FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Fw: Greater DC Area, 12/06/05

["Coleman" <jandkcoleman@xxxxxxxxx>]

FYI 
Joe Coleman
----- Original Message ----- 
Birdeast
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 5:20 PM
Subject: DC Area, 12/06/05


Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               12/06/2005
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:           Joe Coleman
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 $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 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 at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday,
December 6.

Top birds this week are *PACIFIC LOON, *WESTERN GREBE, *SANDHILL
CRANE, *Selasphorus HUMMINGBIRD, *WHITE-WINGED DOVE in VA and
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER in MD.

Other birds of interest include ROSS'S GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, EURASIAN
WIGEON, REDHEAD, HARLEQUIN DUCK, RED-NECKED and EARED GREBES,
AMERICAN BITTERN, PEREGRINE FALCON, SORA, GLAUCOUS and LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, SHORT-EARED OWL,
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, HORNED LARK,
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, SNOW BUNTING, and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. 

A *PACIFIC LOON was observed in the ocean just beyond the surf at Back
Bay NWR, Virginia Beach, VA on Dec 4.  On the same day another
*PACIFIC LOON was observed, this one at the other end of the state in
South Holston Lake, Washington County, VA near Washington County Park.
It was well into the mouth of the Spring Creek Embayment of the lake. 

A possible *WESTERN GREBE was seen at the mouth of Little Hunting
Creek on the Potomac River a little north of Mt Vernon, Fairfax Co, VA
the morning of Dec 3.  It was not relocated on the 5th.

On Nov 30, the last day of their hawkwatch, the observers at Harvey's
Knob watched a *SANDHILL CRANE fly over with a kettle of Turkey
Vultures.

The *Selasphorus HUMMINGBIRD continued to visit a yard in Cape
Charles, Northampton Co, VA. It was seen at 9 Randolph Ave as recently
as Dec 3.

A *WHITE-WINGED DOVE, possibly a different one from the one that has
frequented a yard in Cape Charles, was located on Dec 1; it was
perched on top of a tree immediately north of Dixon Rd, along Seaside
St (not far from the Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR, Northampton Co,
VA.

A HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, discovered Nov 23 in Monkton, northern
Baltimore Co, MD, continued to be seen several times each day during
the past week with the most recent report on Dec 5.  Its location was
the North Central Railroad Trail (DeLorme 75 C5); the NCRT parking lot
is on the north side of Monkton Rd, a little east of where it crosses
Gunpowder Falls. To look for the bird, take the trail about half a
mile north to a large abandoned stone building. The bird has been seen
feeding on the berry trees north of the building, and in the mountain
laurel behind and uphill from the building.

A ROSS'S GOOSE was seen Nov 30 in Swan Cove, Chincoteague NWR,
Accomack Co, VA.  On Dec 4 two ROSS'S GEESE were found at the
Chincoteague NWR.

A CACKLING (RICHARDSON'S) GOOSE was found on both Dec 1 and Dec 2 on
the pond on Harrison Road, RT 750, Fauquier Co, VA.  To get to this
location take I-66 to exit 31 (The Plains/Old Tavern), go south to
Harrison Rd. (first road on right),  about a 1/2 mile down the road on
the right side is a pond in a farm field.  Park as far off the road as
possible, without getting in the way of tractors.

A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was seen Dec 4 and Dec 6 at the Fishing Center
at the Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore Co, MD.  Among the other
waterfowl, there were also three REDHEADS.

In the District there were 5 REDHEADS at the McMillan Reservoir (at
Michigan Ave and 1st St, NW) on Dec 4.  Two drake REDHEADS were at the
Georgetown Reservoir, NW DC on the same day. 

Two HARLEQUIN DUCKS were present Dec 3 on Island 2 of the Chesapeake
Bay Bridge/Tunnel, Northampton Co, VA.

Two RED-NECKED GREBES were found on Dec 3 and 4 at Beauve Ponds,
Abel's Wharf Rd, Leonardtown, St Mary's Co, MD.  An EARED GREBE
continued to be seen at Piney Run Reservoir, Carroll Co, MD, with the
most recent report from Nov 30.  Two EARED GREBES were also seen on
the middle impoundment at the Craney Island landfill, Portsmouth, VA
on Dec 1 while one was seen there on Dec 2.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen walking between the ponds at the
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, NE DC, between 3 and 4 p.m. on Dec 3.

On Dec 2, a PEREGRINE FALCON flew past an office building at Bailey's
Crossroads, Fall Church, Fairfax Co, VA.  Another PEREGRINE FALCON was
seen at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on Dec 6. 

A SORA was seen crossing an opening in the loop of the boardwalk at
Huntley Meadow's Park, Fairfax Co, VA on Dec 1.

Two GLAUCOUS GULLS (1 a 1st winter bird and the other a 2nd winter
bird) were seen at the Prince William Co (VA) Landfill on Dec 3.
There were also 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS (two adults and the other
a 2nd winter bird.

Two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were seen on the wires at the intersection
of Rt. 600 and Magotha Road in Northampton Co, VA on Friday, Dec. 2.

SHORT-EARED OWLS have returned to northwestern Fauquier Co with two
sighted Nov 30 on Rt 624, Crenshaw Rd, a little over a half mile from
the its intersection with Rt 710, Rectortown Rd.  Be careful when you
park and pull all the way off the road.

The hummingbird which has been frequenting a yard in Silver Spring,
Montgomery Co, MD, for the past few weeks was banded last week and is
a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD.  It was most recently seen Dec 5.

A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen Dec 3 in a field on the north side of Rt
628, part of the loop trail at Blandy Experimental Farm, Clarke Co,
VA.  Several HORNED LARKS (21) and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES (8) were
found at Blandy Farm on the same Northern Virginia Bird Club trip.

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES continued to be reported from a number of
locations throughout the area. 

Two SNOW BUNTINGS were seen at Point Lookout SP, St. Mary's Co, MD on
Dec 5.

A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was seen in Worcester Co, MD on Dec 3.  It
was found in a large flock of blackbirds on Rt 12 near Mt. Olive
Church Road several miles from Salisbury going towards Snow Hill
(DeLorme, page 34, D2).  It was not relocated the next day.

The See Life Paulagics trip out of Lewes, DE, on Saturday, Dec 10, is
full.  To be put on a waiting list or for more information call
215-234-6805 or see their web site at paulagics.com.

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

Finding Birds in the National Capital Area by Claudia Wilds is an
excellent source of directions to many birding sites. The ANS
Bookstore (301-652-3606 or
www.audubonnaturalist.org/cgi-bin/mesh/store) is an excellent source
for this and many other nature-related titles.

To report bird sightings, e-mail your report to
voice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx But no photographs, please. You may also
report by calling 301-652-1088 and selecting menu option 2. 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 either the MD/DC Records Committee
(www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html) or the VA Records Committee
(www.virginiabirds.org)

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