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FW: DC Area, 7/20/10

From:

Norm Saunders

Reply-To:

Norm Saunders

Date:

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:59:48 -0400

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 10:45 AM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 7/20/10

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               7/20/2010
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE 
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1 
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2 
        (email):     
Compiler:           Joe Coleman
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, July 20, at 9:00 AM.

Top bird this week is BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK* in VA.
Birds of interest this week include LEAST BITTERN, TRICOLORED HERON,
night-herons, WHITE IBIS, GLOSSY IBIS, MISSISSIPPI KITE, BROAD-WINGED HAWK,
rails including BLACK, COMMON MOORHEN, SANDHILL CRANE, shorebirds, LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL, BLACK TERN, PURPLE MARTIN, CLIFF SWALLOW, and DICKCISSEL.

A BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK* has been on Lake Audubon in Reston, Fairfax
Co, VA with a flock of Mallards since approximately July 6. A number of
photographs taken of the bird show all its claws intact.

A TRICOLORED HERON, a GLOSSY IBIS, and an immature YELLOW-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERON were seen along with several other waders at the North Beach
marsh in Calvert Co, MD on July 18. The TRICOLORED HERON, a PECTORAL
SANDPIPER, and a STILT SANDPIPER were found there on the 19th. Among the
many birds seen during the July 15 survey at Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD
were three TRICOLORED HERONS. On July 19 a TRICOLORED HERON was found at
Fairhaven, Anne Arundel Co, MD, perched on a fallen tree towards the south
end of the lake.

A juvenile YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was found July 14 at Chesapeake Farms,
Kent Co, MD; another immature has been seen at Herrington Harbour, Anne
Arundel Co, MD.

Two juvenile WHITE IBIS were among the many waders and shorebirds at the
Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project, Loudoun Co, VA, on July 17. On
July 20 an immature WHITE IBIS was found on a pond in Washington Co, MD,
that is at the end of farm lane (10807) on the east side of Rte 66 just
north of Horseshoe Lane and about 2.5 miles north of I-70.

Two MISSISSIPPI KITES were seen July 14 in the Kings Park subdivision,
Springfield, Fairfax Co, VA.

A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was observed July 14 in Keeling off of Rte 360 near
Slatesville Rd, Pittsylvania Co, VA.

The evening of July 14 a BLACK RAIL was seen crossing the road on Elliott
Island Rd, Dorchester Co, MD. Also seen during the same birding trip along
Elliott Island Rd were 5 LEAST BITTERNS, 1 CLAPPER RAIL, 6 VIRGINIA RAILS,
and one COMMON MOORHEN. 

A  COMMON MOORHEN continues at Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro, Prince
George's Co, MD, with sightings through July 17.

A SANDHILL CRANE was found July 13 at Eder Park and relocated in West Meadow
Park off of Delaware Ave, Rte 7 in Elkton, Cecil Co, MD that day and through
the 18th.

Shorebird, gull, and tern reports increased throughout the area this past
week, with the largest concentrations being reported on the coast. Prime
Hook NWR, DE and the area around it was especially productive. 

Among the many birds seen during the July 15 survey at Poplar Island, Talbot
Co, MD were 21 AMERICAN AVOCETS, 15 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and five STILTS. 
 
A MARBLED GODWIT was found July 17 and 18 along with several shorebirds and
waders including a TRICOLORED HERON and a STILT SANDPIPER on July 18 at
Hughlett Point NAP, Northumberland County, VA.

A STILT SANDPIPER in alternate plumage was seen July 17 and 18 at Chesapeake
Farms, Kent Co, MD along with a lot of other shorebirds. A STILT SANDPIPER
with a trace of a rufous facemask was seen July 17 at the pond at Brown
Station Rd recycling center in Upper Marlboro Prince George's Co, MD. There
was also a STILT SANDPIPER on July 18 at Papermill Flats, Baltimore Co, MD.

Three SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS continue to be reported from Blue Mash,
Montgomery Co, MD, with a sighting from July 14.

A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen July 13 at Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel
Co, MD.

In addition to the numerous waders and shorebirds there, a BLACK TERN was
seen July 15 at Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD. Two BLACK TERNS were found
July 17 at Ted Harvey Conservation Area, DE.

PURPLE MARTINS are beginning to gather in large flocks at different
locations. Almost 3,000, along with PEREGRINE FALCONS who are hunting them,
are now gathering in Richmond, VA, along 18th Street by the 17th Street
Farmer's Market. Three CLIFF SWALLOWS were seen July 14 at Brookview Bridge,
Dorchester Co, MD.

A DICKCISSEL was heard July 15 at the pond at Brown Station Rd recycling
center in Upper Marlboro Prince George's Co, MD.

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