-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 4:24 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 2/9/10
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 2/9/10
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, February 9, at 3:30 PM.
The extensive snowfall this past week meant that much of the week's birding
was confined to feeders in one's own yard. However some great birds did show
up in people's yards or while people were commuting.
Top birds this week are GYRFALCON* in MD and VARIED THRUSH* in VA.
Other birds of interest include geese, TRUMPETER SWAN, ducks, RED-THROATED
LOON, GREAT CORMORANT, herons, raptors, gulls, NORTHERN SHRIKE, COMMON
RAVEN, sparrows, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, PURPLE FINCH, and PINE
SISKIN.
While shoveling his driveway on Feb 7 a birder saw a possible white-phase
GYRFALCON* fly over his house in Woodbine, Howard Co, MD.
The birder who identified it has seen this species before in New England as
well as the one that was well-documented in Frederick Co, MD in 1994.
A VARIED THRUSH*, well-seen and well-photographed, first appeared at a
backyard feeder in Herndon, Fairfax Co, VA on Feb 5 and was still being seen
there on Feb 8. The owner has indicated that birders are welcome to view the
bird but should call 703-264-8860 after 3:00 pm on weekdays.
A CACKLING GOOSE, mixed in with a flock of CANADA GEESE, flew over a yard in
Jarrettsville, Harford Co., MD on Feb 6.
Five TRUMPETER SWANS were seen again near the community of Gala in northern
Botetourt Co, VA. On Feb 7 they were feeding in a cornfield 200 yards north
of the new wetlands beside Rte 220.
A KING EIDER was seen Feb 7 in the Chesapeake Bay from the beach at the
southern end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel, Virginia Beach, VA. A
large flock of COMMON EIDERS and a single HARLEQUIN DUCK were seen along the
north jetty at the Ocean City MD inlet on Feb 7.
A LONG-TAILED DUCK, uncommon in DC, was seen in the Potomac River east of
the 14th St Bridge from the 2nd through the 5th.
On Feb 4 a RED-THROATED LOON was seen in the Potomac River between the
Memorial and 14th Street Bridges, DC.
At one point fourteen GREAT CORMORANTS were seen at Indian River Inlet, DE
this past week.
On Feb 7 a TRICOLORED HERON flew over the marsh and crossed Deal Rd in
Somerset Co, MD.
A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen flying up and across the Susquehanna
River from Tydings Island, Harford Co, MD on Feb 3.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK seen again in Augusta Co, VA on Feb 6 flying over a
house near Hall School Rd, Stuarts Draft.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen at Schoolhouse Pond on Feb 5 and one was at
Depot Pond on Feb 8, both in Upper Marlboro, Prince George's Co, MD.
On Feb 2 and 7, an ICELAND GULL, three LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, and one
GLAUCOUS GULL were at the large pond adjacent to the "Snag-a-Job"
pavilion at 4900 Cox Rd, Henrico Co, VA. The LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and
the GLAUCOUS GULL were also there on Feb 3. On Feb 2 an ICELAND GULL was
seen again in Norfolk, VA, east of the Little Creek Inlet. An immature
ICELAND GULL was seen Feb 7 on the beach near the fishing pier at Ocean View
in Norfolk, VA. An ICELAND GULL and two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen
at Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro, Prince George's Co, MD, on Feb 8.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen again on Feb 3 along Round Top Rd, Queen Anne's
Co, MD.
Two COMMON RAVENS flew over the lower fields of Hard Bargain and Piscataway
Park, Prince Georges Co, MD on Feb 7. A COMMON RAVEN was seen the same day
in the Twinbrook section of Rockville, Montgomery Co, MD. A COMMON RAVEN was
seen Feb 8 in Powhatan Co, VA.
AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS popped up at a few locations this past week. On Feb 2
two AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were found on Pemberton Dr, Salisbury, Wicomico
Co, MD. Three AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen Feb
3 on Cress Pond Rd, Washington Co, MD. And after the big storm on the 6th
they were even more widely reported. FOX SPARROWS were seen at feeders and
alongside roads during the past week. A dozen FOX SPARROWS were seen Feb 6
on and near a lawn at the end of Willow Lake Rd in the Jolliff Woods section
of Chesapeake, VA and on Feb 8 there were five in one spot along Willard Rd,
Montgomery Co, MD.
LAPLAND LONGSPURS continue to be seen at a number of locations, often among
HORNED LARKS. This past week LAPLAND LONGSPURS continued to be reported with
a large flock of HORNED LARKS on Coveys Landing Rd and Lewistown Rd, Talbot
Co, MD with 20 there on Feb 2 and smaller numbers on other days. Two LAPLAND
LONGSPURS were spotted on Feb 3 along Sparks Rd, Caroline Co, MD. A LAPLAND
LONGSPUR was spotted Feb 6 among a large flock of HORNED LARKS in Rockingham
Co, VA.
Three RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were found on Feb 2 at Mason Neck NWR SP, Fairfax Co,
VA. Two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were found Feb 3 along the Railroad Ditch in the
Great Dismal Swamp NWR, Suffolk, VA. On Feb 8 three RUSTY BLACKBIRDS visited
a feeder in Dameron, St. Mary's County, MD, and two visited a feeder in Bel
Air, Harford Co, MD. The RUSTY BLACKBIRD BLITZ continues through Feb 15.
PURPLE FINCHES appeared at a few feeders including three in Talbot Co, MD,
one in Botetourt Co, VA on Feb 5, and one in Jarrettsville, Harford Co., MD
on Feb 7.
A PINE SISKIN popped up at a yard in Pasadena, Anne Arundel Co, MD, on Feb
2. Another single PINE SISKIN visited a feeder in Augusta Co, VA on Feb 5
and 6. And one briefly visited a feeder on Feb 6 in Jarrettsville, Harford
Co., MD.
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 |