-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 2:06 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 10/12/10
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 10/12/2010
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, October 12, at 7:30 AM.
Top bird this week is WESTERN KINGBIRD* in Washington, DC.
Other birds of interest include BRANT, EURASIAN WIGEON, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER,
raptors, SORA, shorebirds, BLACK TERN, CHIMNEY SWIFT, YELLOW-BELLIED
FLYCATCHER, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE*, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE,
MARSH WREN, warblers, CLAY-COLORED, NELSON'S, and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, and
DICKCISSEL.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD* was seen on Oct 8 in Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens,
Washington, DC near the boardwalk.
Four BRANT and a drake EURASIAN WIGEON were found on Hart-Miller Island,
Baltimore Co, MD on Oct 11. There were eight WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS on the
Potomac River near Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD on Oct 9.
Raptor migration continues with emphasis this week on SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS
and falcons seen at hawk watches along the coast. On Oct 10 the hawk watch
at Kiptopeke, Northampton Co, VA had 775 SHARP-SHINNEDS,
283 COOPER'S, 230 KESTRELS, 136 MERLINS, and 138 PEREGRINE FALCONS.
Several other days had triple digit numbers for some species. On Oct 8 the
watch at Cape Henlopen SP, Sussex Co, DE had several new record counts with
194 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 1573 SHARP-SHINNEDS, 241 COOPER'S,
692 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 111 PEREGRINES, and 141 MERLINS. Cape Henlopen also
had more than 1000 SHARP-SHINNEDS on Oct 6 and 9. Other sightings of
PEREGRINE FALCON included 12 at the hawk watch at Washington Monument SP,
Washington Co, MD on Oct 7, a single bird in Suffolk VA on Oct 5, and a
single bird near the American Legion Bridge seen from the Potomac Heritage
Trail, Fairfax Co, VA on Oct 9.
A MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen at the Turkey Point Hawk Watch, Cecil Co, MD on
Oct 9. An immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK was spotted in Virginia Beach, VA on Oct
11.
A SORA was seen at Lilypons, Frederick Co, MD on Oct 9 and another was found
at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in DC on Oct 9. Five SORAs were at Ellis
Bay WMA, Wicomico Co, MD on Oct 10.
Two AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, one BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, and one BUFF-BREASTED
SANDPIPER were on Hart-Miller Island on Oct 11. Three AMERICAN AVOCETS flew
around Violette's Lock on the Potomac River, Montgomery Co, MD on Oct 8. Two
MARBLED GODWITS were on Skimmer Island in Ocean City, Worcester Co, MD on
Oct 10. A RED KNOT was among the 12 species of shorebirds on Poplar Island,
Talbot Co, MD on Oct 6.
A BLACK TERN was seen on the Blue Mash Trail, Montgomery Co, MD on Oct 10.
At least 1200 CHIMNEY SWIFTS were spotted flying up the Potomac River near
Sycamore Landing, Montgomery Co, MD on Oct 9.
A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was seen at Turkey Point in Elk Neck SP, Cecil
Co, MD on Oct 10.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE* was found in Augusta Co, VA near the intersection of
Livick Rd and Cattleman Rd on Oct 9.
Once again this week there were many reports of the arrival of fall and
winter residents from the north. Particularly numerous and widespread were
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, WINTER WRENS, both
kinglets, HERMIT THRUSHES, WHITE-THROATED and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, and
PURPLE FINCHES. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS continued to move through the area in
good numbers.
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was in Northside Park, Norfolk, VA on Oct 5.
Another was seen at Sunset Beach, Northampton Co, VA on Oct 8.
Two BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES were found at Turkey Point, Cecil Co, MD on Oct
10.
A MARSH WREN made an unusual appearance at Pine Lake in Wheaton Regional
Park, Montgomery Co, MD on Oct 7 and 8.
Warbler migration is slowing in most areas but there was a spectacular
fallout on Sunset Beach in Northampton Co, VA on Oct 8. Among the 18 species
of warblers there were a CONNECTICUT WARBLER, 263 BLACK-THROATED BLUE
WARBLERS, 4500 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and 320 PALM WARBLERS. CONNECTICUT
WARBLERS were also seen at Centennial Lake in Columbia, Howard Co, MD on Oct
7 and 10. A first winter CONNECTICUT WARBLER was in Wheaton Regional Park on
Oct 10 and another first year bird was spotted at Fort C F Smith Park in
Arlington, VA on Oct 11.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found in Kinder Farm Park, Severna Park, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on Oct 6. A NELSON'S SPARROW was seen in Lilypons, Frederick
Co, MD on Oct 9. LINCOLN'S SPARROWS continue to be widespread across the
region with sightings in the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in DC, Kinder Farm
Park, Lilypons, Swan Creek Wetland in Anne Arundel Co, Wheaton Regional
Park, Schooley Mill Park in Howard Co, Sunset Beach, the Irvine Nature
Center in Baltimore, Oxbow Lake in Anne Arundel Co, Occoquan Bay NWR in
Prince William Co, VA, and Terrapin Park on Kent Island, MD.
A DICKCISSEL was seen on Mt Pleasant Farm, Howard Co, MD on Oct 9.
Most 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. 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 |