-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 12:37 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 11/2/10
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 11/2/2010
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, November 2, at 10 AM.
Top birds this week are SWAINSON'S HAWK in DE, WHITE-WINGED DOVE in DE, and
SAY'S PHOEBE* in MD.
Other birds of interest include geese, TUNDRA SWAN, and ducks, RED-THROATED
LOON, HORNED GREBE, GREAT CORMORANT, raptors including NORTHERN GOSHAWK,
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and GOLDEN EAGLE, COMMON MOORHEN, shorebirds, FRANKLIN'S
GULL, MONK PARAKEET, SHORT-EARED OWL, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, WESTERN KINGBIRD,
COMMON RAVEN, CAVE SWALLOW, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, SEDGE WREN, sparrows
including HENSLOW'S, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, DICKCISSEL, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
The immature SWAINSON'S HAWK found in the vicinity of Prime Hook NWR, Sussex
Co, DE, last week was seen again as recently Oct 30 near the intersection of
Cods Rd and Fowler Beach Rd.
A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was seen coming in off the ocean at the Cape Henlopen
Hawkwatch, Lewes DE, on Oct 28; it later perched at Ft Miles in the park.
On Oct 29 a SAY'S PHOEBE* was found at Terrapin Park, Stevensville, Queen
Anne's Co, MD. It was seen from the first blind around the large pond,
perching on a small tree at the southwest corner of the pond.
Flocks of TUNDRA SWANS were reported from several locations over the
weekend.
Three ROSS'S GEESE and three EURASIAN WIGEONS were found Oct 29 at
Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA; the geese were seen from Swan Cove and
the wigeon were on Snow Goose Pond. Two ROSS'S GEESE were seen at
Chincoteague on Oct 30. There was a CACKLING GOOSE at the Hurlock sewage
ponds, Dorchester Co, MD, on Oct 31.
Four COMMON EIDERS, including three drakes, were seen Oct 30 from the Cape
Henlopen Hawkwatch.
A RED-THROATED LOON was found Oct 30 at Lake Anna Louisa Co, VA.
Two HORNED GREBES were found Oct 30 at the Occoquan Bay NWR, Woodbridge,
Prince William Co, VA. One was seen at Piscataway Park, Prince George's Co,
MD, on Oct 31.
A GREAT CORMORANT was seen during the Nov 1 visit to Hart-Miller Island,
Baltimore Co, MD.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen Oct 29 flying by an office building in Bailey's
Crossroads, Fairfax Co, VA; another was reported from a yard in Arlington
Co, VA on Oct 31. Two NORTHERN GOSHAWKS also passed over the Hawkwatch at
the Kiptopeke SP on Oct 30. Two NORTHERN GOSHAWKS passed over the Cape
Henlopen Hawkwatch, Lewes, DE, on Oct 30 and Nov
1 and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen there on Nov 1. On Oct 29 a ROUGH-LEGGED
HAWK flew over a backyard Hawkwatch in Baltimore, MD.
GOLDEN EAGLES were spotted Oct 29 and 31 from the Snicker's Gap Hawk Watch
on the Clarke/Loudoun Co, VA line. A GOLDEN EAGLE was reported Oct 29 at the
Chincoteague NWR and another from the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch on Nov 1. Eight
GOLDEN EAGLES were reported from the Cape Henlopen Hawkwatch on Nov 1, a
record for the hawkwatch.
A COMMON MOORHEN was seen Oct 28 on Gregory's Pond, Rockwood Park,
Chesterfield Co, VA.
Five AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were seen during the Nov 1 visit to Hart-Miller
Island, Baltimore Co, MD. A HUDSONIAN GODWIT continued to be seen this past
week at Fowler's Beach, Sussex Co, DE. HUDSONIAN GODWITS were also reported
from Chincoteague NWR on Oct 29 and 30. On Oct 30 fifty MARBLED GODWITS were
seen at Willis Wharf, Northampton Co, VA. A PURPLE SANDPIPER was seen Oct 31
on Island 1 of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel islands, Northampton Co, VA.
A FRANKLIN'S GULL was found Oct 27 at Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel Co, MD.
MONK PARAKEETS were seen Oct 28 and 31 building a nest in the cell tower in
the right-of-way on Mt. Pleasant Dr near its intersection with Muirkirk Rd
in Laurel, Prince George's Co, MD.
A SHORT-EARED OWL was seen Oct 30 at Assateague Island State Park, Worcester
Co, MD.
An adult male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD continued to visit a feeder in Woodbridge,
Prince William Co, VA. Another RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD is visiting a feeder near
Harrisonburg, VA. A Selasphorus species hummingbird was seen Oct 26 at the
Kiptopeke SP Hawkwatch. And another hummingbird, probably a juvenile
RUBY-THROATED, has been visiting a feeder in Chevy Chase, Montgomery Co, MD,
with reports as recent as Nov 2.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD was seen at Cape Henlopen SP on Oct 28. A WESTERN
KINGBIRD was also seen Oct 30 at Assateague Island State Park, Worcester Co,
MD.
CAVE SWALLOWS were reported from more locations this past week with four at
Cape Henlopen on the 29th and two, seen the same day, flying south from Snow
Goose Pond at the Chincoteague NWR.
A COMMON RAVEN was seen Oct 30 at the Occoquan Bay NWR, Woodbridge, Prince
William Co, VA, flying up the Occoquan River towards I-95. On Oct 31 a
COMMON RAVEN was seen at the Powhatan Lakes in the Powhatan WMA, Powhatan
Co, VA.
For the first time in several years well-documented BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES
are being reported from a number of different locations in the area.
A SEDGE WREN was reported on Oct 30 at Sands Road Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD.
SEDGE WRENS were also reported on Oct 31 from Back Bay NWR, Virginia Beach,
VA and on Nov 1 from Captain's Quarters Park, Norfolk, VA.
CLAY-COLORED, LARK, GRASSHOPPER, and LECONTE'S SPARROWS were all reported at
Cape Henlopen SP the morning of Oct 29. Two CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS and a LARK
SPARROW were reported from the Chincoteague NWR on Oct 29. The same day a
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW and a LE CONTE'S SPARROW were reported along Little Bay
Ave by Captains Quarters Park, Norfolk, VA. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen
Oct 30 at Wooton's Landing, Anne Arundel Co, MD. A VESPER SPARROW was found
Oct 30 at the Assateague SP. A VESPER SPARROW was seen Oct 31 at Piscataway
Park, Prince George's Co, MD. Two VESPER SPARROWS were found Oct 30 at Sands
Road Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD. A VESPER SPARROW and a male RUSTY BLACKBIRD
were seen Oct 29 at Meadowbrook Park, Howard Co, MD.
On Oct 29 a HENSLOW'S SPARROW was among the many sparrows in downtown
Rehoboth Beach, along the Boardwalk between the Sands Hotel and the northern
Henlopen Hotel.
More FOX SPARROWS showed up this past week including one at Rock Creek Park,
NW DC on Oct 30 and several at Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore Co, MD, and
Wheaton Regional Park, Montgomery Co, MD on Nov 1.
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS continued to be widely reported.
Two LAPLAND LONGSPURS flew over the Cape Henlopen Hawkwatch on Oct 30.
A DICKCISSEL was reported from the Chincoteague NWR on Oct 29.
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were found at several locations last week including the
Occoquan NWR and Bethel, Cecil Co, MD on Oct 30. The same day two RUSTY
BLACKBIRDS were seen Oct 30 at Altona Marsh, a mile west of Charles Town,
Jefferson Co, WV. There were three RUSTY BLACKBIRDS at Lake Needwood,
Montgomery Co, MD on Nov 1.
PURPLE FINCHES and PINE SISKINS were seen in numerous locations throughout
the area.
Most of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey, VA-Bird,
West Virginia Birding List, 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 |