-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 9:29 AM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 2/16/10

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               2/16/10
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE 
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1 
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2 
        (email):     
Compiler:           John Bjerke
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 16, at 8:00 AM.

Continuing historic snowfalls once again led many birders to pay attention
to their yards with impressive results.

Top birds this week are PAINTED BUNTING in MD and VA and VARIED
THRUSH* in VA.

Other birds of interest include ROSS'S GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, ducks,
NORTHERN GANNET, GREAT CORMORANT, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE,
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, gulls, SHORT-EARED OWL, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, IPSWICH
SPARROW, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, RUSTY BLACKBIRD and COMMON REDPOLL.

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 15. 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 male PAINTED BUNTING appeared at a feeder in Bowie, Prince Georges Co, MD
on Feb 10 and has been seen through Feb 15. The hosts request that birders
contact them by e-mail for directions and a viewing time (to ease parking
problems). Please see the MDOSPREY list server for more information. A
female PAINTED BUNTING was seen at a feeder in Cape Charles, Northampton Co,
VA through Feb 14.

Two ROSS'S GEESE were with a flock of SNOW GEESE near Little Creek, Kent Co,
DE on Feb 15. A CACKLING GOOSE, mixed in with a flock of CANADA GEESE, was
at Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel Co, MD on Feb 9. A CACKLING GOOSE was seen
at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on Feb 14.

A female EURASIAN WIGEON was found at the Bayside Development Pond,
Worcester Co, MD on Feb 15. A flock of at least 500 REDHEADS was spotted on
the Honga River at Hooper's Island, Dorchester Co, MD on Feb 14.

A large flock of COMMON EIDERS and two HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen along the
north jetty at the Ocean City inlet, Worcester Co, MD on Feb 14 and 15. Two
immature male COMMON EIDERS were at Indian River Inlet, Sussex Co, DE on Feb
15.

A birder noted some 14,000 waterfowl of 17 species in the Potomac River off
Mt Vernon on Feb 15.

Two NORTHERN GANNETS flew north along Ocean City, MD on Feb 13.

GREAT CORMORANTS continue at Indian River Inlet, DE this past week.

A probable NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew near McDaniel College on Rt 31 in Carroll
Co, MD on Feb 15. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was seen near the Visitor Center at
Blackwater NWR on Feb 14.

A SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, unusual in winter in our area, was found in Ocean
City, MD on Feb 14. 

An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL and a second winter ICELAND GULL were seen near
the Little Creek Inlet in Norfolk, VA on Feb 11, 13, and 15. A first winter
ICELAND GULL was found along the Cambridge, Dorchester Co, MD waterfront on
Feb 13.

A GLAUCOUS GULL was spotted at a pond near Nuckolls and Wyndham Forest Dr,
Henrico Co, VA on Feb 11. An adult GLAUCOUS GULL was just south of the
Little Creek Inlet in Norfolk, VA on Feb 15. 

Two SHORT-EARED OWLS flew over the marshes along Elliott Island Rd,
Dorchester Co, MD on Feb 13. Another SHORT-EARED OWL flew over the road just
past the causeway at Assateague Island SP, Worcester Co, MD on Feb 13.

AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were widely reported in yards and at feeders across
the region. Among publicly accessible spots were parking lots and road edges
in Sandy Point SP, MD, Assateague Island SP, MD, Schoolhouse Pond, Upper
Marlboro, Prince Georges Co, MD, and near Raymond Pool, Bombay Hook NWR,
Kent CO, DE.

The IPSWICH form of SAVANNAH SPARROW was found at the Shantytown section of
Ocean City, MD on Feb 14. Three IPSWICH SPARROWS were seen on the causeway
to Assateague Island, MD on Feb 15.

Also showing at feeders and roadsides thanks to the heavy snows were LAPLAND
LONGSPURS, often in the company of large flocks of HORNED LARKS. Good spots
included the South Point area of Ocean City, MD, Rt
309 north of Blades Rd in Talbot Co, MD, Ebert Rd near Middleburg Rd,
Carroll Co, MD, and the entrance road to Bombay Hook NWR.

A SNOW BUNTING was on the entrance road to Bombay Hook NWR on Feb 13.
SNOW BUNTINGS were also seen at feeders.

RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were found widely scattered across the region, particularly
at feeders.

A COMMON REDPOLL visited a feeder in Frederick, MD on Feb 10. 

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