-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 1:10 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 8/24/10
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 8/24/2010
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, August 24, at
noon.
Top birds this week are BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL* in MD and DE waters
and RED PHALAROPE, SABINE'S GULL*, and ARCTIC TERN* in MD.
Other birds of interest include shearwaters, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN,
BROWN PELICAN, LEAST BITTERN, herons, MISSISSIPPI KITE, raptors,
shorebirds, POMERINE JAEGER, gulls, terns, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE,
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, CHIMNEY SWIFT, PURPLE MARTIN,
OLIVE-SIDED and YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS, WESTERN KINGBIRD,
PHILADELPHIA VIREO, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and warblers.
For the second weekend in a row, a pelagic trip into MD and DE waters
on Aug 19 and 20 encountered BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETRELS*--a total of 8
this time--as well as LEACH'S and hundreds of WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS.
Also seen again were three SHEARWATERS--CORY'S, GREAT, and AUDUBON'S.
A RED PHALAROPE was a startling find at Western Regional Park, Howard
Co, MD, late on the afternoon of Aug 23.
On Aug 18 a SABINE'S GULL* flew past the beach at Sandy Point SP, Anne
Arundel Co, MD.
A probable ARCTIC TERN* was observed roosting at Skimmer Island, Ocean
City, Worcester Co, on Aug 22.
An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN continues at the Chesapeake Bay
Environmental Center (Horsehead), Queen Anne's Co, MD, with the most
recent report from Aug 19. BROWN PELICANS were noted at Harrington
Harbor in southern Anne Arundel Co, Wenona Harbor in Somerset Co, MD,
and Assateague Island National Seashore, Worcester Co, MD, all on Aug
22.
A LEAST BITTERN was again spotted at Lilypons, Frederick Co, MD on Aug
17. Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD, continued to host an assortment
of herons, with five species reported on Aug 21. A GLOSSY IBIS was a
good find on an Aug 17 trip to Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD. On the
evening of Aug 22, Staunton River SP, Halifax Co, VA, hosted 11 WHITE
IBIS (and 9 BLACK TERNS); as the sun set some 164 GREAT EGRETS flew
across the full moon to roost in the
treetops on the far horizon.
MISSISSIPPI KITES continued to be seen in Northern VA throughout the
week, with reports of both adults and juveniles in the Kings Park
subdivision of Springfield, Fairfax Co, as recently as Aug 23. Two
adult and one juvenile MISSISSIPPI KITES were observed Aug 23 in
Fairfax Station.
BROAD-WINGED HAWKS are on the move. So, apparently, are MERLINS. One
MERLIN was observed near the south end of the golf course at Hains
Point, SW DC, Aug 20; a different MERLIN was in that same area the
following day. On Aug 20 a MERLIN visited a yard in Montgomery Co, and
on Aug 21 a MERLIN was reported from Little Bennet RP, Montgomery Co.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was spotted from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Anne
Arundel/Queen Anne's Co, MD, on Aug 18.
Shorebird migration continues in full swing. AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS
were reported Aug 19 in the potato fields along Rte 9 in DE, across
from the entrance road to Bombay Hook NWR. An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
was found Aug 23 at Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD, as was a
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. Two PIPING PLOVERS were found Aug 22 on the beach
at Grandview Preserve, Hampton, VA.
Three AMERICAN AVOCETS enlivened the birding Aug 17 and 18 at
Triadelphia Reservoir, viewed from Greenbridge Rd in Montgomery Co. On
Aug 22, 2 AMERICAN AVOCETS flew quickly past Violette's Lock on the
C&O Canal, Montgomery Co. UPLAND SANDPIPERS continued to forage in the
fields on the SW corner of Oland Rd and Rte 85/Buckeystown Pike,
Frederick Co, with reports through Aug 22.
On Aug 17 Bombay Hook hosted both HUDSONIAN and MARBLED GODWITS as
well as a juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and WILSON'S PHALAROPE. A
HUDSONIAN GODWIT was at Bombay as recently as Aug 23. A MARBLED GODWIT
was noted Aug 21 and 22 at Skimmer Island, Ocean City, Worcester Co. A
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was found Aug 21 at Assateague National Seashore,
Worcester Co, from the Ferry landing, while 2 were reported Aug 22 at
North Branch, Allegany Co, MD.
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were found in DE Aug 17, at a turf farm along
Rte 9 between Bombay Hook and Smyrna; and in VA Aug 22 and 23, at Hog
Island WMA in Surry Co.
On Aug 22 a POMERINE JAEGER vigorously chased a gull over the Choptank
River, south of St Michaels in Talbot Co.
A LITTLE GULL and a BLACK-HEADED GULL were reported at Bombay Hook's
Shearness Pool Aug 21, with the BLACK-HEADED repeating on Aug 22.
Four SANDWICH TERNS were spotted on Skimmer Island on Aug 19, and 2 in
Wenona Harbor Aug 21. On Aug 17, more than 2 dozen BLACK TERNS could
be seen flying up and down the Potomac River from Piscataway Park,
Prince George's Co, MD; there were 2 BLACK TERNS at Poplar Island and
another at Hurlock WWTP, Dorchester Co, MD. On Aug 18, 9 BLACK TERNS
were seen at Violette's Lock. At the end of the day on Aug 21, BLACK
TERNS were "streaming south" off Assateague SP. A BLACK TERN was seen
just north of Key Bridge in Baltimore Aug 22.
Two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were back at the "usual location" in South
Boston, VA, on Aug 18--near the corner of Broad St and Seymour Dr.
A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was found at "the ridge" at Rock Creek Park, NW
DC, on Aug 17.
Migrating COMMON NIGHTHAWKS garnered attention throughout the area.
At dusk on Aug 21 and 22, hundreds of CHIMNEY SWIFTS were swirling in
the skies near the Cleveland Park Metro station, NW DC. SWIFTS were
putting on a similar show in Richmond, VA, on Aug 17, around the
Sampson Paint stack near the intersection of Hall and 14th. The big
story in Richmond, though, was the massing of PURPLE MARTINS--numbers
estimated to be as high as 14,000 on Aug 17. By Aug 19, the nightly
spectacle was drawing more than 200 spectators. By the end of the
week, MARTIN numbers were decreasing but still in the thousands.
An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was found Aug 19 near Black Walnut Point,
Talbot Co. A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER visited a yard in Howard Co,
MD, Aug 20.
The WESTERN KINGBIRD discovered Aug 16 near the entrance to Bombay
Hook was still there on Aug 17, foraging in soybean fields along
Whitehall Neck Rd near Parson Point Rd.
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was found Aug 22 at Perryville Community Park,
Cecil Co. MD. It was foraging with a loose flock of flycatchers,
vireos, and warblers in the trees across from the boat launch near the
tip of the park.
Early reports of RED-BREASTED NUTHACH come from several locations,
including Turkey Point in Elk Neck SP, Cecil Co, MD, and a feeder in
Baltimore.
Migrating warblers in good variety were enjoyed throughout the area. A
WILSON'S WARBLER was found at the American Chestnut Land Trust,
Calvert Co, MD, Aug 21. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was a highlight Aug 23
near Penneyfield Lock on the C&O Canal in Montgomery 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 |