FYI Joe Coleman
-----Original Message-----
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 12/12/2017
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/central and southern DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments, questions: voice@xxxxxxxxxxx
Compiler: Helen Patton
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
Atlantic States (independent of NAS)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle
Please consider joining ANS, especially if you are a regular user of the
Voice (Individual $50; Family $65; Nature Steward $100; Audubon Advocate
$200). 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.anshome.org.
This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon Naturalist
Society. This report covers the week starting Tuesday, December 5, and was
completed on Tuesday, December 12 about 2:40 p.m.
Information on noteworthy birds during this week is presented below in
taxonomic order, as set forth in the American Ornithologists' Union
Checklist for North and Middle American birds, as revised through the 57th
Supplement (July 2016).
TOP BIRDS THIS WEEK: SNOWY OWL in DC, DE, MD, and VA, HARRIS'S SPARROW in MD
and VA, WESTERN TANAGER in VA and SHINY COWBIRD in MD
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST: waterfowl, RING-NECKED PHEASANT, BROWN PELICAN,
COMMON GALLINULE, MARBLED GODWIT, gulls, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, SHORT-EARED OWL,
shrikes, lingering small birds, sparrows, and EASTERN MEADOWLARK
TOP BIRDS
SNOWY OWLS seem to be starting another active winter in the area.
Sightings include:
In DC: A SNOWY OWL was flying on Constitution Ave. between 12th and 14th
Streets, DC on December 9.
In Delaware: A SNOWY OWL appeared in a variety of venues in Prime Hook NWR,
Sussex Co with sightings on December 5, 6 and 7.
In Maryland: A SNOWY OWL was at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Saint
Mary's Co, MD on December 7. The SNOWY OWL in Harford Co, MD along Holy
Cross Rd (NOT the Holy Cross Rd in Anne Arundel Co) continues with sightings
on December 8 and 11. A SNOWY OWL was in Assateague SP, Worcester Co, MD on
December 9.
In Virginia: A SNOWY owl was at Dulles Airport, Loudoun Co, VA during the
week. This OWL was joined by a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on December 11. A SNOWY OWL
was on a dairy farm east of I-81 Exit 240 (Bridgewater), Rockingham Co, VA
on December 9 and 10. On December 10, this OWL was also seen in Harrisonburg
across from the sewage treatment building. By December 11, this OWL could be
seen from the parking lot at 856 N. River Road.
The HARRIS'S SPARROW continued near the Anacostia River Trail, Prince
George's Co, MD with sightings on December 6, 7, 10 and 11. Another HARRIS'S
SPARROW showed up in Page Co VA, just north of the White House Boat Ramp; it
was seen December 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
A WESTERN TANAGER was in the Alanton neighborhood, Virginia Beach, VA on
December 10.
The SHINY COWBIRD continued in the Kensington neighborhood of Bethesda,
Montgomery Co, MD with sightings on December 5, 7, 9 and 10.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
Several hundred TUNDRA SWANS were visible from the Perryville Community Park
Cecil Co, MD on December 10. Seven GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were at
Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA on December 5. Fifteen to Eighteen GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were at Deep Creek Lake, Garrett Co, MD on December 5
and 8. Ten GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE plus a ROSS'S GOOSE were on Long
Meadow Farm Pond on December 11. SNOW GEESE were at Garrett College, Garrett
Co, MD on December 6. A ROSS'S GOOSE was at Herrington Harbor, Anne Arundel
Co, MD on December 6, 7, 8 and 10. A ROSS'S GOOSE was at Meadow Creek Road,
Christiansburg, Montgomery Co, VA on December 9. A BRANT was in the
Washington Channel, DC on December 10. Six CACKLING GEESE were at Bradford
Lake, Garrett Co, MD on December 9
Waterfowl seen at Oxbow Lake, Anne Arundel Co, MD, on December 6 included 6
BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 50 Northern SHOVELERS and 100 RING-NECKED DUCKS. A
EURASIAN WIGEON was at George Mason Conference Center, Fairfax Co, VA on
December 9.
A RING-NECKED PHEASANT was at Park Heights Ave in Owings Mills, Baltimore
Co, MD on December 10.
A BROWN pelican was at Lake Churchill, Montgomery Co, MD on December 8.
A COMMON GALLINULE was at the Bayside Development Pond, Worcester Co, MD on
December 7.
A MARBLED GODWIT was at the Craney Island Disposal Area, Virginia Beach, VA
on December 7. One to three MARBLED GODWITS were at Bombay Hook NWR, Kent
Co, DE on December 6, 7 and 8.
An ICELAND GULL was on Brown's Island, Richmond City, VA on December 7. A
1st cycle ICELAND GULL was at the Annapolis Junction Recycle and Transfer
Station, Anne Arundel Co, MD on December 9. An ICELAND GULL was a Dorsey
Run Road, Jessup, Howard Co, MD on December 9. An ICELAND GULL was at Wilde
Lake, Howard Co, MD on December 12. A BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was at Stumpy
Lake NA, Virginia Beach, VA seen during the week.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was flying north over a Nursery in Jarrettsville,
Harford Co, MD on December 5. One to two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS roamed around
Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, DE during the week. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen
flying over the golf course at Elmer Derr Rd and South Renn Road, Frederick
Co, MD on December 12.
Four to five SHORT-EARED OWLS were at the Konterra Drive fields and ponds,
Prince George's Co, MD on December 6 and 8. Three SHORT-EARED OWLS were on
Russell Road, Garrett Co, MD on December 9.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was at the intersection of Burwells Bay Rd. and Purvis
Lane in Isle of Wight Co, VA on December 10. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was in the
Sully Woodlands, Fairfax Co, VA on December 8 and 11.
Some very late small birds were reported: a BLUE-HEADED VIREO on December 8
in a yard in Crozet, Albemarle Co, VA; another BLUE-HEADED VIREO in Bryan
Park, Richmond City, VA on December 11; a PINE WARBLER coming to a suet
feeder in the Owen Brown section of Columbia, Howard Co, MD on December 9; A
BLACKPOLL WARBLER in Sligo Creek Park at the intersection of Maple and
Sligo Creek Parkway, Montgomery Co, MD on December 9; a WILSON'S WARBLER at
Tormentor Lake, Isle of Wight Co, VA on December 10 and a YELLOW-BREASTED
CHAT at Treasure Island Park, James City, VA on December 10.
Twelve AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were in a large mixed flock on Long Marsh Road
north of Berryville, Clarke Co, VA on December 9. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was
at the Laurel Hill Equestrian Center, Fairfax Co, VA on December 9. A LE
CONTE'S SPARROW was at the Princess Anne WMA, Beasley Tract, Virginia Beach,
VA on December 10. Six FOX SPARROWS were at Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve,
Fairfax Co, VA on December 10.
Five EASTERN MEADOWLARKS were seen On Caroll Boyer Road, south of the Stone
Manor Inn, Frederick Co, MD on December 5.
This report was based on reports on the DE, MD, VA, and WV list servers via
the ABA Internet links, and on eBird records.
The Audubon Sanctuary Shop (301-652-3606, http://anshome.org/shop) is an
excellent source for guidebooks and many other nature-related titles.
To report bird sightings, e-mail your report to voice@xxxxxxxxxxx.
Please post reports before midnight Monday, identify the county as well as
the state, and include your name and a Tuesday morning contact, either
e-mail or phone.
Thank you for your interest, and enjoy the birds.
*Of interest to the applicable records committee
