-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 9:45 AM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 4/27/10
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 4/27/10
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email):
Compiler: Lou DeMouy
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 27, at
8:40 AM.
Top birds this week are SWALLOW-TAILED KITE in DE, RUFF in MD and DE,
and BLACK RAIL in MD.
Other birds of interest include RING-NECKED PHEASANT, RUFFED GROUSE,
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, BROWN PELICAN, AMERICAN BITTERN, LEAST
BITTERN, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, BROAD-WINGED
HAWK, MERLIN, rails, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE,
CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOW, WHIP-POOR-WILL, CHIMNEY SWIFT, vireos, swallows,
warblers, VESPER SPARROW, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK,
BLUE GROSBEAK, INDIGO BUNTING, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and ORCHARD ORIOLE.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was reported near Christiana Mall at the
Intersection of I95 and Rte 1, New Castle Co, DE on Apr 23.
A RUFF was seen on Apr 24 and 25 in a field just north of the
McDonald's on the west side of Rte 113 in Snow Hill, Worcester Co, MD.
Another RUFF was spotted on Apr 24 the east side of Raymond Pool,
Bombay Hook NWR, DE.
A flyover BLACK RAIL was heard at Irish Grove, MOS Sanctuary near
Rumbly Point, Somerset Co, MD on Apr 24.
A male RING-NECKED PHEASANT showed at Little Pipe Creek Park in Union
Bridge, Carroll Co, MD on Apr 24.
A RUFFED GROUSE was found at Green Ridge State Forest, Allegany Co, MD
on Apr 25.
Six AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were at Hog Island, Surry Co, VA on Apr
20. An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN showed at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co,
MD on Apr 23 and 24. Five BROWN PELICANS were near Elliot's Island
Boat Landing, Dorchester Co, MD on Apr 25.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was found at McKee-Beshers WMA/Hughes Hollow,
Montgomery Co, MD on Apr 24 and 25. Two AMERICAN BITTERNS were spotted
at Huntley Meadows Pk, Fairfax Co, VA on Apr 25. A LEAST BITTERN was
found in marsh vegetation near the bottom of East Rd, Occoquan Bay
NWR, Prince William Co, VA on Apr 25.
A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON showed at Kent Gardens Park in McLean,
Fairfax Co, VA on Apr 25.
Spring raptor migration is active. On Apr 23, the Fort Smallwood Park
Hawk Watch, Anne Arundel Co, MD recorded 174 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS. A
reported 71 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS flew over Charlottesville, Albemarle
Co, VA on Apr 26. The Hawk Watch at Cape Henlopen SP, Sussex Co, DE
reported 78 MERLINS on Apr 26.
A CLAPPER RAIL was at Ft. McHenry, Baltimore, MD on Apr 23. A KING
RAIL was heard at Thousand Acre Marsh at the base of Reedy Point
Bridge, New Castle Co, DE on Apr 25. Several VIRGINIA RAILS and three
SORAS were identified along the boardwalk loop at Huntley Meadows Pk,
Fairfax Co, VA on Apr 23.
A WILSON'S PHALAROPE was found on the west side of Rte 113 north of
Snow Hill, Worcester Co, MD on Apr 26.
A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was spotted in Selbyville, Sussex Co, DE on
Apr 25.
Goatsucker arrivals have included COMMON NIGHTHAWKS in various
locations; a CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW heard at Union Springs Dam, Rockingham
Co, VA on Apr 23; a WHIP-POOR-WILL at the entrance to Elk Neck State
Forest off Irishtown Rd, Cecil Co, MD on Apr 21; and a WHIP-POOR-WILL
on Joplin Rd, west of Prince William Forest Park, Prince William Co,
VA on Apr 24.
A roost with an estimated 500 CHIMNEY SWIFTS atop the Community
Academy Public Charter School in northeast Washington, DC was reported
on Apr 26.
Vireo reports are widespread and included a WHITE-EYED VIREO at Paint
Branch Stream Valley Pk, Prince George's Co, MD on Apr 22; a
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO at Bear Creek Lake SP in Cumberland Co, VA on
Apr 20; a BLUE-HEADED VIREO in Rockville, Montgomery Co, MD on Apr 21;
a WARBLING VIREO on Paint Branch Trail, College Park, Prince George's
Co, MD on Apr 20; a PHILADELPHIA VIREO at Flint Woods Preserve, New
Castle Co, DE on Apr 20 and numerous RED-EYED VIREO reports.
Swallow sightings include numerous arrivals of PURPLE MARTINS, TREE
SWALLOWS, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, and BARN SWALLOWS. Other
swallow reports have included two BANK SWALLOWS flying upriver past
Hains Point in Washington, DC on Apr 25; and CLIFF SWALLOWS seen on
Apr 23 at nests below the James Rumsey Bridge along the C&O Canal
between mileposts 71 and 73, Washington, Co, MD.
Warblers are showing beautiful breeding colors. Arrivals have
blanketed our region and include most of the common species.
Sparrow reports have included a VESPER SPARROW at Southwest Area Park,
Baltimore Co, MD on Apr 23 and several VESPER SPARROWS at Antietam
National Battlefield, Washington Co, MD on Apr 25. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW
was found along the Service Road at Hains Point, Washington, DC on Apr
25.
A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was reported in Bethesda, Montgomery Co, MD
on Apr 26. A BLUE GROSBEAK and an INDIGO BUNTING were seen in a field
at Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary, Prince George's Co, MD on Apr 26.
Thirty RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were at Paint Branch Valley Stream Park,
Prince George's Co, MD on Apr 22 and another 37 were reported close to
Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on Apr 24.
An ORCHARD ORIOLE was singing in the Metz Wetlands, Woodbridge, Prince
William Co, VA on Apr 22. Two ORCHARD ORIOLES were on Hunting Quarter
Rd, McKee-Beshers WMA, Montgomery Co, MD on Apr 24.
Numerous other colorful arrivals are in our region.
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 |