-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 6:43 PM
To:
Subject: DC Area, 4/24/12
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 4/24/2012
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: 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 $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, April 24 at
1:00 PM.
An AFRICAN GREY PARROT escaped from its owners at the Holton Arms School in
Bethesda, MD. The bird is named "Skeeter" and responds to whistles.
Sightings should be reported to (301) 717-8270.
Top birds this week are SWALLOW-TAILED KITE* in VA and MD and possible CORN
CRAKE* in MD.
Other birds of interest include SURF SCOTER, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, ibis,
falcons, AMERICAN BITTERN, TRI-COLORED HERON, shorebirds, BLACK-NECKED
STILT, COMMON RAVEN, wrens, AMERICAN PIPIT, warblers and sparrows.
Many observers continued to post a lot of personal First-of-Season sightings
this past week including CHIMNEY SWIFT, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, GREAT
CRESTED FLYCATCHER, WHITE-EYED, BLUE-HEADED and RED-EYED VIREO, WOOD THRUSH,
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, HOODED WARBLER, SCARLET
TANAGER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, INDIGO BUNTING plus BALTIMORE and ORCHARD
ORIOLE.
On April 17, A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE* was at Greenfield Lake, Botetourt Co,
VA. Another SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was in Denton, Caroline Co., MD flying just
north of Rte 404 and west of Rte 313 on April 23.
A possible CORN CRAKE was in the grass on the side of Otwell Road near
Oxford, Talbot Co., MD on April 21. Subsequent searches for the bird have
not resulted in any sightings or calls.
Two SURF SCOTERS were on Lake Habeeb, Rocky Gap SP, Allegany Co., MD on
April 21.
A flock of 21 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen flying over the James River
from CVWO's College Creek Hawk Watch, Williamsburg, VA on April 17. They
were seen again on April 18 and the number had increased to 22.
This was a week for IBIS sightings with all three species reported. A WHITE
IBIS was flushed at Truitt's Landing, Worcester Co., MD on April 21. GLOSSY
IBIS were seen at Swan Creek dredge containment facility, Anne Arundel Co.,
MD and near the intersection of Flatland Road
(MD514) and Marry Morris Road, Kent Co., MD, both sightings on April 17. The
Kent County GLOSSY IBIS were re-found on April 19. A WHITE-FACED IBIS was at
the East impoundment of Fairmont WMA, Somerset Co., MD on April 20.
A MERLIN was at Possum Point, Prince William Co., Va on April 21. A
PEREGRINE FALCON was at Conowingo Dam, Harford/Cecil Co., MD on April 20.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was at the Union Mills Wetland on Brown Road, Carroll
Co., MD on April 19. Another AMERICAN BITTERN flew over a house in Easton,
Talbot Co., MD on April 20. A TRICOLORED HERON was at Jug Bay Natural Area,
Prince George's Co., MD on April 18.
Shorebird numbers were also on the increase this past week. Seven PIPING
PLOVERS were at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA on April 17.
The RUFF reported last week, was seen again roosting in the spatterdock at
Jackson Landing, Prince George's Co, MD, on April 17 and on the sandbar on
April 18. WILSON'S SNIPE were reported from several sites during the week.
A single BLACK-NECKED STILT was on the mud flat at Truitt's Landing,
Worcester Co., MD on April 18 and 20.
Two COMMON RAVENS were interacting and croaking over the Potomac River, see
from the Carderock Recreation Area, Montgomery Co., MD on April 19.
Both SEDGE and MARSH WRENS were at Back Bay NWR, Virginia Beach, VA on April
18. A SEDGE WREN was at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co., VA on April 22.
The corner of Bollinger School and Tom's Creek Roads in Frederick Co., MD
was crawling with AMERICAN PIPITS on April 23.
More warblers showed up in the area during this week. A BLUE-WINGED WARBLER
was at Harford Glen in Bel Air, Harford Co., MD on April 21.
Another BLUE-WINGED WARBLER was singing next to a house in Difficult Run
Stream Valley Park, Oakton, Fairfax Co., VA on April 22. Three SWAINSON'S
WARBLERS were along the Washington Ditch, Great Dismal Swamp NWR, Suffolk,
VA on April 18. At least two CERULEAN WARBLERS were on the Blue Ridge
Parkway, Augusta Co., VA on April 19. Another CERULEAN WARBLER was at the
Trillium Trail parking area, Thompson WMA, Fauquier Co., VA on April 20.
Two VESPER SPARROWS were singing on Baptist Road near Harney, Carroll Co.,
MD on April 18. Another VESPER SPARROW was at Governor Bridge Natural Area,
Prince George's Co., MD on April 19. Two HENSLOW'S SPARROW'S were singing in
a field in Forest Hill, Harford Co., MD heard and seen during the week. A
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and two SEASIDE SPARROWS were at Fort McHenry,
Baltimore, MD on April 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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