-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 1:23 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 11/30/10
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 11/30/2010
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE/WV panhandle
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, Nov30, at11 AM.
Top birds this week are BARNACLE GOOSE* in DE, ASH-THROATED
FLYCATCHER* and NORTHERN SHRIKE in MD, and LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE* in VA.
Other birds of interest include waterfowl, RED-THROATED LOON,
RED-NECKED GREBE, NORTHERN GANNET, BROWN PELICAN, SANDHILL CRANE,
gulls, WHITE-WINGED DOVE, RUFOUS and ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS, RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER, CAVE SWALLOW, CEDAR WAXWING, ORANGE-CROWNED and NASHVILLE
WARBLERS, sparrows, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and COMMON REDPOLL.
A BARNACLE GOOSE* discovered Nov 21 at Bombay Hook NWR, DE, was still
present as of Nov 29. The bird was most often observed from the tower
at Bear Swamp pool, usually in the early morning or late afternoon.
An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER* was discovered Nov 27 at Assateague Island
National Seashore, Worcester Co, MD, and relocated Nov 28, 29, and 30.
It was frequenting the area near the beginning of the Life of the
Marsh Trail.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was discovered at Assateague that same day, along
Bayside Drive close to the Life of the Marsh parking lot. This is the
same area where a NORTHERN SHRIKE had been spotted during the Rarities
Roundup two weeks earlier.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE* found in Virginia Beach, VA, on Nov 21 was
reported again Nov 23, 26, and 27; it was being seen in the Ashville
Park development.
Birders searching for the BARNACLE GOOSE at Bombay Hook turned up a
Greenland form GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE on Nov 22 and 23, a
CACKLING GOOSE on Nov 23, and a ROSS'S GOOSE on Nov 26. Jug Bay in
Anne Arundel Co, MD, hosted a ROSS'S GOOSE on Nov 26, a RICHARDSON'S
GOOSE and a blue phase SNOW GOOSE on Nov 27. A CACKLING GOOSE was
spotted at Centennial Lake, Howard Co, MD, Nov 29.
Waterfowl numbers are building. An assortment of ducks was found Nov
24 at Triadelphia Reservoir on the Howard/Montgomery Co (MD) line, and
a variety of species, including all three SCOTERS, was present at
North Beach, Calvert Co, MD, on Nov 25. On Nov 24 a LONG-TAILED DUCK
appeared on the Potomac River in Washington, DC, between the 14th
Street and Memorial Bridges. On Nov 23, Fort McHenry, Baltimore,
hosted a single BRANT and 2 RED-NECKED GREBES.
On Nov 26, the hawk watch at Cape Henlopen SP, DE, witnessed an
amazing migration of RED-THROATED LOONS. The observers watched as
birds streamed by, 4 or 5 a second for more than 2 hours.
NORTHERN GANNETS were also on the move. Some 400 were seen heading
north past the inlet at Ocean City, Worcester Co, on Nov 26.
More modest numbers were noted Nov 23 by boaters on the Chesapeake
Bay; between Thomas Point and West River, Anne Arundel Co, MD, they
saw 2 NORTHERN GANNETS, 4 BROWN PELICANS, and 20 BONAPARTE'S GULLS. A
flock of 25 BROWN PELICANS was observed in the area of the Solomons
Bridge flying into Calvert Co, MD waters.
SANDHILL CRANES drew a lot of attention this week. In Prince George's
Co, MD, a SANDHILL CRANE discovered last week was seen again Nov 23
through at least Nov 27; this bird has been frequenting the stormwater
management pond in a developing subdivision along Church Rd, ¼ mile
north of Fairview Vista Drive. In Carroll Co, MD, a SANDHILL CRANE was
found Nov 23 in Hampstead, in a field on the north side of Rte 482,
opposite North Carroll HS; this bird was still around on Nov 26. In
lower Northhampton Co, VA, 2 SANDHILL CRANES were found Nov 28 and
seen again Nov 29, near the intersection of Wardtown and TB roads.
On Nov 26 an adult LITTLE GULL and a BLACK-HEADED GULL were identified
at the Ocean City Inlet—along with more than 10,000 BONAPARTE'S GULLS!
Also seen from the Inlet were 4 fly-by alcids. On Nov 28 a
first-winter ICELAND GULL, as well as a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, were
found just outside the entrance to Leesylvania SP, Prince William Co,
VA.
On Nov 29, 22 BONAPARTE'S GULLS appeared at Violette's Lock,
Montgomery Co, MD. On Nov 29, Schoolhouse Pond in Upper Marlboro,
Prince George's Co, recorded its first LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL of the
season.
'Tis the season for vagrant hummers. The Selasphorus hummingbird
visiting a feeder in the Calvert Hills area of College Park, Prince
George's Co, was banded on Nov 26 and identified as a female RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD. It was back again the next day, seemingly unfazed, and
continues to be seen "like clockwork" by just about every person who
looks for it. It can be viewed from the back patio of 4602 Drexel Rd;
you are welcome to use the chairs, but please stay on the patio.
In Chester, VA, a Selasphorus hummingbird first seen Nov 20 was banded
on Nov 27—and it turned out to be a hatch year female ALLEN'S
HUMMINGBIRD*; this is apparently just the second record for the state.
In DE, a hummingbird that showed up in early November north of
Wilmington was banded on Nov 27; this, too, is a hatch year female
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD. Remember to keep those feeders filled.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were spotted at several locations: On Nov 24,
at the north end of Shriver Rd, Frederick Co, MD; in Carroll Co, MD,
along Ruggles Rd, 1 mile west of Rte 194; and on Nov 28, in Montgomery
Co, MD, at Hughes Hollow.
Half a dozen CAVE SWALLOWS were reported Nov 26 from Chincoteague NWR,
Accomack Co, VA. On Nov 27 a lone CAVE SWALLOW was seen at Rum Point
Golf Course, Worcester Co, MD.
Birders on the regular walk at Merrimac Farm WMA Nov 28 enjoyed the
spectacle of a tree filled with 100 CEDAR WAXWINGS, supplemented with
a colorful assortment of regulars.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was spotted Nov 28 near Taylor Pond,
Kiptopeke SP, Northampton Co, VA. A NASHVILLE WARBLER was seen Nov 27,
foraging low in the azaleas in a yard in Leesburg, VA.
On Nov 28, SPARROWS—1 LINCOLN'S and 4 FOX—were reported from Huntley
Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA; they were near the base of the tower.
On Nov 29 at least 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were moving along the C&O Canal,
below Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD. On Nov 27, 3 RUSTY
BLACKBIRDS were noted along the Potomac hike/bike trail upstream from
Riverside Park, Fairfax Co.
A COMMON REDPOLL was reported from Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA,
on Nov 24.
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, AudubonNaturalist.org), 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 |