-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 9:43 AM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 2/15/11

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               02/15/2011
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 Tuesday, February 15, at
8 AM.

Top birds this week are TRUMPETER SWAN*, PACIFIC LOON*, and WESTERN
GREBE* in VA.

Other birds of interest include waterfowl, OSPREY, GOLDEN EAGLE,
PEREGRINE FALCON, RUFF, gulls, WHITE-WINGED DOVE*, ALLEN'S
HUMMINGBIRD*, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER,
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW*, PAINTED BUNTING, RED
CROSSBILL, and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL.

An immature TRUMPETER SWAN* has apparently moved about a number of
ponds in the Stuart's Draft area of Augusta Co, VA in the last two
weeks. On Feb 9 and 10 the swan was in a pond viewable from Rt 632
Shalom Rd about 1.5 miles from its intersection with Rt 340.

A PACIFIC LOON* was spotted near Palmer Point, Kerr Reservoir,
Mecklenburg Co, VA on Feb 12.

A WESTERN GREBE* was found in Lake Anna, Spotsylvania Co, VA on Feb 9
and 10. It was hooked by a fisherman on the 10th and taken to a
rehabilitation center where recovery went well and it will be released
on Lake Anna again.

Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen at Riverstone Technology
Park, South Boston, Halifax Co, VA on Feb 11; on Feb 14 the birds were
on a pond on Industrial Park Road. CACKLING GEESE were found in
several spots including 11 in Washington Channel, Washington, DC on
Feb 9; 1 in Lake Frank, Montgomery Co, MD on Feb 9; 3 flying over East
Gude Dr, Rockville, Montgomery Co, MD on Feb 10; and 2 in Burke Lake
Park, Fairfax Co, VA on Feb 9 and 12.

Two EURASIAN WIGEONS were visible in Belmont Bay from Mason Neck SP,
Fairfax Co, VA on Feb 10. A Eurasian form of GREEN-WINGED TEAL was
seen at Truitt's Landing, Worcester Co, MD on Feb 12. Two female
COMMON EIDERS were found on Island 1 of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge
Tunnel, Northampton Co, VA on Feb 12. At least 30 COMMON EIDERS and a
first winter male KING EIDER were in Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co,
MD on Feb 12. The HARLEQUIN DUCK frequenting Fort Armistead Park,
Baltimore, MD was enjoyed on Feb 10, 11, and 13. Two HARLEQUIN DUCKS
were in the Ocean City Inlet on Feb 12. 

An early OSPREY has returned to St. Leonard, Calvert Co, MD. An adult
GOLDEN EAGLE was in a field on Evans Rd, Worcester Co, MD on Feb 8. A
sub-adult GOLDEN EAGLE soared over Rt 445, Kent Co, MD on Feb 12. A
PEREGRINE FALCON was seen near 15th and K Streets, Washington, DC on
Feb 12.

A RUFF was found at Truitt's Landing on Feb 10.

Once again there were many reports of gulls. BLACK-HEADED GULL was
seen in two locations. An adult bird was found in Daniel Crouse
Memorial Park, Denton, Caroline Co, MD on Feb 11, 12, and 14. Another
bird was seen at Fairmont WMA, Somerset Co, MD on Feb 12 and 14. A
tantalizing but unconfirmed report of CALIFORNIA GULL* came from 118th
St in Ocean City, MD on Feb 12. A first winter GLAUCOUS GULL was found
at the Salisbury landfill, Wicomico Co, MD on Feb 12. Another gull
challenge was the probable Ring-billed X Laughing Gull hybrid on
Skimmer Island, Ocean City, MD on Feb 12 and 13.  
 
The WHITE-WINGED DOVE* in the Monrovia/Kemptown area, Frederick Co MD
was last seen on Feb 8. The ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD* in Chester,
Chesterfield Co, VA continued through Feb 12.

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES are still widely scattered over DC, MD, and
VA. One bird is still being seen sporadically at Hains Point,
Washington, DC with the latest report from Feb 13. Another
BLACK-CAPPED was found in Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Washington, DC
along the boardwalk on Feb 9 and 12.

An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was with the chickadee at Kenilworth Aquatic
Gardens on Feb 9. A very hardy, apparently over-wintering
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was reported on Feb 13 from Dogstreet Rd and Mt
Blair Rd east of Keedysville, Washington Co, MD.

The only note on the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW* at Chesapeake Farms, Kent
Co, MD came on Feb 12.  When viewing this bird, birders MUST remain in
their cars, or access to the site may be denied.  

An adult female PAINTED BUNTING delighted birders on Feb 10 and 11 on
Deep Branch Rd, RD 234, near the sign for Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co,
DE.

RED CROSSBILLS were seen near Reddish Knob on the border between
Augusta Co, VA and Pendleton Co, WV on Feb 9. Another group of RED
CROSSBILLS was seen in Albemarle Co, VA on Feb 10. The WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILL being seen at a feeder in Henrico Co VA was observed on Feb
12.

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