FYI Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 4/17/2007
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: Andy Martin
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 12 pm on Tuesday,
April 17.
Top birds this week are PACIFIC LOON* and PAINTED BUNTING* in MD.
Other birds of interest include TUNDRA SWAN, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER,
RED-NECKED GREBE, AMERICAN BITTERN, CATTLE EGRET, BROAD-WINGED HAWK,
falcons, rails, shorebirds, CHIMNEY SWIFT, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER,
LITTLE GULL, terns, COMMON RAVEN, swallows, BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH,
BROWN THRASHER, vireos, warblers, sparrows, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
A PACIFIC LOON was observed at the lake inside Herrington Manor SP,
Garrett Co, MD on April 14.
A PAINTED BUNTING was seen briefly as it flew across Friendship Rd in
southern Anne Arundel Co, MD on April 12.
A late TUNDRA SWAN was found on the "lotus pond" west of Fish Hatchery
Rd in SW Kent Co, MD on April 10.
A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was seen again on April 12 and 14 on the Potomac
River near Conn Island at Riverbend Park, Fairfax Co, VA. WHITE-WINGED
SCOTERS were also reported from Piney Run Reservoir, Carroll Co, MD on
April 13; the Potomac River in the vicinity of Mason Rd, Allegany Co,
MD on April 14; and Piney Reservoir, Garrett Co, MD on April 16.
RED-NECKED GREBES were seen at the following locations this week:
Black Hill RP, Montgomery Co, MD on April 10; the Potomac River near
Conn Island at Riverbend Park, Fairfax Co, VA on April 12; Triadelphia
Reservoir, Montgomery Co, MD on April 14; and Point Lookout Creek, St
Mary's Co, MD on April 15.
Two AMERICAN BITTERNS continue at Huntley Meadows Pk, Fairfax Co, VA
as of April 10. An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen at Hughes Hollow,
Montgomery Co, MD on April 13. Oddest location to find an AMERICAN
BITTERN this week was on the steps of a townhouse at 4th St and South
Carolina Ave, SE, Washington, DC on April 16. A CATTLE EGRET was seen
flying upriver near Hains Point, Washington, DC on April 15.
BROAD-WINGED HAWKS are starting to pass north through the area.
MERLINS were seen around the area this week, including ten birds which
past by the Fort Smallwood Park HawkWatch, Anne Arundel Co, MD on
April 13. Two PEREGRINE FALCONS continue in the vicinity of the
American Legion Bridge, Montgomery Co, MD/Fairfax Co, VA.
YELLOW RAILS were heard calling at night off Rumbly Point Rd, Somerset
Co, MD on April 14. A VIRGINIA RAIL was heard calling on the evening
of April 10 at Huntley Meadows Pk, Fairfax Co, VA. A SORA was found at
Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on April 14, 15 and 16. A COMMON
MOORHEN was observed on a private pond near Nokesville, Prince William
Co, VA on April 14. Another COMMON MOORHEN was found at Hughes Hollow,
Montgomery Co, MD on April 15.
An AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was found in a flock of 25 Black-bellied
Plovers in a flooded field off Fowler Beach Rd, Sussex Co, DE on April
15. A flyover WHIMBREL was heard near Rumbly Point Rd, Somerset Co, MD
on April 14. A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was found at Piney Run Reservoir,
Carroll Co, MD on April 13. Tringa sandpipers (GREATER and LESSER
YELLOWLEGS and SOLITARY) are starting to be seen at some inland
locations west of the Chesapeake Bay.
A SPOTTED SANDPIPER was at the Fort Smallwood Park HawkWatch, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on April 14.
In the ponds off Flatland Rd (Rte 514), just north of where it
intersects with Mary Morris Rd, Kent Co, MD, a single LITTLE GULL was
found among a flock of approximately 120 Bonaparte's Gulls on April
11.
CASPIAN TERNS continue to pass through in good numbers, lingering at
lakes and reservoirs throughout the area. A FORSTER'S TERN was seen at
Centennial Lake, Howard Co, MD on April 11. Two FORSTER'S TERNS were
observed flying over the Potomac River at Riverbend Park, Fairfax Co,
VA on April 14.
A few CHIMNEY SWIFTS were seen this past week. Most birds were singles
and found mixed in with swallow flocks.
As or April 14, a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues at Fort C.F. Smith
Pk, Arlington, VA. Two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen at Hughes
Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on April 13.
A COMMON RAVEN was observed on April 10 flying over the I-495 near the
River Rd exit and on April 14 at Little Bennett RP. Both locations are
in Montgomery Co, MD. Three COMMON RAVENS were found at Banshee Reeks,
Loudoun Co, VA on April 14.
Five BANK SWALLOWS were seen at the Pocomoke River sand pits,
Worcester Co, MD on April 11. A BANK SWALLOW was found at Centennial
Lake, Howard Co, MD on April 15. An early CLIFF SWALLOW was seen
flying over Piney Run Reservoir, Carroll Co, MD on April 11.
Two BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were heard calling near the Eastern Neck
Narrows, SW Kent Co, MD on April 10.
BROWN THRASHER sightings increased this past week.
Vireo species are beginning to return to the area. A WHITE-EYED VIREO
was seen near Poolesville, Montgomery Co, MD on April 11. A RED-EYED
VIREO was seen off Cockpit Rd in Prince William Co, VA on April 14.
At 6th St and Indiana Ave, NW, Washington, DC, a YELLOW WARBLER was
found in an oak tree near the Au Bon Pain Restaurant. A NORTHERN
PARULA was found April 12 at Arlington Mill Run near Shirlington,
Arlington Co, VA A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was singing in the vicinity of
Bulle Rock, Cecil Co, MD on April 12. A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was found
near the golf course at Algonkian Pk, Loudoun Co, VA on April 15.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER sightings are on the increase.
Three VESPER SPARROWS were seen and heard singing in upper Carroll Co,
MD on April 14. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was found along the Asia Trail
at the National Zoo, Washington DC on April 12. Two "latish" FOX
SPARROWS were seen at Banshee Reeks, Loudoun Co, VA on April 14.
Another FOX SPARROW was found along the Patapsco River near
Sykesville, Carroll Co, MD on April 15.
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS continue to be found in wet, swampy areas around the
region.
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 for 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 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 the record committee.
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