-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2010 10:06 AM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 6/15/10

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               6/15/2010
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, June 15, at 8 AM. 

Top bird this week is GRAY KINGBIRD* in MD.
 
Other birds of interest include RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE,
NORTHERN GANNET, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, BLACK RAIL, RED KNOT, BLACK-BILLED
CUCKOO, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, VESPER,
GRASSHOPPER, HENSLOW'S, SALTMARSH, and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, DICKCISSEL,
and BOBOLINK.
 
A GRAY KINGBIRD* was seen on June 9 and 10 at the upper marsh trail at Ft
McHenry, Baltimore. A Florida breeder, the bird was not refound later in the
week.

A RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was spotted in Susquehanna SP, Harford Co, MD on
June 14. A very late HORNED GREBE in breeding plumage was found in Dividing
Creek, Northumberland Co, VA on June 12.

About 125 NORTHERN GANNETS, an unusually large number for June, were spotted
from Cape Henlopen SP, Sussex Co, DE on June 9.

An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN flew by Lynnhaven Inlet, Virginia Beach, VA on
June 12.

BLACK RAIL was heard on the Elliott Island Rd, Dorchester Co, MD on June 9
and again later in the week.

Although the north-bound shorebird migration has wound down, there were
still a few RED KNOTS reported from DE beaches.

A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO continued along the boardwalk trail at Prime Hook NWR,
Sussex Co, DE.

There were at least two out-of-place warblers this week. A BLACK-THROATED
BLUE WARBLER sang in Little Difficult Run Stream Valley Park, Fairfax Co, VA
on June 11. A BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER was found in the Annapolis area, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on June 14.

June is a good time to check the declining number of grasslands for field
birds. Particularly good this week were the Carroll Co, MD fields with
VESPER SPARROW on Baptist Rd south of Harney; GRASSHOPPER SPARROW on
Baumgardner Rd near Bull Frog Rd; DICKCISSEL at 5 different sites including
Bull Frog Rd, Baumgardner Rd, Sixes Bridge Rd, Keysville-Bruceville Rd and
Sharrett Rd; and BOBOLINK on Keysville-Bruceville Rd south of Keysville.

In Virginia the area around Nokesville, Prince William Co, produced some
good grassland species including NORTHERN BOBWHITE along Hazelwood Rd and
DICKCISSELS near the intersection of Aden and Brookfield Rds.

A HENSLOW'S SPARROW was found along Stony Hill Rd about 1.1 miles north of
Hwy 50, west of Winchester, Frederick Co, VA on June 12.
There were up to three SALTMARSH SPARROWS along Lighthouse Rd, Slaughter
Beach, Sussex Co, DE this week.

There were several reports of lingering WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS early in the
week; birds were seen in Anne Arundel, Talbot, and Prince Georges Counties,
MD and in New Castle Co, DE.

Other spots for DICKCISSELS included Grassdale Rd, Fauquier Co, VA on June
10; Chino Farms, Queen Annes Co, MD; and 3 birds behind White Marsh Cemetery
near Trappe, Talbot Co, MD.

BOBOLINKS continue in the fields along Ebenezer Church Rd a few miles from
Bluemont in western Loudoun Co, VA.

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