FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Fw: DC Area, 1/04/05

["Coleman" <jandkcoleman@xxxxxxxxx>]

FYI - The RBA for the Greater Washington DC Area
Joe Coleman
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <scordle@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <birdeast@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 9:02 PM
Subject: DC Area, 1/04/05


Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               1/04/05
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
        (email):    voice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
     (deadline):    midnight Mondays
Compiler:           Lydia Schindler
Sponsor:            Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
                      Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
Transcriber:        Steve Cordle (scordle@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)

Please consider joining ANS, especially if you are a regular user of
the Voice (Individual $30; Family $40; Nature Steward $60; Audubon
Advocate $100). 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 tape was made Tuesday, Jan 4, at 7 p.m.

Top birds this week are CLARK'S GREBE in VA, *KELP GULL in MD, SNOWY
OWL in DE, *RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in DC, and *LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE in MD.

Other birds of interest include EARED and HORNED GREBES, BROWN
PELICAN, AMERICAN BITTERN, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, geese, swans,
ducks, raptors including NORTHERN GOSHAWK and GOLDEN EAGLE, rails,
gulls, RAZORBILL, SHORT-EARED OWL, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD,
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, HERMIT THRUSH, GRAY CATBIRD, COMMON RAVEN,
HORNED LARK, warblers, LARK and other sparrows, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW
BUNTING, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, PURPLE FINCH, PINE
SISKIN, and EVENING GROSBEAK.     

On Jan 1, a CLARK'S GREBE was seen, in excellent light, at First
Landing SP in Virginia Beach.
  
Maryland's *KELP GULL started the New Year in its usual spot behind
the Sea Breeze Crab House in Sandgates, St. Mary's Co.

The SNOWY OWL seen last week along Port Mahon Rd, DE, was still there
as of Dec 29; as before, it was being harassed by SHORT-EARED OWLS.

A SNOWY OWL was present on the beach at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co,
VA, Dec 29 and 30--but seeing it required a half-mile trek into the
ORV zone.

The hummingbird at the Smithsonian's Ripley Garden (between the Arts
and Industries building and the Hirshhorn), SW DC has been banded and
identified as a female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD; it was seen as recently as
this morning, Jan 4. Also on view in the Ripley Garden, Jan 1 and 4: a
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. 

The shrike found last week in Washington Co, MD, southwest of
Hagerstown, was determined to be a *LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE--a species now
more rare in MD than Northern Shrike. It was seen again Dec 29 and 30
and Jan 1, as before in a field on Shaffer Rd, 1.2 miles from the
T-intersection with Dam #4 Rd, south of Downsville (DeLorme 71, C4). 

Two EARED GREBES have been seen at Little Seneca Lake, Black Hill RP,
Montgomery Co, MD, most often from the parking area at the Rte 121
bridge, and with the most recent report from Jan 2. That area is also
hosting two HORNED GREBES, so look carefully.  

A dozen BROWN PELICANS were spotted south of Cove Point, Calvert Co,
MD, during a Christmas Count Jan 2.

An AMERICAN BITTERN plus 3 KING RAILS turned up at Occoquan Bay NWR,
Prince William Co, VA, on Jan 2. A VIRGINIA RAIL was still present at
Lilypons Water Gardens, Frederick Co, MD, on Jan 2. On Jan 1, Magotha
Rd at the Eastern Shore of VA NWR, Northampton Co, VA, held at least 6
VIRGINIA RAILS.  

Nine BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were present in trees along the
Washington Channel, Hains Point, SW DC, on Jan 1. Single BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERONS were spotted at Cameron Station, Alexandria, and Roaches
Run, Arlington Co, VA. 

A SNOW GOOSE was again present in DC; on Dec 30 it could be seen
across the Anacostia River opposite Hains Point; on Jan 1 a SNOW GOOSE
was in a goose flock east of the Lincoln Memorial. An immature SNOW
GOOSE was being seen from the Visitor Center at the Patuxent Wildlife
Research Center, Prince George's Co, MD. 

The recently "split" CACKLING GEESE were reported from numerous MD
locations this week: near Elkton, in Cecil Co (near the intersection
of Rte 40 and Landing Lane); at Centennial Lake in Howard Co; once
again, in eastern Montgomery Co (along Zion Rd just short of its
intersection with Gregg Rd); at Piney Run Park in Carroll Co; at the
Burkittsville pond in Frederick Co; and in Talbot Co, near the
junction of Black Dog Alley and Kingston Landing Rd. . 

An unusual swan at Black Hill garnered a lot of attention this week.
It was first thought to be a Trumpeter, but further scrutiny of the
U-shaped edge at the top of the bill suggests it might be a
"TRUMPLING"--a cross between Trumpeter and Whistling (aka Tundra)
created some years ago by a research program in Northern Virginia.

On Dec 30, a TUNDRA SWAN was found in DC, on the Potomac above Key
Bridge. On Jan 1, 6 TUNDRA SWANS were at Black Hill.

Also at Black Hill in the balmy weather of New Year's Day were 15
species of duck, including a female LONG-TAILED DUCK and several
COMMON GOLDENEYE, plus 4 REDHEADS near the causeway.  

During the Ocean City CBC (Worcester Co, MD) on Dec 28, the Inlet held
KING and COMMON EIDERS and HARLEQUIN DUCK. On Jan 1, KING EIDERS were
joined at the Inlet by a RAZORBILL. On Dec 31, a RAZORBILL was found
Dec 31 on Island # 4 of the CBB/T, Northampton Co, VA. 

One KING and 6 COMMON EIDERS were found during the Cape Charles
(Northampton Co, VA) CBC Dec 30; they were swimming "at the base of
the former Smith Island lighthouse, now a circle of bricks 100 yards
out to sea."  One KING and 2 COMMON EIDERS were seen Dec 31 at the
north end of the CBB/T, while a HARLEQUIN was found on Island #1. On
Jan 2, 5 HARLEQUINS were at Island #2.

The raptor tally at Hains Point in East Potomac Park, SW DC, on Dec 30
included 2 MERLINS, 2 COOPER'S HAWKS, 1 RED-TAIL and 1 RED-SHOULDER.
On Jan 1, 1 PEREGRINE FALCON could be seen on the railroad bridge over
the Potomac, while another was found at Kenilworth Park, NE DC. 

On Dec 30, Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD, hosted an amazing 54
BALD EAGLES.

Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, VA, on Jan 1 featured 7 BALD EAGLES, 3
NORTHERN HARRIERS, and assorted AMERICAN KESTRELS, as well as 6
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS. That day 3 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen at
Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA. The Calmes Neck CBC on Jan 2, in
western Loudoun Co, found 10 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS.

Several NORTHERN HARRIERS and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were seen Dec 30 and
Jan 1 on private property NE of Winchester, Frederick Co, VA; later in
the day on Jan 1, they were joined by 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS. 

A NORTHERN GOSHAWK gave good views at the parking lot at Kiptopeke SP,
Northampton Co, VA, Jan 1.

There was a surprising run of GOLDEN EAGLE reports. An adult GOLDEN
EAGLE was found during the Annapolis CBC Jan 2, near where Rutland Rd
passes under Rte 50 at Davidsonville. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was seen
and photographed at Black Hill RP, during the Sugarloaf CBC Jan 2. On
Dec 28, an immature GOLDEN EAGLE was reported from Brighton Dam, on
the Montgomery/Howard Co line.

Gull reports include a second-winter GLAUCOUS GULL at the Cecil Co
landfill and 2 subadult ICELAND GULLS among 4,000 birds at Cecil's
North East Town Park Dec 28, and a first-year ICELAND GULL there Jan
3; a dark juvenile KUMLEIN'S or very pale THAYER'S GULL at Black Hill
Dec 29; a first-winter GLAUCOUS on the Prince George's shore of Jug
Bay, at Mt. Calvert on Dec 28 and 29; a LITTLE GULL Dec 31 at CBB/T
Island # 2; a first winter GLAUCOUS at CBB/T Island # 2 Jan 2; a
first-winter THAYER'S on the Fort Belvoir CBC Jan 2, at the 123 bridge
over the Occoquan River between Fairfax and Prince William Cos.  

A RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD has been frequenting a feeder in Cape
Charles, Northampton Co, VA. 

On Jan 1, 4 COMMON RAVENS were tallied during the Sugarloaf CBC and 2
during the Fort Belvoir (Fairfax Co, VA) CBC. One COMMON RAVEN was
reported from Great Falls NP, Fairfax Co, on Jan 2, at the picnic area
south of the VC. 

A HERMIT THRUSH was spotted at Croydon Nature Center, Rockville,
Montgomery Co, on Dec 29.

A GRAY CATBIRD was found at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, Dec 31.

A first-year WILSON'S WARBLER was refound at the Patuxent River Naval
Air Station, St. Mary's Co, Dec 31, and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was
there, to boot. An adult male WILSON'S WARBLER was found at Cape
Charles, Northampton Co, VA, Dec 31. 

Blue Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery Co, was once again replete with
sparrows. On Dec 28 it held 10 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and 20 FOX
SPARROWS, as well as SWAMP, FIELD, and WHITE-CROWNED. 

A LARK SPARROW returned to a feeder in Chesapeake, VA, Dec 29.  

Noland's Ferry Rd at Rte 28 in Frederick Co, MD, drew a VESPER SPARROW
on Jan 1, along with SAVANNAH and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS.
 
A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was seen with a flock of HORNED LARKS Jan 1 along
Rte 85 in southern Frederick Co. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was found with
Larks at the Polo Field on Hughes Rd, Montgomery Co, Jan 1. 

Three SNOW BUNTINGS were found at Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel Co, MD,
on Jan 2; they were in the south beach area. 

On Dec 30, the Seaford, DE, CBC turned up a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD;
it was in a corn field about 2 miles north of Harrington, at the
intersection of Rte 13 and 428, across from a furniture store. On Jan
1, 2 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, 1 male and 1 female, were mixed in with
upwards of 2 million blackbirds feeding between Kiptopeke Elementary,
Cape Charles, VA, and the corn fields west of the highway nearby. 

A male BALTIMORE ORIOLE is lingering on private property in northern
Charles Co.

A PINE SISKIN was back at a feeder in Harwood, Anne Arundel Co, Dec 30
and Jan 1, along with a PURPLE FINCH. A PINE SISKIN visited a feeder
in Indian Head, Charles Co, Jan 2.

Along with PINE SISKINS, a home just west of Warrenton, Fauquier Co,
is hosting more than a dozen EVENING GROSBEAKS at its feeders.

Those of you lucky enough to host a winter hummingbird are asked to
contact hummingbird bander Mary Gustafson at live4birds@xxxxxxxx Mary
is working to document winter hummingbirds in the east.

Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOSPREY, 
VA-Bird, and Delaware Birds list servers.

Claudia Wilds's book, Finding Birds in the National Capital Area, is
an excellent source of directions to many birding sites. And the ANS
Bookstore is an excellent source for this and many other
nature-related titles: 301-652-3606.

To report bird sightings, e-mail your report to
voice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx You may also report by calling
301-652-1088 and selecting menu option 2. Please post e-mail reports
before midnight Monday, identify the county and state, and include
your name and a Tuesday morning phone number. 

Thank you for calling, and GOOD BIRDING. 

* Of interest to the MD/DC Records Committee. For more information,
visit www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html.


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