-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 8:24 AM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 6/29/10

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               6/29/2010
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE 
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
        (email):     
Compiler:           Lydia Schindler
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 29, at 8 AM.

Birds of interest during this week of unrelenting heat include AMERICAN
BITTERN, CATTLE EGRET, BLACK- and YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, MISSISSIPPI
KITE, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, BLACK and VIRGINIA RAILS, UPLAND SANDPIPER, RED
KNOT, CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW, WHIP-POOR-WILL, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, WARBLING
VIREO, warblers, SUMMER TANAGER, and DICKCISSEL.

On June 27, an AMERICAN BITTERN perched atop a tree at the marina at Dyke
Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA, affording everyone on the weekly Sunday morning walk
fine scope views.

A CATTLE EGRET was observed along Langford Rd, Kent Co, MD, on June 23.

A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON lurked in the vegetation at Schoolhouse Pond,
Upper Marlboro, Prince George's Co, MD, on June 22 and 24. On June 23, a
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen at Cameron Run, Alexandria, VA, in the
vicinity of Cameron Regional Park. 

YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS nesting in the Parkwood area of Bethesda,
Montgomery Co, MD, were attacked on June 26 by "a large bird,"
presumably a hawk; the predator made off with at least one of the young and
killed an adult.

On June 26 a MISSISSIPPI KITE soared over a yard near Lake Montclair, Prince
William Co, VA.

On June 27, a juvenile BROAD-WINGED HAWK was observed as it perched in a
snag along Skyline Drive in VA's Shenandoah NP. Earlier in the week, a
BROAD-WINGED HAWK flew across Rte 272 in Elk Neck, Cecil Co, MD.

Birders seeking BLACK RAIL in the marshes along Elliott Island Rd,
Dorchester Co, MD, heard a single bird call a single time on the night of
June 26; this occurred in the vicinity of the yellow house. 

While the Elliott Island marshes held numerous VIRGINIA RAILS, more
surprising was a family of 8 VIRGINIA RAILS strolling across a lawn at
Lilypons Water Gardens, Frederick Co, MD, on June 26.   

The Sandhill Cranes reported last week on Ben's Point Rd in Queen Anne's Co,
MD, were the object of repeated searches, all unsuccessful.

An UPLAND SANDPIPER seen last week in southern Frederick Co was still
present June 26 and 27; the bird has been foraging in a field on the south
side of Oland Rd just west of Rte 85 (Buckeystown Pike). (East of Rte 85
Oland Rd becomes Lilypons Rd.) 

Fourteen RED KNOTS were seen at the Point at Cape Henlopen SP, DE on June
27.

CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOWS were calling along Elliott Island Rd on the night of
June 26, about 2.8 miles south of Henry's Crossing Rd. 

WHIP-POOR-WILLS were found June 23 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Harford Co,
MD (an area not open to the public), and on June 24 at Fran Uhler Natural
Area, Prince George's Co. A June 27 report indicates that a reliable spot
for WHIP-POOR-WILLS in VA is along Skyline Drive, in the vicinity of mile
95, near the Sawmill Ridge and Sawmill Run overlooks.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was reported June 24 from St. George's Island in St.
Mary's Co, MD, at the end of Camp Merry Land Rd.

WARBLING VIREOS were noted June 23 in Kent Co, MD, near the intersection of
Brices Mill and Langford Rds; and from a kayak along the Little Gunpowder
River, in both Baltimore and Harford Cos.

The monthly walk at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship,
Loudoun Co, VA, turned up nine species of WARBLER on June 26, including
BLUE-WINGED and CERULEAN.

SUMMER TANAGER was found June 24 and again June 28 at Patuxent Ponds Park,
Anne Arundel Co, MD, and also at Fran Uhler NA. On June 24 two SUMMER
TANAGERS were singing at Fort Belvoir, Fairfax Co; they were near the
archery range, where the road descends toward Accotink Bay.

On June 22 and 23, a DICKCISSEL was perched on a wire and singing on Public
Landing Rd, just north of Public Landing Pier, in Worcester Co.
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