-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 5:27 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 3/9/10 (corrected)
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 3/09/10
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 11:30 AM.
Top birds this week are CALIFORNIA GULL* in MD and PAINTED BUNTING in MD and
VA and VARIED THRUSH* in VA.
Other birds of interest include GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, ducks, MERLIN,
OSPREY, SANDHILL CRANE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, BLACK-HEADED GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL,
a hummingbird, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, SNOW BUNTING, RUSTY BLACKBIRD and
PURPLE FINCH.
An adult CALIFORNIA GULL* paid a short visit at Violette's Lock, Montgomery
Co, MD on March 3.
A VARIED THRUSH* continues to be seen at a backyard feeder in Herndon,
Fairfax Co, VA with reports throughout the week. 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 is still being seen at a feeder in Bowie, Prince
Georges Co, MD with the latest report on March 8. 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 visits a feeder on Rouse Dr in Virginia Beach, VA;
latest report is March 7.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen in a number of locations this week
including Dublin Rd, Somerset Co, MD on March 2; Schoolhouse Pond, Prince
Georges Co, MD on March 2, 3 and 5 and Turner Rd, Calvert Co, MD on March 6
and 8.
A male EURASIAN WIGEON was spotted March 3 on a pond on Pit Circle Rd,
Pocomoke City, MD. A EURASIAN WIGEON was at Ridgeway Park in Hampton, VA on
March 7. Two drake EURASIAN WIGEONS were found in farm fields around
Leedstown, Westmoreland Co, VA on March 8.
An adult male KING EIDER was seen in Virginia Beach, VA from the beach under
the CBBT on March 7. An immature male COMMON EIDER was located at 21st
Street, Little Creek Inlet, Norfolk, VA on March 6; at 22nd Bay and at 28th
Street on March 7. A COMMON EIDER was at Kiptopeke SP, Northampton Co, VA on
March 7. A female HARLEQUIN DUCK was on Island
#1 of the CBBT, Northampton Co, VA on March 6. A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was
present in the sheltered water of the Somers Cove Marina, Crisfield,
Somerset Co, MD, seen on March 3.
As many as 750 COMMON MERGANSERS were observed at Burke Lake, Fairfax Co, VA
on March 3 with lesser numbers on March 4 and 5.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen along Hall School Road near the Lipscomb
intersection, Stuarts Draft, Augusta Co, VA on March 3 and 7. A first-year
GOLDEN EAGLE was feeding on carrion on the west side of Campbelltown Road
about .1 mile south of Shockley Rd., Worcester Co, MD on March 6. Two GOLDEN
EAGLES flew over Chesapeake Farms, Kent Co, MD on March 6 and 7. Two GOLDEN
EAGLES were spotted in the Front Royal area, Warren Co, VA on March 6.
A MERLIN was spotted in a tree in a yard in Bentonville, Warren Co, VA on
March 2.
There were several reports of returning OSPREY during the week.
A SANDHILL CRANE, found in a pasture at the NIH Animal Center, Elmer School
Rd, Montgomery Co, MD continues to be seen with reports during the week. The
crane has been spotted at other locations including Club Hollow Road and
River Road.
The peenting of AMERICAN WOODCOCK were heard in the region this past week.
The BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen again at Little Creek Inlet, Norfolk, VA with
reports during the week. There were two BLACK-HEADED GULLS around 22nd/23rd
Street on the waterfront on March 6 and 7. The two BLACK-HEADED GULLS were
joined by a first year GLAUCOUS GULL on the beach west of the inlet on March
6. Another GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at the Prince William Sanitary Landfill,
Prince William CO, VA, also on March 6.
A Selasphorus Hummingbird of unidentified species has been visiting a feeder
in Richmond, VA with sightings on March 2 and 3.
On March 6, an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was noted at Elk Neck SP, Cecil Co, MD
and another was at Blue Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery Co, MD.
A SNOW BUNTING was seen throughout the week near the lighthouse at Pt.
Lookout SP, St. Mary's Co, MD. Another SNOW BUNTING was along Colbourn Creek
Rd, Somerset Co, MD with reports during the week.
A large flock of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, estimated at 300 birds, were seen at Bull
Run Regional Park, Fairfax Co, VA on March 6. Two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were at
the Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary, Prince Georges Co, MD on March 7
Three PURPLE FINCHES were spotted at a feeder in Talbot Co, MD on March 7.
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 |