pond on Rte 213 one mile north of where Clannahan
Shop Rd intersects Rte 213. CACKLING GEESE were reported from several sites
including one on the 19th at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center,
Edgewater, Anne Arundel Co, MD and at least five mixed in with a large flock
of Canada Geese along Powder Mill Rd at the Beltsville Ag Research Ctr,
Prince George's Co, MD the morning of Jan 22.  There were also two CACKLING
GEESE at Kershner's Pond, Burkittsville Rd, Burkittsville, Frederick Co, MD
on Jan 23 and one at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD the same day.  A
single CACKLING GOOSE was seen Jan 24 at Schooley Mill Park, Howard Co, MD.
Four CACKLING GEESE were reported from Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro,
Prince George's Co, MD on Jan 24.
  
With the C&O Canal Winter Count, the Prince George's Waterfowl Count, and
the ASNV's Winter Waterfowl Count occurring this past weekend there were
numerous waterfowl reports from the area as well as a lot of other nice
sightings.

A single ROSS'S GOOSE was seen Jan 24 in a large flock of SNOW GEESE in
eastern Henrico Co, VA along Rte 5 at Curles Neck.

Five TRUMPETER SWANS were found in a new wetlands in the community of Gala
in northern Botetourt Co, VA on Jan 22.

A EURASIAN WIGEON was found Jan 23 at Fisherman Island NWR, Northampton Co,
VA.  A drake COMMON TEAL* (the Eurasian form of the Green-winged Teal) was
found among nearly 600 Green-winged Teal at Truitt's Landing, Worcester Co,
MD on Jan 24.  A female KING EIDER was spotted Jan 20 in Norfolk, VA in back
of Greenies Restaurant & Pub. On the 21st a KING EIDER was seen on the east
side of the 4th Street fishing pier and on the 24th a KING EIDER was in the
bay off of Ocean View Beach Park in Norfolk.  On the 25th a female KING
EIDER was further east along Ocean View.  Large numbers of COMMON EIDERS
were seen at the Ocean City Inlet throughout the week. Seven COMMON EIDERS
were seen in the surf off of Virginia Beach, VA on Jan 19.  Two HARLEQUIN
DUCKS were reported at the Ocean City Inlet on Jan 23 and 24. Two
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen Jan 24 at the end of Haul Rd on the regular
weekly bird walk at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA.

An EARED GREBE was found Jan 24 and 25 at 33rd Street in Ocean City, MD.

A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen on Jan 23 at South Point, Worcester County.

Two GREAT CORMORANTS were found Jan 23 at Indian River Inlet, DE.  On Jan 24
a GREAT CORMORANT was found near the mouth of the Ocean City, MD, inlet.

Nesting BALD EAGLES were reported from numerous locations; in some cases
they were repairing nests while already sitting on eggs in other reports.

A light phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was found Jan 23 in Highland Co, VA.

PEREGRINE FALCONS were reported from the DC area with one seen carrying prey
and flying north up Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring, Montgomery Co,
MD on Jan 20.  A pair was beautifully photographed sitting on South Capitol
St Bridge over the Anacostia River in SE DC on Jan 21.  

Three KING RAILS and two VIRGINIA RAILS were observed at Huntley Meadows Pk,
Fairfax Co, VA on Jan 23.  A VIRGINIA and two CLAPPER RAILS were found at
the Deal Island WMA, Somerset Co, MD on Jan 25.

A flock of SANDHIIL CRANES was seen in Prince George's Co, MD flying over
the Capital Beltway the morning of Jan 21.

BLACK-HEADED GULLS continue to be reported at the Wolfs' Neck Water
Treatment Plant, DE. The turn for Wolfe's Neck is next to the Wawa opposite
Rte 24 on Rte 1 near Rehoboth.  Ask at the gate for directions to view the
gulls.  

The large number of gulls at Prime Hook NWR, DE this past week included both
a NELSON'S GULL (a GLAUCOUS X HERRING GULL hybrid) and a first winter
GLAUCOUS GULL.  

On Jan 24 an ICELAND GULL and a NELSON'S GULL were seen at Skimmer Island,
Ocean City, MD.  An adult ICELAND GULL was seen at Fowler's Beach, DE this
past week.  And on Jan 24 an ICELAND GULL was observed
at Schoolhouse Pond, Prince George's Co, MD.   LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS continued to be reported from many sites in the region during the
week.

A RAZORBILL was seen Jan 19 in the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD.

Six SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen during the trip to Poplar Island, Talbot Co,
MD on Jan 20.  One was seen at the Deal Island WMA, Somerset Co, MD on Jan
25.
 
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen in Washington Co, MD on Jan 23 in the same
location off of Sedgwick Way in Hagerstown where one was found last summer.
The NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen again on the Chino Farms from Roundtop Rd,
Queen Anne's Co, MD on Jan 23.

A COMMON RAVEN was seen Jan 19 flying towards the landfill on Powells Run
Rd, Randallstown, Baltimore Co, MD

An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was found Jan 23 on a trail that leads back to
Mason Creek from the maintenance area in Northside Park, Norfolk,
VA (off of Tidewater Dr).   On Jan 25 an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was
seen on the Old Dominion University Campus. Norfolk, VA.  There was also an
ORANGE-CROWN WARBLER seen this past week at the end of Oyster Rocks Rd in
Prime Hook NWR, DE. 

On Jan 23 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were reported from Blue Mash, Montgomery
Co, MD and Highland Co, VA.  They were also seen at the
Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA, on the 23rd and 24th.   A
LINCOLN'S SPARROW was reported from Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA,
on Jan 24.

A female PAINTED BUNTING was found on Jan 23 in the thickets on the
right side of the maintenance area in Northside Park, Norfolk, VA.   

Three RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were found on Jan 22 at Marshy Point Nature Center,
Marshy Point Dr., Chase, Baltimore Co, MD.  A single RUSTY BLACKBIRD was
seen at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA on Jan 24.  Don't forget to participate
in the RUSTY BLACKBIRD BLITZ scheduled from Jan 30 through Feb 15.

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