FYI Joe Coleman
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Cordle" <scordle@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <birdeast@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2005 2:16 PM
Subject: DC Area, 5/10/05
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 5/10/05
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, May 10, at 1:00 pm.
Top birds this week are ANHINGA in MD, SWALLOW-TAILED KITE in VA,
MISSISSIPPI KITE in MD, and SANDHILL CRANE in MD and VA.
Other birds of interest include HORNED GREBE, AMERICAN BITTERN, CATTLE
EGRET, MERLIN, rails, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, BLACK-NECKED STILT,
PARASITIC JAEGER, LITTLE and BONAPARTE'S GULLS, BLACK-BILLED and
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, CHIMNEY SWIFT, EASTERN
WOOD-PEWEE, ACADIAN and WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER,
COMMON RAVEN, CLIFF SWALLOW, GRAY-CHEEKED and other thrushes, WARBLERS
including MOURNING and SWAINSON'S, SUMMER TANAGER, LINCOLN'S SPARROW,
BLUE GROSBEAK, BOBOLINK, RED CROSSBILL, and PINE SISKIN.
An ANHINGA was spotted at Loch Raven Reservoir in Cockeysville,
Baltimore Co, MD, on the morning of May 9, near the Merrymans Mill Rd
bridge. However, it could not be refound there that evening.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was observed May 4 in Northampton Co, VA; it was
flying over Rte 13 in the vicinity of Nassawadox.
On May 6, a subadult MISSISSIPPI KITE was glimpsed as it flew over
I-495 in Montgomery Co, MD, between the Clara Barton Parkway and River
Rd.
On May 6, a MISSISSIPPI KITE circled over a ball field at Bowie High
School, Prince George's Co, MD. On May 5, it was a MERLIN that buzzed
soccer players behind the Samuel Ogle school in Bowie.
Reports of SANDHILL CRANE came from 3 locations: VA's Northern
Neck--along Lewisetta Rd about 3.5 miles off Rte 360, Northumberland
Co; in Buckingham Co, VA, at the intersection of Rte 602 and VA 56,
about a mile from US 60; and, on May 8, in Talbot Co, MD, flying over
Rte 50, about a mile north of the Choptank River bridge.
A breeding-plumaged HORNED GREBE was on the Potomac just north of
Riley's Lock, Montgomery Co, May 9.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen May 6 at Riverside Park in Reston,
Fairfax Co, VA; it was hiding in tall vegetation close to the first
small bridge.
A CATTLE EGRET was discovered May 5 in Montgomery Co; it was with
horses in a field on Hughes Rd, north of the polo fields and near
Sugarland Rd. On May 7, 3 CATTLE EGRETS were found on the VA side of
the Potomac, along Rte 7 near the Loudoun Co Parkway.
May 8 was a 17-MERLIN day at the Fort Smallwood hawk watch in Anne
Arundel Co, MD. There were also tens of thousands of swallows--all
varieties.
KING RAILS continue at Occoquan NWR, Prince William Co, VA, with a
report of as many as 3 on May 8. That same day, a VIRGINIA RAIL was
heard in northern Carroll Co, MD, in a small marshy area on Babylon
Rd, just west of Silver Run.
The SORA at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, was seen again at dawn on
May 8.
A breeding-plumaged AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was one of 13 species of
shorebird May 8 at Bombay Hook NWR, DE; it was seen at Bear Swamp.
Two BLACK-NECKED STILTS were a surprise find at the Pokomoke City
sewage ponds in Worcester Co, MD, May 6.
On May 8, a PARASITIC JAEGER was spotted at Assateague SP, Worcester
Co; it was flying north parallel to the beach.
A LITTLE GULL was with 16 BONAPARTE'S GULLS May 8 at Big Stone Beach
on Milford Neck, DE.
A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was reported from Paint Branch Stream Valley
Park, in College Park, Prince George's Co, on May 6--along with a BLUE
GROSBEAK. Both BLACK- and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS were found in fields
behind Hughes Hollow on May 8. Two BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS appeared at
Upper Watts Branch Park, Rockville, Montgomery Co, May 9. A
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was reported from a yard in District Heights,
Prince George's Co, MD, May 7 and 9.
On the evening of May 4, two COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were observed flying
over the Nature Center at Rock Creek Park, NW DC. A COMMON NIGHTHAWK
was reported from Ft. C. F. Smith Park, Arlington, VA, May 9.
On May 4, close to three thousand CHIMNEY SWIFTS could be seen
descending into the two chimneys in Hampden, Baltimore Co, on May 4.
EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES are back; one of the first was noted at Noland's
Ferry, Frederick Co, MD, on May 4.
ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS are back, too, with several heard at Lake
Kittamaqundi, Howard Co, MD; Little Bennett RP, Montgomery Co; and
Riverbend Park, Fairfax Co, VA.
A WILLOW FLYCATCHER was reported from Rocky Gap SP, Allegany Co, MD,
on May 8.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER visited a sunflower seed feeder in
Gaithersburg, Montgomery Co, May 6. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen
at Patterson Park in Baltimore May 7.
A COMMON RAVEN was observed May 5 at the upper Thompson WMA, western
Fauquier Co, VA.
Dozens of CLIFF SWALLOWS were observed from Greenbridge Road, over the
Triadelphia Reservoir, Montgomery Co, late on the afternoon of May 6.
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was reported from downtown DC May 10; it was one
of several migrants found near Constitution Gardens, around the War
Memorial. Also in the mix SWAINSON'S THRUSH and WOOD THRUSH, 7 species
of warbler, including BLACKPOLL and MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, ROSE-BREASTED
GROSBEAK, and BALTIMORE ORIOLE.
Potomac Overlook Park in Arlington on May 4 was dubbed "Thrush
Central," with 1 VEERY, 1 GRAY-CHEEKED, 2 SWAINSON'S, and 9 WOOD
THRUSHES.
A singing MOURNING WARBLER entertained birders at Monticello Park,
Alexandria, for much of the day on May 8.
May 4 was a good day for warbler migration. Some 20 species were
glimpsed at Rock Creek Park, in the vicinity of Picnic Area 18 and the
Nature Center, including CERULEAN and WILSON'S WARBLERS. The 15
species at Upper Watts Branch included CAPE MAY and CANADA. At
Soldier's Delight Natural Area, Baltimore Co, BLACKBURNIAN was one of
14 species. The grounds of the Capitol held BLACK-THROATED BLUE and
OVENBIRD, as sell as LINCOLN'S SPARROW and PURPLE FINCH. Near Hains
Point, SW DC, were MAGNOLIA and CHESTNUT-SIDED.
On May 7, Hains Point, SW DC, featured a BLACK-THROATED GREEN as well
as BANK SWALLOW and BLUE GROSBEAK. An ANS trip to Battery Kemble Park,
NW DC, on May 7 found 9 species of warbler and 5 species of
woodpecker.
On May 7, the Possum Point area of Prince William Co showcased 23
warbler species.
On May 7, birders at the Great Dismal Swamp NWR, Suffolk, VA, got good
looks at 3 singing SWAINSON'S WARBLERS, one of 15 species tallied that
day. In Buchanan Co, VA, a SWAINSON'S WARBLER was tracked down in a
rhododendron thicket at the head of Slate Creek, a hollow to the east
of Compton Mountain.
A May 8 survey of four Northern Virginia parks--the W&OD Trail, Four
Mile Run, Glencarlyn, and Longbranch--turned up 20 species of warbler,
including TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE, and CANADA, plus SUMMER TANAGER.
On May 8, a walk to the Patuxent North Tract, Anne Arundel Co, tallied
14 warbler species plus SUMMER TANAGER and BLUE GROSBEAK.
As of May 8, CERULEAN WARBLERS were back on territory along the C&O
Canal, a short ways downstream from Sycamore Landing Rd, Montgomery
Co. On May 7, a CERULEAN WARBLER was singing at Great Falls NHP,
Fairfax Co.
On May 9, a yard in Arbutus, Baltimore Co, hosted an amazing 5
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS.
On May 9, the Chester Phelps WMA in southern Fauquier Co (Curtis
parking lot) held a huge quantity of birds--including an incredible
100 YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS.
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH has been found at Upper Watts, Riverbend,
Monticello, and White Oaks Park, Fairfax Co, as well as Roosevelt
Island, NW DC.
In the District, warblers along the Mall, NW DC, included BLUE-WINGED,
MAGNOLIA, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, YELLOW, AMERICAN
REDSTART, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, and OVENBIRD.
A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was seen at Wakefield Park, Fairfax Co, May 4.
A BLUE GROSBEAK was noted along the C&O Canal below Riley's Lock on
May 7.
Small numbers of BOBOLINKS were found this week along Sugarland Rd,
Montgomery Co; Rock Creek Park near Parklawn Dr, just north of
Randolph Rd, Montgomery Co; Riverside Park; and Huntley Meadows Park.
A flock of 100 or more BOBOLINKS was present near Brunswick, southern
Frederick Co, May 5; they were in fields north of Lees Lane, east of
MD 17.
A RED CROSSBILL was found May 8 at the 4H Camp in Garrett Co, MD.
A PINE SISKIN was still visiting a feeder in Loudoun Co May 9.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOSPREY and
VA-Bird 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@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. 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 as well as 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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