[va-bird] Fw: Greater DC Area, 12/20/05

FYI Joe Coleman
----- Original Message ----- Birdeast
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 5:21 PM
Subject: DC Area, 12/20/05


Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               12/20/2005
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:           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 $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 tape was made Tuesday, December 20, at 1 p.m.

Top birds this week are *GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in DC, *SNOWY
OWL, RUBY-THROATED and *RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, and *HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER in MD, and *ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD, in VA.

Other birds of interest include ROSS'S GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, EURASIAN
WIGEON, EARED GREBE, and other waterfowl, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON,
BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, COOPER'S HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON, SANDHILL CRANE, WILSON'S SNIPE,
BLACK-HEADED, ICELAND and other GULLS, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, HORNED LARK, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, SEDGE WREN, AMERICAN PIPIT, warblers, AMERICAN TREE and other sparrows, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, and COMMON REDPOLL.

A *GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was observed Dec 15 at West Potomac
Park, SW DC; it was in a field west of the FDR Memorial. On Dec 17, a
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was swimming on the Potomac River just
south of Memorial Bridge.

Maryland enjoyed a small flurry of SNOWY OWLS this week.

A young *SNOWY OWL was discovered on the afternoon of Dec 17 on
Elliott Island Rd, Dorchester Co, MD. It was perched on a power pole 7
miles from the intersection of Elliott Island Rd and Henrys Crossroads
Rd--and in the vicinity of a Christmas display containing a white
artificial tree decorated with red ribbons and large yellow and orange
ornaments. This heavily barred bird was seen again Dec 18 and the
morning of Dec 19. The area also hosts a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and a SEDGE
WREN.

A different *SNOWY OWL--more lightly barred--was observed on the
afternoon of Dec 17 on Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co. The weekly
Hart-Miller survey also tallied 17 SNOW BUNTINGS.

On Dec 18, an immature *SNOWY OWL was discovered in Queen Anne's Co,
MD; it was on private farm fields west of Centreville.

The *ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD continues to tough it out in Cape Charles,
Northampton Co, VA. It was seen as recently as Dec 18 at 9 Randolph
Ave, where more 200 people have come to see it. The best time to look
for it appears to be late afternoon.

The Selasphorus hummingbird North Beach, Calvert Co, was banded on Dec
13, confirming that it is an immature male *RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD. It was
reported again on Dec 15, frequenting feeders at 9119 Bay Ave, where
it can be seen from the road.

The record-late RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD continues to visit a heated
feeder in Silver Spring, Montgomery Co, with a report from Dec 18.

The *HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER that spent the last few weeks in Monkton,
northern Baltimore Co, was seen Dec 14, but by Dec 16 it could no
longer be found.

Three SNOW GEESE were a surprise find in Montgomery Co Dec 18; they
were at a private pond just north of the Blue Mash Nature Trail.

A ROSS'S GOOSE was seen in Cecil Co Dec 18; it was along Rte 213, just
south of Hacks Point.

A CACKLING GOOSE was noted Dec 16 at Gravelly Point, Arlington Co, VA,
off the GW Parkway north of National Airport. A group of small,
possibly CACKLING, GEESE were seen near the Lincoln Memorial Dec 15
and again Dec 17.

A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was found again Dec 13 at the Beauvue ponds in
St. Mary's Co, MD; it was with GADWALL, REDHEADS, and many other ducks
in the small pond with a duck blind next to the farm road. An EARED
GREBE was in the long pond in front of the pale yellow house. That
same day, an EARED GREBE was found at the end of Wharf Rd at
Piscataway Park, Prince George's Co; it was on the far side a little
to the left of the marsh.

Waterfowl are gathering at a variety of area locations. On Dec 13, the
reservoir at Black Hill RP, Montgomery Co, hosted 7 species of duck,
including a Northern Shoveler. About 10 NORTHERN SHOVELERS visited the
waters of Baltimore Harbor, near the Science Center, on Dec 14. On Dec
14, Centennial lake in Howard Co sported a LONG-TAILED DUCK, along
with 6 other species; it was still present Dec 17, east of the boat
ramp. On Dec 18, an amazing 66 LONG-TAILED DUCKS gathered on the North
East River, Cecil Co. On Dec 16, Beaverdam reservoir, Loudoun Co, VA,
held loons, grebes, and mergansers, as well an assortment of ducks.

Three BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were observed Dec 17 at the power
plant in Alexandria, VA.

A BALD EAGLE was observed on the southern end of Kingman Island, NE
DC, on Dec 15.

On Dec 14, the Brooke, VA Christmas Bird Count tallied an amazing 18
adult and 14 immature BALD EAGLES--seen at one time--in trees
bordering the Prince William Co landfill; another 30 BALD EAGLES were
seen in other parts of the count circle.

A NORTHERN HARRIER was reported from the District on Dec 17; it was
flying west from Rock Creek along Military Rd.

A COOPER'S HAWK was noted in NW DC Dec 13; it was flying north across
Indiana Ave, NW, between the DC Police Headquarters and the DC
Superior Courthouse; it landed on the roof of the old federal
courthouse at 4th St. and Indiana Ave, NW.

On Dec 16, a COOPER'S HAWK, 2 MERLINS, and 1 PEREGRINE FALCON were
sighted at Hains Point, SW DC. Two MERLINS were seen at the Hains
Point golf course Nov 17 (as was a WILD TURKEY).

A PEREGRINE FALCON soared past an office window near Bailey's
Crossroads, Falls Church, Fairfax Co, VA, on Dec 16. On Dec 19, a
PEREGRINE flew over the Alexandria Metro station. Two PEREGRINES were
seen at the Wilson Bridge, south of Alexandria, on Dec 17 and again
Dec 18.

Two SANDHILL CRANES were discovered Dec 18 as they rested on the ice
at the North Fork wetlands, Prince William Co; the birds eventually
flew south over I-66. Although the North Fork property is privately
owned, it can be viewed from Thoroughfare Rd.

On Dec 19, a WILSON'S SNIPE was flushed at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co.

An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen among BONAPARTE'S GULLS Dec 15 at
Island #1 of the CBB/T. On Dec 13, a juvenile ICELAND GULL stopped at
the reservoir at Black Hill.

A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at the Washington Navy Yard, SE
DC, Dec 16, and across the Anacostia from the Navy Yard on Dec 17.
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were also noted at Kenilworth Park, NE DC,
Dec 16; at Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro, Prince George's Co, Dec
16; and from the Stone Bridge at the mouth of Hunting Creek, on the GW
Parkway, Fairfax Co, Dec 17.

A juvenile RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was found Dec 18 at the Weinberg Park
in northern Anne Arundel Co, MD.

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES continue. Reports this week come from the
Pilot Town Rd Serpentine Barrens in extreme NW Cecil Co, and
Webster-Lapidum Rd, just south of Susquehanna State Park, Harford Co,
MD. A BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE was found at Battery Kemble Park, NW DC,
on Nov 26.

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were noted at numerous locations, including a
feeder just north of Burkittsville, Frederick Co, MD, on Dec 13; Ft.
C. F. Smith Park, Arlington, Dec 16; and Langley High School, Fairfax
Co, Dec 17.

The Bombay Hook (DE) CBC Dec 18 uncovered 8 SEDGE WRENS along Port
Mahon Rd.

Several hundred HORNED LARKS were found Dec 18 in Frederick and
Carroll counties, MD, including one flock of 600 just west of
Keysville Rd between Forest & Stream Club Rd and Six Bridges Rd. One
LAPLAND LONGSPUR few low overhead.

On Dec 18, HORNED LARKS and AMERICAN PIPITS were present in the fields
north of the polo grounds on Hughes Rd, Montgomery Co. PIPITS were
also found along the entrance road to the soccerplex in Germantown,
off Rte 118.

An ORANGE-CROWNED warbler was found Dec 17 in Anacostia Park, NE DC. A
NASHVILLE WARBLER was found during the St. Michaels (Talbot Co, MD)
Christmas Bird Count; it was in a hedge beside the playground of a
public park just north of Knapps Narrows. The St. Michael's count also
turned up a PINE WARBLER. A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was discovered at
Conowingo Dam, Cecil Co, Dec 16, and seen again Dec 17. A warbler
discovered at Hunting Creek Dec 14 was confirmed as a WILSON'S WARBLER
when it was seen Dec 18; it frequented bushes near the parking lot on
the north side of Hunting Creek. The same are sheltered a LINCOLN'S
SPARROW. A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was discovered during the CBC at The
Plains, Fauquier Co, VA.

Fifteen or more AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen Dec 16 at the Dulles
Wetlands, close to the road. Eight AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were found
Dec 17 at Blue Mash.

Nine species of sparrow, including AMERICAN TREE and WHITE-CROWNED,
were found Dec 18 during a CBC survey of a private golf course in
Loudoun Co, VA.

A possible OREGON JUNCO has been seen and photographed in Frostburg,
Allegany Co, MD, with reports from Dec 14 and 19.

On Dec 14, the fields around the Patton Turf Farm, south of White's
Ferry in far western Montgomery Co, held 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS, along
with a flock of 150 HORNED LARKS. These birds were there again Dec 16,
joined by a VESPER SPARROW.

A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was discovered Dec 18 in Cecil Co; it was
flying over Principio Station Rd in the direction of Furnace Bay and
Perryville Park.

On Dec 18, a COMMON REDPOLL perched atop a tall deciduous tree on
Rippling Brook Dr in the Bel Pre neighborhood of Montgomery Co.

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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