-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 11:26 AM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 1/17/12
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 1/17/2012
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE/WV panhandle
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports, comments, questions:
(e-mail):
(voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
Compiler: Bob Hartman
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, January 17, at
10 AM.
Top birds this week are BARNACLE GOOSE* and BARROW'S GOLDENEYE* in MD,
BLACK-HEADED GULL in MD and VA, TENNESSEE WARBLER and BREWER'S
SPARROW* in VA.
Other birds of interest include SNOW GOOSE, ROSS'S GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE,
EURASIAN WIGEON, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, SURF SCOTER, BLACK SCOTER, RED-THROATED
LOON, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, BROWN PELICAN, SNOWY EGRET, BALD EAGLE,
NORTHERN GOSHAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, RAZORBILL, SHORT-EARED
OWL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, NORTHERN PARULA, LARK SPARROW, and PINE SISKIN.
The BARNACLE GOOSE discovered recently in Kent Co MD has been seen by many
over the last week, along Buckingham Rd (off MD 291), and in the Chester
River off the Buckingham Rd boat ramp. Also continuing is the BARROW'S
GOLDENEYE at the Elms Env. Ed. Center in St. Mary's Co MD, but with only a
single sighting, on Jan 14. Two BLACK-HEADED GULLS have been seen recently.
The one near Hunt Valley Mall (Baltimore Co
MD) continued with observations on Jan 10 & 11. Another BLACK-HEADED GULL
was spotted at Chincoteague NWR on Jan 12, at Swan Cove, along Beach Rd.
Possibly the first-ever winter TENNESSEE WARBLER in VA was seen and
photographed on Jan 10-12 at Dyke Marsh (Fairfax Co) along Haul Rd. The
BREWER'S SPARROW at Occoquan NWR (Prince William Co VA) continued all week,
being seen near the port-a-john on Delta Rd.
Although SNOW GEESE are common in winter on the Eastern Shore, a flight on
Jan 12 over Chestertown MD WWTP (Ken Co) estimated at 75,000 ("horizon to
horizon") must have been impressive. And on Jan 15, over central Kent Co De,
50,000 were reported. On Jan 12, a ROSS'S GOOSE was seen along Elwood Rd
(Dorchester Co MD), NW of Hurlock WWTP.
CACKLING GEESE were spotted, two in Eldersburg, Carroll Co MD, on Jan
10 off White Rock Rd, and one on Jan 14 in Jefferson Co WV off Flowing
Springs Rd. The EURASIAN WIGEON continued along Prime Hook Rd, Sussex Co DE,
with sightings on Jan 14 & 15. An out-of-season BLUE-WINGED TEAL was spotted
in Anne Arundel Co MD on Jan 11, at Oxbow Lake.
Surprisingly far inland, a SURF SCOTER was seen on Jan 10 at Piney Run Pk,
Carroll Co MD. Also seemingly out of place was a BLACK SCOTER reported on
Jan 14 at Lake Artemesia, College Pk MD (Prince George's Co).
A RED-THROATED LOON was unusually far from the coast on Jan 10 at Piney Run
Pk. A small number of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS seem to be pretty regular at
Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co MD; 5 were seen on Jan 14. Unexpected at this
season was a BROWN PELICAN at Indian River Inlet, Sussex Co DE, seen on Jan
14.
Although seen regularly in the region, BALD EAGLES are always a thrill.
Since they are normally seen in small numbers, the 20 reported
simultaneously at Huntsman Lake, Springfield VA (Fairfax Co) was impressive.
In Howard Co MD, along MD100 between Snowden River Pkwy and Meadowbridge Rd,
a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was reported on Jan 12. Two immature GOLDEN EAGLES were
reported at Blackwater NWR on Jan 14.
Although rare at this season, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS was present Jan 14 &
16 at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Anne Arundel Co MD. A RAZORBILL was
spotted on Jan 16 near the Ocean City Inlet south jetty, Worcester Co MD.
At least 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS were spotted Jan 15-16 in Taneytown MD, Carroll
Co. The LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE continued near the Hagerstown MD Community Center
(Washington Co), with sightings on Jan 10, 15, & 16.
Although not a winter first for VA, a NORTHERN PARULA, seen at the same
times and place as the TENNESSEE WARBLER mentioned above, is also quite
unusual at this season.
The LARK SPARROW discovered at Assateague SP (Worcester Co MD) almost
2 months ago has popped up again, with a sighting on Jan 14. PINE SISKINS
have begun to show up, with 2 at Bridgewater, Rockingham Co VA, and one in
West Laurel, Prince George's Co MD, all on Jan 14.
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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