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FW: DC Area, 3/29/11

From:

Norm Saunders

Reply-To:

Norm Saunders

Date:

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:29:54 -0400

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 9:23 AM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 3/29/11

Hotline:          Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:             March 29, 2011
Coverage:         MD/DC/VA/DE/WV panhandle
Telephone:        301-652-1088 option 1 
Reports (voice):  301-652-1088 option 2 
        (e-mail):  
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, March 29, at
8:00 AM. 

Top birds this week are ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD* and VIOLET-GREEN
SWALLOW*, both in VA.

Other birds of interest include waterfowl, WILD TURKEY, loons, grebes,
NORTHERN GANNET, ANHINGA, AMERICAN BITTERN, PEREGRINE FALCON, gulls,
CASPIAN TERN, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, swallows,
warblers, FOX SPARROW, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, COMMON
REDPOLL, and PINE SISKIN.

On Mar 27 the hardy ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD* in Chester, Chesterfield Co,
VA, was feeding in the sleet.

On March 26, a VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW appeared at the Old Trail Golf
Course pond in Albemarle Co, VA. It was seen again, and photographed,
until dusk, but it could not be refound the following morning. This
bird apparently represents a new species for the state. 

A ROSS'S GOOSE found Mar 26, and seen again Mar 27 and 28, in
Morgantown, Charles Co, MD, was a county first. A ROSS'S GOOSE was
discovered at Willow Lake in Rockbridge Co, VA, on Mar 27.

BLUE-WINGED TEAL are returning to the area, with reports from Oxbow
Lake, western Anne Arundel Co, MD, and Beauvue Ponds, St. Mary's Co,
MD. A HARLEQUIN DUCK was reported Mar 23 and 25 from Baltimore's Ft
Armistead Park. Both SURF and BLACK SCOTERS were noted this week on
the Potomac in Montgomery Co. A drake SURF SCOTER surfaced at Little
Seneca Reservoir, Montgomery Co, Mar 27, as did 2 of the many
LONG-TAILED DUCKS found in the area; others were reported from
Kershner's Pond, Frederick Co, MD and the C&O Canal at Cushwa,
Williamsport, MD, as well as at Riley's Lock, Montgomery Co. On March
23, LONG-TAILED DUCKS were one of a dozen duck species at Rocky Gap
SP, Allegany Co, MD. Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA, also
held a good selection of waterbirds on Mar 27. 

On March 27 2 WILD TURKEYS braved traffic to cross Military Rd in Rock
Creek Park at the northern edge of DC.

Loons and grebes were on the move this week. Both RED-THROATED and
COMMON LOONS were found on the Potomac in Montgomery Co. HORNED GREBES
were plentiful on the Potomac, including a group of around 50 March 24
at Hains Point, SW DC. RED-NECKED GREBES were spotted from Ft
Washington Park, Prince George's Co, MD, and from Dyke Marsh, Fairfax
Co, VA. An EARED GREBE was reported on the Potomac River near Memorial
Bridge, DC, on Mar 27.

More than 60 NORTHERN GANNETS were observed plunge-diving into the
Nanticoke River, north of the Cedar Hill marina, Wicomico Co, MD, on
Mar 27.

ANHINGAS were reported from two VA locations, on the Blackwater River
in Franklin Co on Mar 24 and at Northwest River Park in Chesapeake on
Mar 25.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was a highlight of a Carroll Co, MD, field trip to
Dickey Farm in Howard Co, MD, on Mar 26.

A PEREGRINE FALCON has taken to perching--and breakfasting--atop a
lamppost on the east side of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge, DC; it
afforded superb if fleeting views repeatedly this past week.

Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro, Prince George's Co, MD, recorded its
first LAUGHING GULL of the season on Mar 25. A single LITTLE GULL was
spotted among hundreds of BONAPARTE'S GULLS on Back River in Baltimore
on Mar 26.

An early CASPIAN TERN was noted Mar 25 at Southwest Area Park,
Baltimore.

A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was reported Mar 26 and 27 in downtown South
Boston, Halifax Co, VA.

A juvenile RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was discovered Mar 27 near milepost
12 on the C&O towpath in Montgomery Co. Two adult RED-HEADED
WOODPECKERS were found Mar 25 along Tom's Creek Church Rd in NE
Frederick Co. 

Swallow sightings included PURPLE MARTIN in Talbot Co, MD, Mar 22;
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW Mar 25 at Riley's Lock, Montgomery Co,
and at Schoolhouse Pond; and an early CLIFF SWALLOW Mar 23 in New
Hope, Augusta Co, VA. TREE SWALLOWS were everywhere.

Warblers are edging north. By Mar 25, YELLOW-THROATED and PINE
WARBLERS and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH were singing at Beaverdam
Reservoir, Loudoun Co, VA. 

Among several sightings of FOX SPARROWS was a small flock found Mar 22
at Wheaton RP. 

RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were reported from several locations again this week,
including Reston, Fairfax Co, Mar 22; Centennial Park, Howard Co, Mar
27; and Silver Lake, Prince William Co, VA, Mar 27. At least 50 were
at Oxbow Lake in Anne Arundel Co on Mar 23; some of these birds were
still present Mar 28.

The WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL continues to visit a feeder in Glen Allen,
Henrico Co, VA, with a report from Mar 26. After an absence of some
days, on Mar 25 a COMMON REDPOLL returned to a feeder in Dry Fork, WV.
PINE SISKINS continued to visit feeders in Jefferson Co, WV, and
Charleston, WV, through Mar 27. 

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/) 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

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