Aug 23, 2011 05:29:46 PM,  wrote:

Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist 
Date: 8/23/2011
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
website is http://www.AudubonNaturalist.org.

This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon
Naturalist Society. This report was completed Tuesday, August 23, at 1
PM. 

Birds of interest include NORTHERN SHOVELER, egrets, SWALLOW-TAILED
and MISSISSIPPI KITES, shorebirds, gulls, BLACK TERNS, BLACK SKIMMERS,
COMMON NIGHTHAWK, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, flycatchers, CLIFF
SWALLOW and warblers.

Three early NORTHERN SHOVELERS were at Swan Creek/Cox Creek Dredge
Area, Anne Arundel Co, MD on August 19. This area is open only Monday
through Friday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM and birders must sign in at the
office and be on their best behavior. 

A good scope view of a LEAST BITTERN delighted birders on Poplar
Island, Talbot Co, MD on August 17. Birders visiting Bayside,
Worcester Co, MD at dawn on August 16 and 17 were treated to a large
Egret/Heron flight including a high count of 157 GREAT EGRETS. A young
TRICOLORED HERON was at Piney Run Reservoir, Carroll Co, MD on August
19, 20, 21 and 22.

A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was seen flying at the Shelburne Glebe Farm,
Loudoun Co, VA on August 16. Two SWALLOW-TAILED KITES were observed
during the week over a farm field in Campbell Co, VA off Long Island
Road (Rte. 761). They were joined by two MISSISSIPPI KITES on August
20 and combinations of the two species were seen during the rest of
the week. Two MISSISSIPPI KITES were flying close to Waynewood
Elementary School, Fairfax Co, VA on August 18. An adult MISSISSIPPI
KITE was spotted at the intersection of Backlick Road and Braddock
Road, Fairfax Co, VA on August 19, increasing to 5 birds by August 23.
A survey of MISSISSIPPI KITES in Northern Virginia tallied three sets
of breeding birds, reported on August 19.

Shorebird migration continues in full force. Four UPLAND SANDPIPERS
were at the corner of Oland Rd and Rte. 85 in Frederick Co, MD on
August 19 increasing to five on Aug 21. As many as eight UPLAND
SANDPIPERS were in a field near the intersection of Mill Lane and Rte.
213 in Cecil Co, MD on August 16. Sightings continued during the week
with a high count of eleven on August 17. One UPLAND SANDPIPER was
seen briefly at Craney Island, Portsmouth, VA on August 20. 

A visit to the Youghiogheny Reservoir, Garrett Co, MD on August 16
noted four shorebird species including SEMIPALMATED PLOVER plus LEAST,
SOLITARY and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS. A MARBLED GODWIT and a PIPING PLOVER
were on Assateague, Worcester Co, MD, viewed from the Castaways
Campground viewing platform on August 17. A trip to Poplar Island,
Talbot Co, MD on August 17 noted 13 wader species, notably,
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, BLACK-NECKED STILT, AMERICAN AVOCET, WILLET,
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. A trip to
Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD on August 18 noted ten shorebird
species including BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, WILLET (Western) and
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. One or two STILT SANDPIPERS were at the North
Beach Marsh, Calvert Co, MD on August 21.

A survey of the Assateague ORV Zone on August 17 noted some
interesting species, notably, MARBLED GODWIT, PIPING PLOVER, WILSON'S
PHALAROPE and SANDWICH TERN plus 1682 SANDERLINGS. The SANDERLING
count increased to 2625 by August 21.

An adult FRANKLIN'S GULL was at Tydings, Havre de Grace, Harford Co,
MD on August 22. One hundred twenty-one LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS,
(overwhelmingly second-cycle birds) were at the Assateague ORV Zone on
August 21.

August 21 was the day for BLACK TERNS: One was at Tanyard Marsh,
Caroline Co, MD; five more were at the Hurlock WWTP, Dorchester Co,
MD; twenty nine were on the Potomac near Fort Washington, Prince
George's Co, MD and yet another was at Staunton View Park, Mecklenburg
Co, VA. On August 22, seventy-nine BLACK TERNS were working over the
grass beds at the mouth of Furnace Bay, Cecil Co, MD while one more
was at Point Lookout SP, St. Mary's Co, MD on the same day.

Twelve BLACK SKIMMERS, including four juveniles were on Skimmer Island
on August 17. Four BLACK SKIMMERS were at Point Lookout SP on August
22.

COMMON NIGHTHAWKS are returning to Tyson's Corner with sightings
during the week. Two COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were flying near Compton
Mountain, Buchanan Co, VA on August 19.

A very unusual visitor to a home in Staunton, VA was a true albino
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD with sightings during the week. 

An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was at Governor Bridge NA on the Prince
George's/Anne Arundel County line, MD on August 19. An OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHER was at Wheaton Regional Park, Montgomery Co, MD on August
21 and 23. The count increased to two on August 22. 

There is an active CLIFF SWALLOW nest with at least two nestlings on
the face of a building at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock,
Montgomery Co, MD.

The trickle of migrating warblers increased during the week with
reports from various hotspots including Rock Creek Park, DC; Tilghman
Island, Talbot Co, MD; Monticello Park, Alexandria, VA; the Kiptopeke
Banding Station, Northampton Co, VA; Dolly Sods Banding Station, WV
and Turkey Point, Cecil Co, MD. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was at Lake
Needwood, Montgomery Co, MD on August 22. A BREWSTER'S WARBLER
(BLUE-WINGED x GOLDEN-WINGED) was at Wheaton Regional Park also on
August 22.

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

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