-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 10:24 AM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 11/29/11
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 11/29/2011
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE/WV panhandle
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports, comments, questions:
(voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email):
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 $50; Family $65; Nature Steward $100; Audubon Advocate
$200). 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, November 29, at 9:00 AM.
Top birds this week are CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD*, CAVE SWALLOW, and LE CONTE'S
SPARROW*, all in MD.
Other birds of interest include waterfowl, HORNED GREBE, AMERICAN WHITE
PELICAN, GREEN HERON, raptors including NORTHERN GOSHAWK and GOLDEN EAGLE,
FRANKLIN'S GULL, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, LOGGERHEAD
SHRIKE*, WARBLING VIREO, HORNED LARK, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, SWAINSON'S
THRUSH, HERMIT THRUSH, AMERICAN PIPIT, warblers, sparrows, SNOW BUNTING,
LAPLAND LONGSPUR, DICKCISSEL, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, PURPLE
FINCH, and PINE SISKIN.
The CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD* visiting a garden near Easton, Talbot Co, MD,
since October 23 was still being seen as of Nov 28. The garden is in a
private community where parking is limited and all viewing is from inside a
townhouse. Access can still be attained, but is by appointment only. To
arrange a time for a visit, phone the home owner at 410-822-1966; she will
provide directions to her home and instructions about parking. Please be
courteous and respectful.
Two CAVE SWALLOWS were seen Nov 24 and 25 at Point Lookout SP, St Mary's Co,
MD, the first time over the pond at the Point and the second time over pines
at the south end of the picnic area. A single CAVE SWALLOW was observed Nov
27 at Piscataway Park, Prince George's Co, MD, at the end of Wharf Rd.
A LE CONTE'S SPARROW* found Nov 25 at Swan Harbor Farm, Harford Co, MD, was
a first county record. Numerous visitors succeeded in seeing the bird Nov
26, 27, and 28, as it moved along the reeds on the south dike of the marshy
impoundment.
Waterfowl numbers continue to mount. On Nov 23 and 24, Cheat Lake in eastern
WV hosted thousands of birds: a massive SCAUP flock, all 3 SCOTERS,
LONG-TAILED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and 3 species of MERGANSER,
as well as lots of HORNED GREBES and 5 RED-THROATED LOONS. But by Nov 26
most of these birds had gone.
Four HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen at the Ocean City jetty, Worcester Co, MD on
Nov 24.
On Nov 24, 95 HORNED GREBES stopped by Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD.
Spots to check for waterfowl, in addition to the Potomac River in all
jurisdictions, include McMillan and Georgetown Reservoirs in DC; Black Hill
RP in Montgomery Co and Oxbow Lake in Anne Arundel CO; , and Leesylvania SP,
Prince William Co, VA.
Two AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were viewed from the Wildlife Drive at
Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD, on Nov 25.
A very late GREEN HERON flew among the phrags at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery
Co, on Nov 27.
Some 120 BALD EAGLES were an impressive sight at Conowingo Dam, on the
Harford/Cecil Co line in MD, on Nov 26. A single BALD EAGLE thrilled a
homeowner in Falls Church, Fairfax Co, VA, on Nov 25.
The hawk watches have been busy. Snickers Gap recorded a NORTHERN GOSHAWK on
Nov 23; DE's Ashland Nature Center hawk watch spotted a NORTHERN GOSHAWK on
Nov 27. On Nov 25 the Ashland hawk watch enjoyed 2 GOLDEN EAGLES at the same
time. A GOLDEN EAGLE, as well as a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, were reported from
Lebanon, Russell Co, VA on Nov 23. Other ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS reports came
from Vessey Orchard in Somerset Co, MD, and over Hall School Rd in Augusta
Co, VA -both on Nov 27. Virginia Beach produced PEREGRINE sightings: 2 birds
perched on the water tower on Cleveland St on Nov 25 and a single bird the
next day, sitting on a sign for a Hampton Inn on Atlantic Ave.
On Nov 26, a FRANKLIN'S GULL was briefly spotted among the thousands of
gulls at the marina in Hopewell, VA.
A RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was banded Nov 22 in a yard in Jefferson Co, WV.
At least 4 juvenile RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were present Nov 24 at Perryville
Community Park, Cecil Co, MD.
The LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE* found last week in the Ashville Park neighborhood of
Virginia Beach was seen again on Nov 26 and 27, near the third roundabout on
Ashville Park Blvd. A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE* was discovered Nov 25, and seen
again Nov 26, 27, 28, northwest of Hagerstown, Washington Co, MD; the shrike
frequents the outskirts of a large shopping complex, the Centre at
Hagerstown. [From I-70, take
I-81 north, then Rte 40 west, and almost immediately make a right turn into
the Centre. At the T, go left on Bartow Dr to a roundabout. The bird has
been found near two of the streets that lead off the roundabout, Sedgewick
Way and Hager's Crossing Drive.]
An extraordinarily late WARBLING VIREO was discovered Nov 26 and seen again
Nov 27 at the Bayside campground at Assateague Island National Seashore,
Worcester Co, MD.
There were HORNED LARKS and AMERICAN PIPITS galore in Jefferson Co, WV, on
Nov 26; one location for large flocks was Dutch Hill Rd off Kabletown Rd. On
Nov 27 these flocks held a LAPLAND LONGSPUR. On Nov 27, AMERICAN PIPITS
visited a yard in Dry Fork, Pittsylvania Co, VA.
A lingering BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was spotted Nov 26 at Huntley Meadows
Park, Fairfax Co, VA.
A SWAINSON'S THRUSH was well seen at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental
Stewardship, northwest Loudoun Co, VA, on Nov 26. Some
25 to 30 HERMIT THRUSHES enlivened Riverwood in Beulahville, Prince William
Co, VA, Nov 25.
A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER visited a birdbath in a yard in Chesapeake, VA, on
Nov 27. A PRAIRIE WARBLER showed up at Assateague's Bayside campground Nov
26.
More seasonal were ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, noted in several locations,
including Kenilworth Park, NE DC, Nov 28. Hopewell, VA, hosted 4
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS on Nov 24 and 3 on Nov 26.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen on several consecutive days at Assateague
Island SP, with as many as 3 on Nov 25. In Virginia Beach, an ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLER returned Nov 26 to a yard where it winters each year.
Sparrow season is booming. Three AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and a LINCOLN'S
SPARROW were reported from Huntley Meadow's Hike/Bike trail on Nov
27.CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found at Assateague SP Nov 25; Kiptopeke SP,
Northampton Co, VA, Nov 26; and Swan Harbor Farm Nov 27.
A VESPER SPARROW was among many CHIPPING SPARROWS on Shell Rd at Assateague
SP Nov 26. A LARK SPARROW was again seen at the Assateague Island NS
campground on Nov 24, in front of pumphouse #2, and again on Nov 26.
On Nov 26, a SNOW BUNTING flew over Kenilworth Park, NE DC. On Nov 25,
2 SNOW BUNTINGS were poking along the beach at Elk Neck SP, Cecil Co, MD.
Two male DICKCISSELS were a surprise at Hains Point, SW DC, on Nov 26.
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were in evidence at a number of locations, including
Huntley Meadows and Hughes Hollow.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES brightened a yard in Chesapeake, VA, as recently as Nov
27.
PURPLE FINCHES were reported from Charles Town, Jefferson Co, WV, on Nov 22
and Howard County, MD, on Nov 26.
Two PINE SISKINS were noted at Hallowing Point, in the Pohick Bay area of
Fairfax Co, VA, on Nov 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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