-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 12:11 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 1/4/11
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 01/04/2011
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE/WV panhandle
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 at 7:30 AM, Tuesday, January 4.
Top birds this week are MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD* in VA and GOLDEN-CROWNED
SPARROW* in MD.
Other birds of interest include waterfowl, RED-NECKED GREBE, EARED GREBE,
GREAT CORMORANT, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, SANDHILL CRANE, RED KNOT,
AMERICAN WOODCOCK, gulls, DOVEKIE, RAZORBILL, SHORT-EARED OWL, hummingbirds,
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE*, NORTHERN SHRIKE, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEE, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, PAINTED BUNTING, BREWER'S BLACKBIRD,
BALTIMORE ORIOLE, and COMMON REDPOLL.
A MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD* was found on the Cape Charles Christmas Bird Count on
Dec 30 and seen through Jan 3. The bird, perhaps Virginia's second record,
can be seen from Rt 600 just north of Oyster, Northampton Co near the
entrance to the World Healing Institute.
Please do not enter the Institute grounds.
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.
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and some CACKLING GEESE were seen at Bombay
Hook, Kent Co, DE on the Christmas Bird Count on Dec 31. A ROSS'S GOOSE was
spotted near the Mountain Bluebird site in Northampton Co, VA on Jan 1 and
many CACKLING GEESE were farther along Rt 600. A ROSS'S GOOSE was flying
over Eastern Shore NWR, Northampton Co on Dec 30. Two ROSS'S GEESE were in a
flock of 4500 Snow Geese on Rt 20 near Fairlee, Kent Co, MD on Jan 2. A
ROSS'S GOOSE was seen at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA on Jan 2. A
CACKLING GOOSE was in Loch Raven Reservoir, Baltimore Co, MD on Dec 29. A
CACKLING GOOSE was seen at Gravelly Point, Arlington, VA on Jan 3.
An EURASIAN WIGEON was found at Slaughter Beach, Sussex Co, DE on Jan 3. As
many as 30 COMMON EIDERS were seen at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD
through the week. Also at the Inlet were as many as two KING EIDERS, two
HARLEQUIN DUCKS, a GREAT CORMORANT, and a RED KNOT in addition to the usual
shorebirds and waterfowl. A HARLEQUIN DUCK was found at Point Lookout, St.
Mary's Co, MD on Jan 1. Two COMMON EIDERS were spotted near the breakwaters
in Lewes Harbor, Sussex Co, DE on Jan 2.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen from the ocean beach at Cape Henlopen, Sussex
Co, DE on Jan 2. The EARED GREBE on the lake at Black Hill Regional Park,
Montgomery Co, MD was last reported on Dec 28.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen near Norwood in Jefferson Co, WV on Dec 30.
Another NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen at Little Creek WMA, Kent Co, DE on Dec
31. An immature GOLDEN EAGLE soared over Loch Raven Reservoir on Dec 29. An
adult GOLDEN EAGLE was near the Patapsco River in Baltimore Co, MD on Jan 3.
The SANDHILL CRANE in Hampstead, Carroll Co, MD was seen again on the north
side of Shiloh Road on December 30.
An exceptional number of 759 AMERICAN WOODCOCK were recorded on the Cape
Charles Christmas Bird Count on Dec 30 along with other shorebirds including
WHIMBREL, MARBLED GODWIT, and RED KNOT. A RED KNOT was on Fowler Beach,
Sussex Co, DE on Jan 3.
A possible first winter THAYER'S GULL was spotted from the Port Covington
shopping center, Baltimore, MD on Jan 3. A first-cycle ICELAND GULL was seen
on the Anacostia River just north of Poplar Point, Washington, DC on Dec 29.
An adult ICELAND GULL flew over Fowler Beach on Jan 3. A first-cycle
GLAUCOUS GULL was found on Washington Channel near Hains Point, Washington,
DC on Jan 1. A BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE flew by the Ocean City Inlet on Jan 3.
Two DOVEKIES were observed near the jetty at the Ocean City Inlet on Jan 2
and 3. Another DOVEKIE sat on the beach at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA
on Dec 30; it flew off when approached. A RAZORBILL was seen at the inner
harbor jetty in Lewes, DE on Jan 2.
A SHORT-EARED OWL was in the fields near the wildlife drive in Blackwater
NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on Dec 28. Three SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen in the
Mockhorn Bay marshes on the Cape Charles CBC on Dec 30. SHORT-EARED OWL was
also recorded at Port Mahon, Kent Co, DE on the Bombay Hook CBC on Dec 31.
The ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD in Chester, Chesterfield Co, VA, was seen on
December 31. The female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD visiting a feeder in Silver
Spring, Montgomery Co, MD was enjoyed on December 30 and Jan 1.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE* was found on Dec 29 at Pickering Creek Audubon
Sanctuary, Talbot Co, MD and observed throughout the week. It is being seen
from Todd's Corner Rd. A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE* was seen on Ashville Park Blvd.
in Virginia Beach, VA on Jan 1. Another LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE* was spotted SW of
Middleton in Frederick Co, VA on Jan 2. Two LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES* were found
on the Central Loudoun CBC on Dec 29; one was north of Purcellville and the
other was along Goose Creek. A NORTHERN SHRIKE returned for the fourth
winter to generally inaccessible private property near Chino Farms, Kent Co,
MD. It was seen on Jan 1 on the public Kibler Rd just north of Rt 544.
A BLUE-HEADED VIREO was seen at Point Lookout SP on Jan 1.
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES were thinly distributed across the region. One was
at Hains Point, Washington, DC on Dec 31.
A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was seen at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA on
Dec 29; another was in Anacostia Park, Washington DC on the same day.
A male PAINTED BUNTING is gracing a feeder in Wicomico Church,
Northumberland Co, VA.
A BREWER'S BLACKBIRD was found in Loch Raven Reservoir on Dec 29. Four or
five BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS were seen on a farm just south of the intersection
of Aden Rd and Fleetwood Dr, Prince William Co, VA on Dec 31. An immature
BALTIMORE ORIOLE was found on Jan 2 in Lone Star Lakes park in Suffolk, VA.
A COMMON REDPOLL was at a feeder in Queenstown, Queen Anne's Co, MD on Dec
29. Several REDPOLLS flew over bayside at Assateague SP, Worcester Co, MD on
Dec 29. Another COMMON REDPOLL was seen on the Lake Wright Golf Course in
Norfolk, VA on Dec 31.
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.
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(s) |