-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 1:36 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 3/9/10

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               3/9/10
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE 
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1 
Reports(voice):     301-652-1088 option 2 
       (email):      
    (deadline):     midnight Mondays 
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, March 9 at 3:15 P.M.

Top birds this week are BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK* in DE, EURASIAN
COLLARED-DOVE* in MD and PAINTED BUNTING in VA.

Other birds of interest include grebes, AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, geese,
TRUMPETER SWAN*, REDHEAD, KING EIDER, GOLDEN EAGLE, falcons, SANDHILL CRANE,
WILSON'S SNIPE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, gulls, owls, AMERICAN PIPITS, warblers,
sparrows, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, PURPLE FINCH, blackbirds, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL
and PINE SISKIN.

The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK* continues to be seen from Lake Drive at
Silver Lake in Rehoboth, DE.

An EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE* was spotted near Pocomoke, on Dividing Creek
Road, three-quarters of a mile off Rte 13, Somerset Co, MD on March 5. The
bird was relocated on March 8 on nearby Pocomoke River Road. Another
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE* was at South Point, Worcester Co, MD on March 7 and
8.

A PAINTED BUNTING was at the feeder and surrounding thickets on Rouse Dr. in
Virginia Beach, VA on March 5 through 8.

Many RED-NECKED GREBES were noted during the week from throughout the
region. An EARED GREBE continues at 32nd/33rd Street, Ocean City, Worcester
Co, MD with a sighting on March 7. 

About 27 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were at Blackwater NWR, MD, on March 8.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen at Back Bay NWR, Virginia Beach, VA on March 5.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was found in a field close to Piney Reservoir,
Garrett Co, MD, on Mar 5. 

A ROSS'S GOOSE was found at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on March 8. A
CACKLING GOOSE was reported from Paint Branch Trail in College Park, Prince
George's Co, MD on March 7. Another Cackling Goose was noted at Kershner's
Pond, Frederick Co, MD on March 8. A CACKLING GOOSE was at Southwest Area
Park, Baltimore Co, MD on March 9.

A BRANT was seen on the lawn of The Inn at Perry Cabin in St.
Michaels, Talbot Co, MD on March 8.

Four TRUMPETER SWANS* were seen near Violette's Lock on the C&O Canal,
Montgomery Co, MD, from March 3 through Mar 8. Two TRUMPTER SWANS continue
to be seen from the Lakeside Business Park in Edgewood, Harford Co, MD with
a sighting from March 4.

Two hundred eight REDHEADS were seen at Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD
on March 5. 

A KING EIDER was found at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD, on Mar 7.

Nineteen GOLDEN EAGLES were spotted from Dan's Rock, Allegany Co, MD on
March 5.

A MERLIN was seen at Tuckahoe State Park, Caroline Co, MD on March 7.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was spotted at Turkey Run, GW Memorial Parkway on March
6.

A SANDHILL CRANE was found in a field close to Piney Reservoir, Garrett Co,
MD, on Mar 4 and 5. Ten SANDHILL CRANES were spotted passing over the
Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge Visitor Center's entrance road, Prince
George's Co, MD on March 10.

Seven WILSON'S SNIPE were reported from Pemberton Park, Wicomico Co, MD on
March 4. Two WILSON'S SNIPE were at Oxbow Lake Nature Preserve, Anne Arundel
Co, MD on March 7 and 8. Another WILSON'S SNIPE was reported from Assateague
Island, Worcester Co, MD; more were at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA on
March 8. A WILSON'S SNIPE was noted at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA
on March 9. AMERICAN WOODCOCK reports came from many sites within the
region.

Six LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, an ICELAND GULL and a THAYER'S GULL were
found at the Salisbury Landfill, Wicomico Co, MD, on March 7. The THAYER'S
GULL was seen again on March 8. An ICELAND GULL was a flyover at Centennial
Park, Howard Co, MD on March 8.

Three SHORT-EARED OWLS were patrolling the fields at Pemberton Manor, Queen
Anne's Co, MD on March 6. Another SHORT-EARED OWL was seen there on March 8.
A SNOWY OWL was present on the Havre de Grace waterfront, Harford Co, MD on
March 8. Another SNOWY OWL was perched on a building at the southeast corner
of L and 17th Street NW, DC on March 10.

Twenty-five or more AMERICAN PIPITS were seen at Bombay Hook NWR in DE on
March 8. 

An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen near Swann Park, Baltimore Co, MD on
March 6. A PINE WARBLER showed in Compton Mt, Buchanan Co, VA on March 6.
Three PINE WARBLERS were seen on Lloyd Bowen Road, Calvert Co, MD on the
same day.

An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA on
March 7. Several IPSWICH SAVANNAH SPARROWS were noted on Shantytown Road,
Worcester Co, MD on March 7. A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was seen on Leverage
Road, Queen Anne's Co, MD on March 4. Migrating FOX SPARROWS were reported
from many sites. Fifteen WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were seen near Lincoln,
western Loudoun Co, VA on March 7.
Another appeared at a feeder near Fort Smallwood, Anne Arundel Co, MD and
more were seen at Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary, Prince George's Co, MD, a yard
in Eldersburg, Carroll Co, MD and Loch Raven Reservoir, Baltimore Co, MD on
March 8. A small flock of LAPLAND LONGSPURS was seen on Oland Road,
Frederick Co, MD on March 3.

Ten RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were sighted at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on
March 7. Another 12 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were at Jug Bay Natural Area, Prince
George's Co, MD and three were at Occoquan Bay NWR on the same day. Five
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were at Riley's Lock, Montgomery Co, on March 8. A RUSTY
BLACKBIRD was seen at Algonkian Park, Loudoun Co, VA and nine others were at
MP100 on the C&O Canal on March 9. Five BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS were seen at
Truitt's Landing, Worcester Co, MD on March 7 and 8.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL reports continue with regular sightings at Centennial
Park, Howard Co, MD. The influx of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS continues with
reports from many sites throughout the region.

Daily PINE SISKIN sightings are dispersed across our region including
Baltimore city in MD, Croom in Prince George's Co, MD, Herndon in Fairfax
Co, VA and Bethesda, Montgomery Co, MD. At least thirty PINE SISKINS came to
a yard near Prettyboy Reservoir, Baltimore Co, MD while fifteen came to a
yard in Eldersburg, Carroll Co. MD on March 8.
Over 100 PINE SISKINS have been visiting a feeder in western Baltimore Co,
MD with the most recent sighting on March 8.

Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey, VA-Bird,
and Delaware 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.