-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 9:23 AM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 8/3/10

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               8/3/2010
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, August 3, at
7:00 AM.

Top birds this week are BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK* in VA,
WHITE-FACED IBIS* in MD, and RUFF in DE.

Other birds of interest this week include COMMON EIDER, WILSON'S
STORM-PETREL, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, WHITE IBIS, herons, MISSISSIPPI
KITE, MERLIN, COMMON MOORHEN, SANDHILL CRANE, HUDSONIAN GODWIT,
MARBLED GODWIT, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, SANDWICH
TERN, COMMON TERN, PURPLE MARTIN, VESPER SPARROW and WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW.

A BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK* has been on Lake Audubon in Reston,
Fairfax Co, VA with a flock of Mallards since approximately July 6;
latest report is for July 31.

A WHITE-FACED IBIS* was found and photographed at Truitt's Landing,
Worcester Co, MD on July 30.

A female RUFF, also known as a REEVE, was seen in Bear Swamp, Bombay
Hook NWR, Kent Co, DE on July 29.

A female and a sub-adult male COMMON EIDER were near the jetty on the
bay side of Cape Henlopen SP, Sussex Co, DE on August 1.

A sea watch on Assateague Island, Worcester Co, MD turned up 36
WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS on July 31.

An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was seen throughout the week at the
Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Queen Annes Co, MD.

Immature WHITE IBIS continue to be found across the region. One was at
Truitt's Landing on July 30 and 31. Another was at Gordon's Pond near
Rehoboth Beach, Sussex Co, DE on August 1. A juvenile was seen along
Fowler Beach Road, Sussex Co, DE on August 2. Five juvenile WHITE IBIS
were in Dameron Marsh in lower Northumberland Co, VA on July 30.

Once again this week there were many reports of herons. A check of any
local marsh or stream side can be very rewarding. 

MISSISSIPPI KITES were seen on July 29, 30 and August 1 in the Kings
Park subdivision, Springfield, Fairfax Co, VA. A MISSISSIPPI KITE was
also seen over Burke, Fairfax Co, VA.

A MERLIN chased swallows on the Patuxent River near Jug Bay, Prince
Georges Co, MD on July 30.

At least one and possibly two COMMON MOORHENS were spotted at
Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro, Prince Georges Co, MD on July 28 and
29.

A SANDHILL CRANE continued in West Meadow Park off of Delaware Ave,
Rte 7 in Elkton, Cecil Co, MD; the latest report is from July 30.

As the shorebird migration continues uncommon species are more
frequently spotted. A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was found in Shearness Pool,
Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co, DE on August 1. A MARBLED GODWIT was seen at
Fowler Beach, Sussex Co, DE on August 1 and three were seen there on
August 2. A WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was spotted on the Youghiogheny
River at the end of Old Morgantown Rd, Garrett Co, MD on July 29. Two
WHITE-RUMPEDS were at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Queen
Annes Co, MD on August 2. Another WHITE-RUMPED was seen at Truitt's
Landing on July 31. Two WILSON'S PHALAROPES were found at Truitt's
Landing on July 31. Another was in Bear Swamp, Bombay Hook NWR on July
29. 

Eleven SANDWICH TERNS were seen on Skimmer Island in Ocean City,
Worcester Co, MD on July 31 and two were there on July 29. A COMMON
TERN was on the Patuxent River near Merkle, Prince Georges Co, MD on
August 2.

The PURPLE MARTIN flock in Richmond, VA, by the 17th Street Farmer's
Market now numbers about 11,000 birds.

Three VESPER SPARROWS were seen in Perryman Park, Harford Co, MD on
August 1. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was found along the Skyline Drive
in Shenandoah National Park, VA on August 1.

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