-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 4/20/10

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               4/20/10
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, April 20, at 7 AM.

Top birds this week are RUFF and WHITE-FACED IBIS* in MD.

Other birds of interest include SURF SCOTER, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN,
ANHINGA, AMERICAN BITTERN, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK,
NORTHERN GOSHAWK, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, MERLIN, VIRGINIA RAIL, SORA, UPLAND
SANDPIPER, MARBLED GODWIT, BLACK-HEADED GULL, CHIMNEY SWIFT, VESPER SPARROW,
LINCOLN'S SPARROW, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, BALTIMORE ORIOLE and a fine mix of
returning migrants.

A RUFF was seen in a field pond near the intersection of Rt 113 and Timmons
Rd, Worcester Co, MD on Apr 17 and 18.

A WHITE-FACED IBIS* was found in a flock of GLOSSY IBIS on Apr 17 on Rt 113
just north of Snow Hill, Worcester Co, MD.

There were eight SURF SCOTERS on the Potomac River at Riley's Lock, C&O
Canal, Montgomery Co, MD on Apr 16.

An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was seen on the Potomac River on Apr 17 and
18 from Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA.

An ANHINGA was spotted in Harwood's Mill Reservoir near Newport News, VA on
Apr 18.

Birders searching in vain for the Yellow Rail heard four AMERICAN BITTERNS
and eight SORAS at Swan Harbor Farms, Harford Co, MD on Apr 16. An AMERICAN
BITTERN was seen in Airlie, Fauquier Co, VA on Apr 15.
A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was feeding in a small stream near Kensington
Pkwy, Montgomery Co, MD on Apr 14.

Spring has some excellent raptor migration. Of note this week were flights
of SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, BROAD-WINGED HAWK and MERLIN. The Hawk Watch at Fort
Smallwood Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD recorded 105 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS on Apr
19. Watchers reported 248 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS at Cromwell Valley Park,
Baltimore Co, MD on Apr 16. Delaware birders saw 302 BROAD-WINGEDS on Apr 18
in Middle Run Natural Area, New Castle Co. The Hawk Watch at Cape Henlopen
SP, Sussex Co, DE recorded 31 MERLINS between Apr 15 and 17 and another 16
on Apr 19. A single NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen on Apr 19 flying over
Cumberland, Allegany Co, MD.

Two VIRGINIA RAILS were heard on the boardwalk loop at Huntley Meadows Park,
Fairfax Co, VA on Apr 19.
 
An UPLAND SANDPIPER was spotted in a plowed field on Whitehall Neck Rd, near
the entrance to Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co, DE on Apr 16. At least 15 MARBLED
GODWITS were seen on Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA on Apr 17.

A BLACK-HEADED GULL was found in Jug Bay, Prince Georges Co, MD on Apr 17.
  
There were several reports of CHIMNEY SWIFTS returning to our area.  

Although there were no reports of the uncommon species of warbler, there
were many reports of returning migrants including NORTHERN PARULA,
BLACK-THROATED GREEN, YELLOW-THROATED, PALM, BLACK-AND-WHITE, WORM-EATING,
OVENBIRD, and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH.

VESPER SPARROWS continue to be seen at several sites. Up to three birds were
found on Apr 18 on West Offutt Rd about halfway between the intersections
with Mt Nebo and Edwards Ferry Rds, Montgomery Co, MD.
One VESPER SPARROW on Apr 16 and two on Apr 18 were seen at Southwest Area
Park, Baltimore Co, MD near the model airplane field. Another VESPER SPARROW
was spotted in the Kibler Rd area of Caroline Co, MD on Apr 17.

A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was found in a hedgerow in Milltown Landing WMA, Prince
Georges Co, MD on Apr 14.

Large numbers of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS continued at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax
Co, VA.

A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was one of the highlights of a trip to Dyke Marsh on Apr
18.

First of season reports are flooding in. Birders have thrilled to the return
of RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, HOUSE WREN, WOOD THRUSH, and SCARLET TANAGER
among others.

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