-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2010 1:18 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 12/28/10
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 12/28/2010
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE/WV panhandle
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email):
Compiler: Helen Patton
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 at 1:00 PM, Tuesday,
December 28.
Top birds this week are NORTHERN WHEATEAR* in DE and GOLDEN-CROWNED
SPARROW* in MD.
Other birds of interest include waterfowl, PACIFIC LOON, EARED GREBE,
hawks, falcons, SANDHILL CRANE, PURPLE SANDPIPER, gulls, SHORT-EARED
OWL, hummingbirds, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, warblers, sparrows,
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL.
A NORTHERN WHEATEAR* was found at Fox Point State Park, near Edgemore
DE on December 22 through 25.
The first winter GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW* found on the Lower Kent Co,
MD CBC on Dec 19 at Chesapeake Farms was seen again throughout the
week. The Farms are located between Chestertown and Rock Hall; they
are privately managed for wildlife and hunting. Birders MUST remain in
their vehicle while on the Farm. The bird was foraging with other
sparrows on the entrance road to the headquarters off Ricauds Branch
Rd.
An adult GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE remains at Cranberry Reservoir,
Carroll Co, MD with a sighting on December 22. Another GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen at the Springdale Drive Quarry, Howard
Co, MD on December 23. A ROSS'S GOOSE was found at Great Oak Landing
pond, Kent Co, MD on December 22. Two pairs of CACKLING GEESE were
spotted in Harford Co, MD in Turney's pond at 4531 Harford Creamery
Road (DeLorme 75-B6) on December 21. Permission is granted to drive
down the lane to the pool. Four CACKLING GEESE were seen at the C&O
Terminus in Cumberland, Allegany Co, MD on December 21. A BARNACLE
GOOSE was spotted in Brambleton, Loudoun Co, VA on December 23. TUNDRA
SWANS were in the Potomac River, seen from Great Falls, VA on December
27.
An observer at Black Hill Regional Park on December 22 recorded 27
REDHEAD, a LONG-TAILED DUCK and a conservative estimate of 184 HOODED
MERGANSERS. A EURASIAN WIGEON was spotted at the Chincoteague NWR,
Accomack Co, VA on December 23. There were at least 86 REDHEADS among
1,000 ducks in Pohick Bay, Fairfax Co, VA, seen on December 25.
A PACIFIC LOON was seen at Kerr Reservoir, Mecklenburg Co, VA on
December 25.
An EARED GREBE continues on the lake at Black Hill Regional Park,
Montgomery Co, MD with sightings on December 22 through 26.
BALD EAGLES were in high spirits, catching fish and stealing them on
the James River near Hopewell, VA and three BALD EAGLES hunted
AMERICAN COOTS at the Great Dismal Swamp NWR, Suffolk, VA on December
21. A light-morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was observed near grain elevators
on Reese's Corner Road, Kent Co, MD on December 21 through 24. An
immature GOLDEN EAGLE passed high over the field adjacent to the site
of the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW at Chesapeake Farms, Kent Co, MD on
December 21. A juvenile GOLDEN EAGLE was noted with the ROUGH-LEGGED
HAWK in Kent Co, MD on December 22. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen near
Rustburg, Campbell Co, VA on December 27.
Two MERLIN were seen from Great Falls Park, Fairfax Co, VA on December
22. A PEREGRINE FALCON was perched atop a light pole at the South
River Bridge, Anne Arundel Co, MD on December 22.
A SANDHILL CRANE dropped in to the North East Community Park, Cecil
Co, MD on December 21. The SANDHILL CRANE in Hampstead, Carroll Co, MD
was seen again on the north side of Shiloh Road on December 22, 25
and27.
A high count of 21 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were spotted at Herrington
Harbor, Anne Arundel, Co, MD on December 22. Some PURPLE SANDPIPERS
were still there on December 23.
With the approach of winter, sightings of unusual gulls are
increasing. A first cycle ICELAND GULL was seen at Herrington Harbor
jetties, Anne Arundel Co, MD on December 22. Several LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS, an ICELAND GULL and a GLAUCOUS GULL were observed
at the North East Community Park on December 24. A juvenile GLAUCOUS
GULL was also there on December 25. Another LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
was seen at Rock Hall Harbor, Kent Co, MD on December 26.
SHORT-EARED OWLS hunted over the closed Oaks landfill in Montgomery
Co, MD on December 21 and 22.
The Allen's hummingbird in Chester, Chesterfield Co, VA, was seen on
December 21 and 26. The female Selasphorus hummingbird visiting a
feeder in Silver Spring, Montgomery Co, MD was banded and identified
as a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD on December 21
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES were spotted at Swan Harbor Farm Park, Harford
Co, MD on December 22; at the Patuxent North Tract, Anne Arundel Co,
MD on December 26 and in the Bainbridge sector of the Rock Run CBC,
Cecil Co, MD on December 26.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER visiting a yard in Virginia Beach, VA was
seen on December 23. Another ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was found at
Mariner's Museum Park, Newport News, VA also on December 23. Another
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER visited a yard in Chester, Chesterfield Co, VA
seen on December 24 and 26.
At least two AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen at Huntley Meadows Park,
Fairfax Co, VA on December 26. A female LAPLAND LONGSPUR was noted at
Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD on December 23.
Six BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS were seen on the Nokesville CBC in Aden,
Prince William Co, VA on December 27.
A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL flew over a road near the Visitor Center at
the Patuxent North Tract, Anne Arundel Co, MD December 26.
On Feb 5, See Life Paulagics will run a trip out of Lewes, DE, looking
for Dovekies and other alcids. For details, contact
or call 215-234-6805.
All 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(s) |