FYI
Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 2/20/2007
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 12:00 p.m. on
Tuesday, February 20.
Top birds this week are KING EIDER* in MD, CALIFORNIA GULL* in VA,
VIRGINIA'S WARBLER* in WV, and GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE* and PAINTED
BUNTING* in VA.
Other birds of interest include geese, ducks, RUFFED GROUSE,
RED-NECKED GREBE, EARED GREBE, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, BROWN PELICAN,
AMERICAN BITTERN, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE,
AMERICAN WOODCOCK, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, SHORT-EARED OWL,
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, LOGGERHEAD and NORTHERN SHRIKE, AMERICAN PIPIT,
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW
BUNTING, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, BALTIMORE ORIOLE and PINE SISKIN.
Eiders seem to be hit or miss (often hidden from view behind the south
jetty) at the inlet in Ocean City, MD. On Feb 18, several COMMON Eider
and a single drake KING EIDER were observed off the tip of the south
jetty. A group of nine COMMON EIDERS were seen in the same location on
Feb 19.
A CALIFORNIA GULL was seen at the KG ponds, King George Co, VA on Feb
17.
A VIRGINIA'S WARBLER has been visiting a backyard suet feeder near
Harpers Ferry, WV since Feb 12.
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE has been visiting a private feeder in Galax,
Carroll Co, VA since Feb 13. It was still being observed as of Feb 18.
Contact (276) 236-8034 or (276) 237-1891 if you wish to make
arrangements to see the bird.
A PAINTED BUNTING was seen on private property at a backyard feeder in
Lovettsville, Loudon Co, VA on Feb 16.
A single ROSS'S GOOSE was seen flying with several flocks of Snow
Geese at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester, Co, MD on Feb 18. On Feb 19, a
ROSS'S GOOSE was found among a Snow Goose flock off Rte 1, close to
Billy Bob's Biker Barn, Milford, Sussex Co, DE.
CACKLING GEESE continue on the Potomac River near the terminus of the
C&O Canal in Cumberland, Allegany Co, MD. Two CACKLING GEESE were
found Feb 17 at the KG ponds, King George Co, VA.
A male EURASIAN WIGEON continues (as of Feb 17) at the Ramp Rd pond in
Eastern Shore NWR, Northampton Co, VA.
REDHEADS were reported from a variety of locations around the area
this week. Most notably on Feb 19, Four REDHEADS were found at
Constitution Gardens, Washington, DC.
A HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen Feb 17 from the south end of the causeway at
Pt. Lookout State Park in St. Mary's Co, MD. HARLEQUIN DUCKS were
also observed at Island #1 of the CBBT, VA on the same day. On Feb 18,
a HARLEQUIN DUCK was spotted working along the south jetty in the
Ocean City inlet, MD.
On Feb 17, a SURF SCOTER was observed on the North Branch Potomac
River adjacent to the C&O Canal parking lot in Allegany Co, MD.
Two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen at Little Seneca Lake in Black Hill
Regional Park, Montgomery Co, MD on Feb 19.
Three RUFFED GROUSE were found along Rte 640, Highland Co, just south
of WV line on Feb 17.
A RED-NECKED GREBE continues at Little Seneca Lake in Black Hill
Regional Park, Montgomery Co, MD.
An EARED GREBE was seen in the company of Horned Grebes from the north
side of Rte 175 (Chincoteague Causeway) in Chincoteague Bay on Feb 17.
Two AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were observed on Feb 18 from Wildlife Dr
in Blackwater NWR, Dorchester, Co, MD. An immature BROWN PELICAN was
found at Indian River Inlet, Sussex Co, DE on Feb 17.
Two AMERICAN BITTERNS were found on Feb 18 within Deal Island Wildlife
Management Area. One of which was along the dumpster road.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen on Feb 13, dining on a Mourning Dove in
the vicinity of the Valley Park Condominium complex off Bismach Dr,
Fairfax Co, VA.
A light phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was found in Highland Co, VA on Feb 18
off Rte 642, a little west of Blue Grass.
An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was seen flying over the Chester River from
Bogles Wharf Landing at Eastern Neck NWR on Feb 18. Also on Feb 18 an
immature Golden Eagle was seen flying over Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary,
Prince George's Co, MD and two were seen at Blackwater NWR off
Wildlife Dr near pool #3. Numerous GOLDEN EAGLES were seen in Highland
Co, VA this past week.
Three AMERICAN WOODCOCK were seen at a private farm in Leedstown,
Westmoreland Co, VA on Feb 17. Three AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were seen in
Dorchester Co, MD on Feb 19.
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were reported from the following locations
this past week including: Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro, MD, Feb
13; Currioman Bay, Westmoreland Co, VA, Feb 17; Prince William Co
Landfill, VA, Feb 17; and Herring Point on Cape Henlopen, DE, Feb 19.
At least one SHORT-EARED OWL continues to be seen at Crenshaw Rd near
Rectortown, Fauquier Co, VA.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue at McKee-Beshers WMA, Montgomery Co,
MD. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen in Highland Co, VA on Feb 17.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was found off Blenheim Rd (north of Scottsville),
Albemarle Co, VA on Feb 17. A NORTHERN SHRIKE continues along the
entrance road to the headquarters of Prime Hook NWR, DE. The bird was
last reported on Feb 18.
A lone AMERICAN PIPIT was observed feeding on vegetation above the ice
in the large impoundment at McKee-Beshers WMA, Montgomery Co, MD on
Feb 13. Single AMERICAN PIPITS were also seen Feb 17 feeding on the
ice on the Potomac River adjacent to Blockhouse Point, Montgomery Co,
MD and at the Prince William Co landfill, VA. Nine AMERICAN PIPITS
were seen in a yard in Croom, Prince George's Co, MD on Feb 14 and 15
and also in Highland Co, VA on Feb 17.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was reported on Feb 16 and has been seen for a
week or so in a private backyard in Pocomoke City, Worcester Co, MD.
An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW visited a backyard feeder in Croom, Prince
George's Co, MD on Feb 14. AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were also found on
Feb 18 at Mount Pleasant, Howard Co, MD.
Five LAPLAND LONGSPURS were found Feb 17 among a larger flock of
Horned Larks off Marblehead Rd, Queen Anne's Co, MD. Three LAPLAND
LONGSPURS were found Feb 19 along Dairy Farm Rd in Anne Arundel Co,
MD.
Two SNOW BUNTINGS were flushed from the side of a driveway on Feb 17
in Chestertown, Kent Co, MD. A flock of thirty SNOW BUNTINGS were
observed at Herring Point on Cape Henlopen, DE on Feb 17.
Two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were found at McKee-Beshers WMA, Montgomery Co,
MD on Feb 13.
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE continues at a suet feeder in Columbia, Howard Co,
MD.
On Feb 14, a female PINE SISKIN visited a feeder at the Bear Mountain
Farm and Wilderness Retreat, Monterey, Highland Co, VA.
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. 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 the record committee.
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx. To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
