-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2010 5:28 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 4/6/10
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 4/6/10
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 Naturalist
Society. This report was completed Tuesday, April 6, at 4:30 PM.
Top birds this week are EURASIAN WIGEON in DE, TUFTED DUCK* in MD, VARIED
THRUSH in VA, and PAINTED BUNTING in MD.
Other birds of interest include ducks, RED-THROATED LOON, egrets, hawks,
PEREGRINE FALCON, BLACK-NECKED STILT, sandpipers, gulls, CASPIAN TERN,
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, WHIP-POOR-WILL, RUBY-THROATED
HUMMINGBIRD, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, harbingers of spring, VESPER SPARROW and
RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
The previously reported male EURASIAN WIGEON was found April 2 opposite
Shearness Pool, Bombay Hook NWR, DE.
The male TUFTED DUCK* found March 16 in Queen Anne's Co, MD, was still
present March 31 but there were no reports after that date.
The male VARIED THRUSH, which has frequented the same Herndon VA backyard
since February 3, was last seen on April 2 and may have left the area. Call
the homeowner, Steve Bershader, at 703-264-8860 in the evening for an
update.
A PAINTED BUNTING continues to frequent a feeder on Wakefield Lane in Bowie,
Prince George's Co, MD, with the most recent report from April 4.
Two LONG-TAILED DUCKS were discovered on Cash Lake, Patuxent Research NWR
(south tract), Prince George's Co, MD with reports during the week. Three
LONG-TAILED DUCKS were at Rocky Gap SP, Allegany Co, MD on March 31.
Two COMMON MERGANSERS were spotted at the Riverside Drive quarry pond,
Richmond, VA on March 30. A COMMON MERGANSER hen with ten chicks was at
Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD on April 1.
Two RED-THROATED LOONS were spotted April 4 in Belmont Bay from Mason Neck
SP, Fairfax Co, VA.
GREAT and SNOWY EGRETS and a TRI-COLORED HERON were seen at Deal Island WMA
from Riley Roberts Road, Somerset Co, MD on April 5. A juvenile LITTLE BLUE
HERON was noted at Selby's Landing, Prince George's Co, MD on April 4.
Returning YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were found at Montgomery Co, MD sites
Sligo Creek Park on March 30 and Parkwood, Montgomery Co, MD on April 1.
More YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS returned to nesting sites along Dead Run,
Baltimore Co, MD seen on April 4.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was seen at Cape Henlopen SP, Sussex Co, DE on April
4. Two SWALLOW-TAILED KITES were noted flying above a yard in Chincoteague,
VA on April 5. A MISSISSIPPI KITE was spotted from a front porch in
Leesburg, VA on April 3. The next day, April 4, a SANDHLL CRANE flew over
the same house. BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were reported from several sites
including: western Howard Co, MD on April 2; the Hiker-Biker Trail to Lake
Needwood from Avery Road, Montgomery Co, MD on April 3 and Riley's Lock,
Montgomery Co, MD on April 5. The Hawkwatch at Fort Smallwood Park, Anne
Arundel Co, MD sighted a PEREGRINE FALCON on April 1.
Two BLACK-NECKED STILTS were noted from Game Reserve Road, Deal Island WMA,
Somerset Co, MD on April 5.
Nine PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and fifteen WILSON'S SNIPE plus one SOLITARY
SANDPIPER were noted at Oxbow Lake, Laurel, Anne Arundel Co, MD, on March
31. Two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were at the Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary, Prince
George's Co, MD on March 31. A trip to Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD
on April 5 reported five AMERICAN AVOCET plus five shorebird species
including LEAST and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN and WILSON'S SNIPE plus
forty five CASPIAN TERNS.
On March 30 and 31, a LITTLE GULL was spotted off Diamond Point, Back River,
Baltimore, MD in the company of about three hundred BONAPARTE'S GULLS.
A CASPIAN TERN was at Patterson Park, Baltimore, MD on April 1. At least one
CASPIAN TERN was flying around the North East River, Cecil Co, MD on April
4. Another CASPIAN TERN was patrolling Belmont Bay seen from Occoquan Bay
NWR, Prince William Co, VA also on April 4.
Two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES returned to last year's spot at the intersection
of Somerset Road and Clearfield Drive in Somerset Co, MD, seen on April 3.
A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was heard from a home in Cheverly, Prince George's
Co, MD on April 6.
A WHIP-POOR-WILL was seen and heard in Pocomoke SP at the intersection of
Shockley and Laws Road, Worcester Co, MD on April 4. Another WHIP-POOR-WILL
was heard at Patuxent Research Refuge, North Tract, Anne Arundel Co, MD on
April 5.
A RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD came to a feeder near Eden Hill in Harford Co,
MD on April 4.
A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was noted on Gambrill Park Road in the Frederick
Municipal Forest, Frederick Co, MD on April 3.
Other harbingers of Spring enlivening our area included EASTERN PHOEBE,
ROUGH-WINGED and BARN SWALLOWS, PURPLE MARTIN, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, BROWN
THRASHER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, PINE WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, PRAIRIE
WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT, EASTERN TOWHEE, CHIPPING SPARROW, and FIELD SPARROW.
A single VESPER SPARROW was found at Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, on April
3. VESPER SPARROWS were seen at several sites on April 4,
including: the Dulles Wetlands, Loudoun Co, VA; Aquasco Farm in southeast
Prince George's Co, MD and Oak Grove Road, Caroline Co, MD.
One hundred eighty one RUSTY BLACKBIRDS flew over the Interior Ditch boat
ramp at the Great Dismal Swamp NWR, Suffolk, VA on March 31. Four RUSTY
BLACKBIRDS were seen at Blandy Experimental Farm, Clarke Co, VA on April 2.
Four to forty RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were at Oxbow Lake Nature Preserve every day
for the week of March 28 - April 3. A singing RUSTY BLACKBIRD was noted at
Rock Creek Park, DC on April 3 and more were at The Point, Prince William
Co, VA on the same day.
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 |