-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 2:52 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 8/10/10

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               8/10/2010
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, August 10, at
11:15 AM.

Top birds this week are BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK* in VA and MAGNIFICENT
FRIGATEBIRD* in DC.

Other birds of interest this week include WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, AMERICAN
WHITE PELICAN, WHITE IBIS, herons, MISSISSIPPI KITE, PEREGRINE FALCON,
COMMON MOORHEN, SANDHILL CRANE, AMERICAN AVOCET, shorebirds, SANDWICH TERN,
COMMON TERN, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, COMMON RAVEN, PURPLE
MARTIN, warblers, and SEASIDE 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 August 9.

A MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD* was observed gliding south over the Potomac at
Hains Point, DC on August 4. The bird was possibly re-sighted near the
Columbia Island marina later in the day and may have been seen again flying
over the Anacostia near River Terrace Park, DC on August 6.

Two WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS were dancing over Chesapeake Bay, seen from Wise
Point, Cape Charles, VA on August 3.

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

Immature WHITE IBIS continue to be found across the region. An adult was at
Gordon's Pond near Rehoboth Beach, Sussex Co, DE on August 4. A juvenile was
seen at Fowler's Beach, Sussex Co, DE on August 2 and Prime Hook Beach Road
on August 6. 

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

There was a confirmation of nesting success for the MISSISSIPPI KITES in the
Kings Park subdivision, Springfield, Fairfax Co, VA with a sighting of some
adults plus a juvenile on August 7, 8 and 9. The adults were feeding the
juvenile on August 8. A pair of MISSISSIPPI KITES was perched near the
intersection of Clara Barton Dr and Oakland Park Dr. in Fairfax Station,
Fairfax Co, VA on August 9.

A PEREGRINE FALCON was at Jug Bay Natural Area, Prince George's Co, MD on
August 8.

The COMMON MOORHEN continues to be seen at Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro,
Prince Georges Co, MD with reports on August 5, 6 and 8.

A SANDHILL CRANE continued in West Meadow Park off of Delaware Ave, Rte 7 in
Elkton, Cecil Co, MD; the latest report is from August 3. Two SANDHILL
CRANES were feeding in the soy beans on the corner of Leverage and Ewingtown
Roads in northern Queen Anne's Co, MD, seen on August 9.

Two AMERICAN AVOCETS were noted at Anacostia Park, DC across from the
battleship on August 6. Two more AMERICAN AVOCETS were at the Chesapeake Bay
Environmental Center, on August 8 and 9.

The shorebird migration continues in full swing. Highlights include: a
variety of shorebirds seen during the week, including a BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER, at the Brown Station Road Convenience Center, Prince George's Co,
MD;  a winter-plumaged PIPING PLOVER at the beach at Grandview Nature
Preserve, Hampton Roads, VA on August 4 and 5; five UPLAND SANDPIPERS on
Oland Road near Rte 85, Frederick Co, MD on August 7, and 8, increasing to 7
birds on August 9 and 9 birds on August 10; two UPLAND SANDPIPERS along a
farm lane in northeast Albemarle Co, VA on August 8; a good collection of
shorebird species at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center during the week
including STILT SANDPIPERS and two WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS; 11 shorebird
species seen on Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD on August 2 including
WESTERN, WHITE-RUMPED and STILT SANDPIPERS plus SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS; a
smattering of shorebirds on the mudflats on the Youghiogheny River at the
end of Old Morgantown Road, Garrett Co, MD; 17 shorebird species on Poplar
Island, Talbot Co, MD on August 4 including HUDSONIAN GODWIT, plus WESTERN
and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS. AMERICAN AVOCETS and BLACK-NECKED STILTS were
also present on Poplar Island. A WILSON'S PHALAROPE was at Truitt's Landing,
Worcester Co, MD and A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was at the Hurlock WWTP,
Dorchester Co, MD both on August 7.
 
Two SANDWICH TERNS were spotted on Skimmer Island, Worcester Co, MD on
August 6. A COMMON TERN was seen on Hart-Miller Island on August 2. 

A juvenile RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was at Point Lookout SP, Saint Mary's Co,
MD on August 7. A WILLOW FLYCATCHER allowed a close study there.

Two COMMON RAVENS were sighted perched on a tower at the cement plant across
from a large quarry on Rte. 29 in Manassas, Prince William Co, VA on August
7.

The PURPLE MARTIN flock in Richmond, VA, by the 17th Street Farmer's Market
now numbers about 11,000 birds which are putting on quite a show.

The first stirrings of fall migration have begun with reports of five
BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS plus YELLOW, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, PINE,
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS and AMERICAN REDSTARTS at Point Lookout SP on
August 7. A BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was at Fort C. F. Smith, Arlington,
VA on August 8. Two PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS were at the beginning of the Haul
Road trail at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA on August 8. An AMERICAN REDSTART
visited a yard in Queenstown, Queen Anne's Co, MD on August 4. A LOUSIANA
WATERTHRUSH was walking along the edge of the small creek at the back of
Schoolhouse Pond on August 6. A HOODED WARBLER paid a visit to a yard in
Greenbelt, Prince George's Co, MD on August 5.

A SEASIDE SPARROW was seen on Poplar Island on August 4. 

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