-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 6:02 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 8/17/10

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               8/17/2010
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, August 17, at 12:30 PM.

Top birds this week are BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK in DE and BAND-RUMPED
STORM-PETREL* and SOUTH POLAR SKUA* in the waters off of MD.

Other birds of interest this week include ducks, CORY'S SHEARWATER, GREATER
SHEARWATER, AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, NORTHERN GANNET,
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, herons, MISSISSIPPI KITE, GOLDEN EAGLE, COMMON
MOORHEN, SANDHILL CRANE, AMERICAN AVOCET, shorebirds, terns, LEAST
FLYCATCHER, WESTERN KINGBIRD, PURPLE MARTIN, warblers, sparrows, and
BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE.

A BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK was found Aug 13 at the north side of the
Broadkill Beach impoundments of Prime Hook NWR, DE.

A pelagic trip into MD and DE waters on Aug 15 found and photographed three
BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETRELS* and a SOUTH POLAR SKUA* in MD. Also seen on the
same trip were CORY'S SHEARWATER in MD and DE, GREATER SHEARWATER in MD and
DE, AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER in MD and DE, and four LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS in MD
along with numerous WILSON'S STORM PETRELS.

Migrating ducks have started to pop up in the area. AMERICAN WIGEONS and
BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen Aug 16 at Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen in other locations as well. On the 11th three of
them were feeding between the picnic area and the Stone Bridge over Hunting
Creek at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA. On the 16th six were seen flying around
Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD and the same day one also dropped into the
Swan Creek Wetland, Anne Arundel Co, MD.

Four WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS and a NORTHERN GANNET were seen Aug 14 from
Assateague Island National Seashore, Worcester Co, MD. A sub-adult NORTHERN
GANNET was seen Aug 11 in Queen Anne's Co, MD, while crossing the Bay
Bridge.

The AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Queen
Anne's Co, MD, was seen again on August 11. One was also seen on Aug 14 at
the Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD.

Checking local marsh or stream side for herons continued to be very
rewarding this past week. A LEAST BITTERN was found Aug 15 at Lilypons,
Frederick Co, MD. A SNOWY EGRET was seen at the Brown Station Rd recycling
center, Prince Georges Co, MD on August 10. The same day, North Beach,
Calvert Co, MD hosted SNOWY EGRETS and five TRICOLORED HERONS. On Aug 1,1
between Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA, and the Stone Bridge, 59 GREAT EGRETS
were counted. Seventy-five GREAT EGRETS were counted at Hughes Hollow,
Montgomery Co, MD on August 16 along with a SNOWY EGRET and LITTLE BLUE
HERONS. An immature LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen Aug 15 and 16 at Huntley
Meadows Pk, Fairfax Co, VA. A TRICOLORED HERON was reported at Swan Creek
Wetland on Aug 10 and again on Aug 16. A TRICOLORED HERON was seen at
Hart-Miller Island on Aug 16. 136 WHITE IBIS were counted on Aug 12 at Swan
Cove, Chincoteague, Accomack Co, VA.

On August 11 two MISSISSIPPI KITES were seen soaring over the southeast
corner of Yates Ford Rd and Davis Ford Rd in Prince William Co, VA.  On Aug
16 four Mississippi Kites, an adult and three juveniles were seen together
in the Kings Park subdivision of Springfield, Fairfax Co, VA. One adult was
seen the same day at the intersection of Braddock Rd and Backlick Rd,
Annandale, Fairfax Co, VA.

An immature GOLDEN EAGLE was seen hunting Aug 16 on the Clifton Farms Rd
side of House and Barn Mountain, Russell Co, VA.

The COMMON MOORHEN continues to be seen at Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro,
Prince Georges Co, MD with a report on August 10.

Two SANDHILL CRANES were relocated in Queen Anne's Co, MD with two feeding
in the soy beans on the south side of Leverage Rd on Aug 11 and again on Aug
15.

Shorebird migration continued in full swing with many rich reports from
numerous locations in DE. An AMERICAN AVOCET was found Aug 14 at North
Branch, Allegany Co, MD. One was also seen the same day in Anacostia River
Park, SE DC. Among the many shorebirds at Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co,
MD, on Aug 16, were three AMERICAN AVOCETS, a HUDSONIAN GODWIT, a WESTERN
SANDPIPER, and a WILSON'S PHALAROPE. There were four UPLAND SANDPIPERS on
the SW corner of Buckeystown Road, Rte 85, and Oland Road, Frederick Co, MD
on August 11 and 14 and two there on Aug 15. Three UPLAND SANDPIPERS were
found Aug 14 at the Salisbury, Wicomico Co, MD airport. A MARBLED GODWIT was
one of the highlights of a visit to Bethel Beach, Mathews Co, VA on Aug 12.
A MARBLED GODWIT was seen on Skimmer Island, Worcester Co, MD on August 14.
A WESTERN SANDPIPER and a WILSON'S PHALAROPE were among the shorebirds at
Papermill Flats, Baltimore Co, MD on Aug 14. A WILSON'S PHALAROPE was found
at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Queen Anne's Co, MD, on Aug 12.
Two WILSON'S PHALAROPES were found Aug 15 off of Roaring Point, Nanticoke,
Wicomico Co, MD.
 
A GULL-BILLED TERN was seen flying north Aug 14 from Assateague Island
National Seashore, Worcester Co, MD. There were 33 SANDWICH TERNS at
Lynnhaven Inlet, Virginia Beach, VA on Aug 12. SANDWICH TERNS were spotted
on Skimmer Island, Worcester Co, MD on August 14. Five BLACK TERNS, one in
full adult plumage, were seen headed south over Selby Landing, Jug Bay, Anne
Arundel Co, MD, on Aug 16. There was also a BLACK TERN at Hart-Miller Island
on Aug 16.

A LEAST FLYCATCHER was found Aug 14 at Leesylvania SP, Prince William Co, VA
on the grassy field along the edge of the camping area. 

On Aug 16 a WESTERN KINGBIRD was perched on power lines between Parson Point
and Bear Swamp Rds, a short distance from the entrance to Bombay Hook.

The large (over 10,000) PURPLE MARTIN flock in Richmond, VA, by the 17th
Street Farmer's Market, continues to put on quite a show. On Aug 14, 176
BANK SWALLOWS were reported sitting on a branch near Sycamore Landing along
the Potomac River in Montgomery Co, MD. On Aug 15 a BANK SWALLOW was seen at
Huntley Meadows Pk, Fairfax Co, VA.

Warbler migration picked up this past week with a number of reports of small
numbers in a variety of locations including a NASHVILLE WARBLER on Aug 15 at
the Rock Creek Park Nature Ctr, NW DC.

SALTMARSH and SEASIDE SPARROWS were seen at Smith Island, Somerset Co, MD on
August 13. 

A female BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE was seen Aug 14 at Fort Smallwood Park, Anne
Arundel 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