<< forwarded by Larry Lynch birder6@xxxxxxxx>>
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 08/06/02
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)
!!Check http://www.sitesbysteve.com/nvbc/vguide.txt for
guidelines on reporting your sightings!!
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, August 6, at
noon.
Top birds this week are PACIFIC LOON* in MD, WHITE IBIS in DC,
and SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER in DE.
Other birds of interest include LEAST BITTERN, egrets, herons,
night-herons, shorebirds, PEREGRINE FALCON, BLACK-HEADED GULL,
terns, SEDGE WREN, and BLUE GROSBEAK.
The PACIFIC LOON* at Seneca Creek SP, Montgomery Co, MD, was most
recently reported Aug 4. [Directions below]
An immature WHITE IBIS was seen flying over Kenilworth Aquatic
Gardens, NE DC, on the morning of Aug 6. It circled and flew low,
heading east, in the direction of the Marsh Trail and the
Anacostia River. The bird's plumage was similar to that of the
White Ibis in Montgomery Co, which seems to have quit Black Hill
RP.
A bird identified as a SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was reported from
Bombay Hook NWR, DE, on the evening of Aug 5. It was at the SE
corner of Bear Swamp about 50 ft from the road.
A LEAST BITTERN was spotted at Neabsco Creek, Prince William Co,
VA, on Aug 4, and a LEAST BITTERN was seen at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax
Co, VA, that same day. (Dyke Marsh is located off the GW Parkway
a mile south of Old Town, Alexandria.)
A GREAT EGRET continued at Sunrise Valley Park in Reston, Fairfax
Co, as of Aug 4, along with a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, several
GREEN HERONS, and two SOLITARY SANDPIPERS.
A visit to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on Aug 3 produced 2 or 3
GREAT EGRETS, a SNOWY EGRET, and an immature LITTLE BLUE HERON,
as well as 3 LESSER YELLOWLEGS. On Aug 1 the Gardens also hosted
a juvenile GREEN HERON plus GREATER YELLOWLEGS and SOLITARY,
SPOTTED, and LEAST SANDPIPERS.
On Aug 3, Bear Swamp held large numbers of GREAT and SNOWY EGRETS
as well as TRICOLORED HERONS and CATTLE EGRET.
PEREGRINE FALCONS--two adults and a juvenile--were observed July
30 on the St. Mary's Co (MD) side of the Patuxent River bridge
near Solomons. On Aug 3 a PEREGRINE put on a spectacular aerial
display over Bombay Hook's Raymond Pool.
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, and PECTORAL
SANDPIPER were among 9 species of shorebirds feeding on the
mudflats visible from the stone bridge, on the GW Memorial
Parkway, at the mouth of Hunting Creek, Fairfax Co, on Aug 3. On
Aug 4 a STILT SANDPIPER joined the mix.
A PIPING PLOVER was observed Aug 2 at the Point at Cape Henlopen
SP, DE.
On Aug 3, Taylor's Gut (the large pond across from Woodland Beach
WA on Rte 9 5 miles north of Bombay Hook) hosted numerous BLACK-
NECKED STILTS and AMERICAN AVOCETS as well as large numbers of
DOWITCHERS, STILT SANDPIPERS, and a single WILSON'S PHALAROPE.
At least 5 UPLAND SANDPIPERS could be found in fields across Rte
9 from Dover AFB, DE, on Aug 2 and 3.
Another local spot hosting shorebirds is Triadelphia Reservoir,
Montgomery Co; on Aug 5 some 60 to 80 individuals included
SPOTTED, LEAST, and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL--its hood faded--was found again Aug 3 and 5
at Bombay Hook's Bear Swamp.
A SANDWICH TERN was seen Aug 2 at Cape Henlopen SP, DE. BLACK
TERN was one of 6 species of tern seen at the end of Oyster Rocks
Rd, DE, on Aug 1.
A SEDGE WREN was found at Bombay Hook's Allee House on Aug 4.
A BLUE GROSBEAK was heard at Kenilworth Park, NE DC, Aug 1.
There will be a pelagic trip on the Skipjack out of Lewes, DE, on
Aug 18, and one on the Morning Star out of Cape May, NJ, on Aug
23. For more information, email Mary Gustafson at
live4birds@xxxxxxx.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey
and VA-Bird list servers.
Claudia Wilds' book, "Finding Birds in the National Capital
Area," is an excellent source of directions to many birding
sites.
To report bird sightings, you can 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, and be sure to 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 http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
**Pacific Loon at Clopper Lake: From I-270 northbound, take exit
10, Clopper Rd (Rte 117) and drive west 2.2 miles to park
entrance on left. From I-270 southbound, take exit 11 (Quince
Orchard Rd); at the exit ramp, turn right (south) 0.4 m to the
second traffic light (Clopper Rd, Rte 117), turn right (west)
onto Clopper, and drive 1.5 m to park entrance on left. Within
the park, the Pacific Loon is frequently seen near the dam at the
west end of the lake. Park at the Kingfisher Overlook and follow
the foot path toward the dam.
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