FYI
Joe Coleman
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Cordle" <scordle@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <birdeast@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 3:57 PM
Subject: DC Area, 5/23/06
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 5/23/2006
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: Helen Patton
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 prepared Tuesday, May 23, at 5 pm.
Top birds this week are WHITE-FACED IBIS in MD, MISSISSIPPI KITE in
VA, EUROPEAN WHIMBREL* in MD, BICKNELL'S THRUSH in MD and VA and
WESTERN KINGBIRD and NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW in MD.
Other birds of interest include AMERICAN and LEAST BITTERN, COMMON
MOORHEN, shorebirds, LITTLE GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO,
COMMON NIGHTHAWK, OLIVE-SIDED and WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, CLIFF SWALLOW,
PHILADELPHIA VIREO, warblers and LINCOLN'S SPARROW.
An adult WHITE-FACED IBIS was picked out of a group of about 40 GLOSSY
IBIS in the South Point area of Worcester Co, MD on May 20.
MISSISSIPPI KITES were seen again in the Waynewood neighborhood of
eastern Fairfax Co, VA, with reports from May 18 and 22.
A flock of 20 WHIMBRELS took flight at Tydings, Harford Co., MD on May
21. A keen-eyed birder spotted a white rump on one which
distinguished it as a EUROPEAN WHIMBREL* - a first Maryland record.
The WESTERN KINGBIRD, located last week at Ft. McHenry National
Monument, Baltimore, MD was seen again on May 18.
A BICKNELL'S THRUSH put in an appearance in Upper Watts Branch Park,
Montgomery Co, MD on May 18. On May 22, The First Landing SP banding
station netted four thrushes on the same net: BICKNELL'S,
GRAY-CHEEKED, SWAINSON'S and VEERY.
A NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was noted on Hart-Miller Island,
Baltimore Co, on May 20.
Two LEAST BITTERNS were photographed at Southwest Area Park, Baltimore
Co., on May 16. A LEAST BITTERN flew low and dropped into the marsh
at Julie Metz Wetlands Bank, Prince William Co, VA on May 18. Both
AMERICAN and LEAST BITTERNS along with a COMMON MOORHEN were seen at
Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on May 21. On the same day, an
AMERICAN and a LEAST BITTERN were seen at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA.
The shorebird migration continues this week with 11 species at the
Pickering Creek Audubon Center, Talbot Co, MD including five
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS on May 18. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were also
present at the Rte 309 ponds, Queen Anne's Co, MD on May 18 and at
Swan Harbor Farm Park, Harford Co., MD on May 20. A WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPER was one of 15 shorebird species present on Hart-Miller
Island, on May 20. Port Mahon Road, DE still held hordes of
shorebirds on May 20 including three RED KNOTS, increasing to four RED
KNOTS on May 22.
A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE paid a visit to Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co.,
MD with sightings on May 16 and 17. Another RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was
reported from Chesapeake Farms, Kent Co., MD on May 22.
Two first-summer LITTLE GULLS were spotted at Tydings, Harford Co, MD
on May 21. A strikingly white second-year GLAUCOUS GULL was present
at Port Mahon Rd, DE, on May 17.
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS visited Hughes Hollow on May 17. A BLACK-BILLED
CUCKOO was vocalizing at Dyke Marsh on May 21 while another surfaced
at Great Falls NP, Fairfax Co., VA on the same day. Another
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was seen at Rock Creek Park, DC on May 21 and 22.
Monticello Park, Alexandria, VA also hosted a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO on
May 22.
COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were in evidence at a variety of locations, with as
many as 10 seen in at Fort Smallwood SP, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May
16, east of Lake Audubon in Reston, Fairfax Co, VA on May 17; Huntley
Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on May 21, Leesylvania SP, Prince William
Co, VA on May 21 and Centennial Lake, Howard Co., MD on May 23.. Two
COMMON NIGHTHAWKS buzzed early morning visitors to Hughes Hollow on
May 21. Three COMMON NIGHTHAWKS put on a great show in Northeast,
Cecil Co, MD early in the morning of May 22. Two COMMON NIGHTHAWKS
were noted over a private residence in the City of Falls Church, VA on
May 22.
An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER made an appearance at Rock Creek Park, DC on
May 17 and was being seen as late as May 22. An OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHER was spotted at Great Falls NP on May 18. Another
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was reported from Leesylvania SP on May 20 and
21.
A cooperative WILLOW FLYCATCHER brightened an evening walk at Fort
McHenry on May 17. Another WILLOW FLYCATCHER was hawking insects at
the Julie Metz Wetlands Bank on May 18.
A CLIFF SWALLOW graced the scheduled bi-monthly bird walk at Mason
Neck SP, Fairfax Co, VA on May 20,
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was photographed at Smallwood SP, Charles Co, MD
on May 20.
Warbler highlights this week included a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER heard
near Swallow Falls SP and another heard at The Glades, Garrett Co, MD
on May 18. A MOURNING WARBLER was spotted at the Rock Creek Park
maintenance yard on May 17. It was still being seen through May 22.
Other sites with double-digit warbler species included Fort McHenry,
The Possum Point/Cockpit Road area, Prince William Co, VA, Monticello
Park, Alexandria VA, Leesylvania SP, Rock Creek Park, Prince William
Forest Park, Prince William Co, VA, Shirley Plantation, Charles City
Co, VA, Hughes Hollow, Dyke Marsh and Susquehanna State Park, Harford
Co., MD.
A LARK SPARROW was calmly pecking grit at Kenilworth Park, DC on May
23. LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were again seen at several locations,
including Rock Creek Park; Lake Roland, Baltimore Co, MD and Fort
McHenry.
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. But no big photo files, 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).
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email
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