-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 4:33 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 5/5/10

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               5/4/2010
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, May 4, at 4:20 PM.

Top birds this week are WHITE-FACED IBIS in MD and VA; MISSISSIPPI KITE in
MD, HUDSONIAN GODWIT in VA; RUFF in MD, and BLACK RAIL in MD.

Other birds of interest include RUFFED GROUSE, NORTHERN GANNETT, AMERICAN
WHITE PELICAN, AMERICAN BITTERN, night-herons, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK,
BROAD-WINGED HAWK, rails, SANDHILL CRANE, BLACK-NECKED STILT, shorebirds,
COMMON NIGHTHAWK, CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOW, WHIP-POOR-WILL, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER,
vireos, swallows, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, warblers, tanagers, sparrows,
DICKCISSEL, BOBOLINK and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.

A WHITE-FACED IBIS was picked out of a group of 121 GLOSSY IBIS on Timmons
Road, Snow Hill, Worcester Co, MD on April 28. A WHITE-FACED IBIS was
located along the Wildlife Loop at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA on May
1.

A MISSISSIPPI KITE flew over Governor's Bridge Natural Area, Prince George's
Co, MD on May 2. Another MISSISSIPPI KITE was noted near General's Highway
Corridor Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 3.

A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was found at Hog Island, Northampton Co, VA on May 2. The
RUFF continues at the Timmons Road pond, Worcester Co, MD with a report from
May 3.

A BLACK RAIL was vocalizing in a marsh in southern Dorchester Co, MD on
April 29. BLACK RAILS were calling on Elliott Island Road, Dorchester Co, MD
on May 2.

A RUFFED GROUSE was heard drumming at Thompson WMA, Fauquier Co, VA on May
2. 

Two NORTHERN GANNETS overflew the University Research Farm, Salisbury,
Wicomico Co, MD on April 29.

An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN showed at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on
April 28. An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was observed from the Belle Haven Park.
A photo shows the bird in flight over the river near the Wilson Bridge which
puts it into Prince George's Co, MD waters.

AMERICAN BITTERNS were reported from several places, most notably at Swan
Harbor Farm Park, Harford Co, MD. 

A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON showed at the Germantown Soccerplex, Montgomery
Co, MD on April 27. YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS are nesting again off Sligo
Creek Parkway, Montgomery Co, MD with a sighting on April 27. A
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen at Lake Accotink, Fairfax Co, VA, on
April 29. A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was sighted at Lake Elkhorn, Howard
Co, MD on May 2.

The Fort Smallwood Park Hawk Watch, Anne Arundel Co, MD, reported 638
SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS on April 27 and 567 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS on April 28. A
SANDHILL CRANE plus 287 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were tallied at the Cromwell
Valley Park Hawk Watch, Baltimore Co, MD on April 27. 

A VIRGINIA RAIL was heard in Albemarle Co, VA on April 28. A VIRGINIA RAIL
was spotted at Swan Harbor Farm Park, Harford Co, MD on April 28.
A VIRGINIA RAIL was found at the Seneca Creek State Park wetlands between
Riffle Ford Rd and Great Seneca Highway, Montgomery Co, MD on April 29. On
April 30, the rail number had increased to two. A VIRGINIA RAIL was at
Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on May 1. Four VIRGINIA RAILS were at
Truitt's Landing, Worcester Co, MD on May 4.

A pair of SANDHILL CRANES have been hanging around a neighborhood in Luray,
Page Co, VA with a sighting on May 2.

Two BLACK-NECKED STILTS were seen from Game Reserve Road, Deal Island WMA,
Somerset Co, MD on May 2.
 
An UPLAND SANDPIPER was re-found at Kenilworth Park, DC on April 27.
Several sandpiper species, including PECTORAL and SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS
were reported from a flooded field on Rte 66, south of Cavetown, Washington
Co, MD on April 27. The WILSON'S PHALAROPE reported last week on the west
side of Rte 113 north of Snow Hill, Worcester Co, MD continued to be seen
with a report on April 27. A WHIMBREL and a WILSON'S PHALAROPE were among
the many shorebirds at Craney Island, Portsmouth, VA on April 30. A WILSON'S
PHALAROPE was seen on Rumbly Point Road, Somerset Co, MD on May 2. A
WILSON'S PHALAROPE was found at Blackwater NWR on May 3.

Goatsucker arrivals have included COMMON NIGHTHAWKS in various locations;
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOWS at several sites and a WHIP-POOR-WILL on Windy Hill
Road, Talbot Co, MD on May 2.
 
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER put in an appearance at Rock Creek Park, DC on May
1. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was noted in Little Bennett Regional Park,
Montgomery Co, MD and another was at Jug Bay Natural Area, Prince George's
Co, MD, both on May 2. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was in the Oak Grove area,
Caroline Co, MD on May 3. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER flew over a yard in
Woodbine, Carroll Co, MD on May 4.

Vireo reports are widespread and included a PHILADELPHIA VIREO at Cox's
Chapel, VA on April 30; another PHILADELPHIA VIREO from Rte. 617 in Amherst
Co, VA on May 2.

Swallow sightings include numerous reports of PURPLE MARTINS, TREE, NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED, BANK and BARN SWALLOWS. 

A SWAINSON'S THRUSH was seen at Milford Mill Park, Baltimore Co, MD on April
29. Another SWAINSON'S THRUSH was at the Loch Raven Watershed, Baltimore Co,
MD on April 30.

Warblers are showing beautiful breeding colors. Arrivals continue to appear
in our region and include most of the common species.

SUMMER AND SCARLET TANAGERS have been brightening the woods throughout the
region.

Sparrow reports have included VESPER SPARROWS at Patuxent River Park Aquasco
Farm Area, Prince George's Co, MD, on April 27. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW came
to a yard in Fredericksburg, VA on April 28. A SEASIDE SPARROW was noted on
Maple Dam Road, Blackwater NWR on April 29. 

A DICKCISSEL was singing off Tanyard Road, Prince George's Co, MD on May 3.
  
BOBOLINKS are migrating through the area with reports from various sites. 

A single RUSTY BLACKBIRD was sighted at the Fran Uhler Natural Area, Prince
George's Co, MD on May 1. 

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