FYI
Joe Coleman
----- Original Message -----
From: <scordle@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <birdeast@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 5:00 PM
Subject: DC Area, 11/09/04
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 11/09/04
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 $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, Nov 9, at 4 p.m.
Top birds this week are *AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN and *KELP GULL in MD,
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER and CAVE SWALLOW in VA, and NORTHERN SHRIKE in
DE.
Other birds of interest include GREEN HERON, waterfowl, raptors,
SANDHILL CRANE, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, BONAPARTE'S GULL, NORTHERN
SAW-WHET OWL, HORNED LARK, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, AMERICAN PIPIT,
sparrows, SNOW BUNTING, PURPLE FINCH, COMMON REDPOLL, and PINE SISKIN.
Three *AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were spotted at Point Lookout, St.
Mary's Co, MD, on Nov 7, as they flew up the Potomac.
Maryland's *KELP GULL was again in place behind the Sea Breeze Crab
House, Sandgates, St. Mary's Co, on both Nov 6 and Nov 7.
An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was observed and photographed Nov 6 at the
Eastern Shore of VA NWR, Northampton Co. It was originally seen near a
pond off the Butterfly Trail; later it was found near the entrance to
the bunker area.
A bird identified as a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen Nov 7 at Prime Hook
NWR, DE. Early that morning, the Shrike was sitting on top of some
dead branches at the west of Island Farm Rd, a gated road posted as a
closed refuge area on the south side of Rte 16 (Broadkill Beach Rd),
just inland from the impoundments.
On Nov 5 two CAVE SWALLOWS circled around the hawk watch at Kiptopeke
SP, Northampton Co, for about half an hour. On Nov 6 a single CAVE
SWALLOW was observed for about a minute in a field just north of
Kiptopeke's Maddux Pond.
A GREEN HERON lingered at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD, as of Nov
7; it flushed from the impoundment to the right of the main dike,
where the dike approaches the woods.
A ROSS'S GOOSE, accompanied by a ROSS'S/SNOW GOOSE hybrid, was spotted
Nov 2 at Great Oak Pond, west of Melitota in Kent Co, MD. That same
day a RICHARDSON'S CACKLING GOOSE was found at the Worton WTP, off
Chinquapin Rd northwest of Chestertown, Kent Co. On Nov 5, Great Oak
Pond drew 7 BALD EAGLES and 1 GOLDEN EAGLE, as well as a ROSS'S GOOSE.
Two RICHARDSON'S CACKLING GEESE were reported in Howard Co, MD, Nov 8;
they were at a farm pond and field at Lisbon, on the south side of Old
Frederick Rd opposite Camden Meadows Ct. Also in Howard Co Nov 8, a
RICHARDSON'S CACKLING GOOSE was identified at the intersection of Rtes
155 and 156.
Two BRANT spent the week at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, with the most
recent report from Nov 7. They like to feed on the lawn around the
monument, moving into the wetlands area when disturbed by tourists or
raptors.
A REDHEAD was one of 9 species of duck at Perryville Community Park,
Cecil Co, MD, Nov 7.
A first-winter SURF SCOTER surfaced Nov 5 in Carroll Co, MD, on
Liberty Lake at the foot of Oakland Rd.
At the CBB/T, Northampton Co, 2 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were found on Island
# 4 on Nov 8.
On Nov 6, a ROSS'S GOOSE was observed at close quarters at the
impoundment on Broadkill Beach Rd (Rte 16), DE. Two ROSS'S GEESE were
seen at Prime Hook Nov 7, as were 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS. Two BAIRD'S
SANDPIPERS were also seen Nov 7 on Wye Island in Queen Anne's Co, MD.
The surprise of the week at Blue Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery Co, MD,
was 2 DUNLIN flushed from the pond along Zion Rd on Nov 6.
Raptors around town included a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK near the Watergate,
NW DC, Nov 4, and, on Nov 6, multiple RED-SHOULDERS and RED-TAILS and
BALD EAGLE at Kenilworth Park, NE DC; buteos plus COOPER'S HAWK at the
National Arboretum, NE DC; and a PEREGRINE hunting pigeons near 16th
and Harvard Sts, NW DC. On Nov 3, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was surprised in
a wooded area off Lanham Severn Rd in Bowie, Prince George's Co, MD.
The hawk watch at Snicker's Gap (on the Loudoun/Clarke Co VA line) saw
its first ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK of the season on Nov 5, and was still
tallying NORTHERN GOSHAWKS and GOLDEN EAGLES on Nov 8. The hawk watch
at Town Hill, Allegany Co, MD, yielded 5 GOLDEN EAGLES on Nov 5 and a
close-view NORTHERN GOSHAWK Nov 8. At Washington Monument SP,
Washington Co, MD, Nov 2 saw NORTHERN GOSHAWK and 3 GOLDEN EAGLES. The
hawk watch at Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore Co, enjoyed a good day
Nov 6, with 6 species and 67 individuals.
The Kiptopeke hawk watch was a lively spot on Nov 5. In addition to
Cave Swallows, the hawk platform witnessed a RED-TAIL with field marks
suggesting a HARLAN'S HAWK, a young SWAINSON'S HAWK, and 6 NORTHERN
GOSHAWKS--plus 171 TUNDRA SWANS.
Early on Nov 5, 15 SANDHILL CRANES were seen flying over the Eastern
Shore of VA NWR.
Two or three BONAPARTE'S GULLS were present at Beaverdam Reservoir,
Loudoun Co, VA, Nov 7.
Owl banders have been documenting the migration of saw-whet owls
through the area. On Nov 5, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL spent a few hours
in a yard in Colesville, Montgomery Co.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and HORNED LARKS were seen at Hains Point, SW
DC, Nov 6. RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue at Huntley Meadows Park,
Fairfax Co, VA.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES visited feeders in Cabin John, Montgomery Co,
and Sterling, Loudoun Co, VA.
FOX SPARROW was spotted at several locations, including Fort McHenry;
Woodstock Park on Rte 28 in western Montgomery Co; Lilypons Water
Gardens, Frederick Co, MD; and Huntley Meadows. FOX was one of 10
sparrow species seen Nov 6 at Little Bennett RP, Montgomery Co, most
in the shrubby field near the parking lot.
A Nov 6 sparrow trip in DE encountered half a dozen SALT-MARSH SHARP
TAILED SPARROWS at Slaughter Beach and an Ipswich race SAVANNAH
SPARROW at Big Stone Beach.
Two SNOW BUNTINGS were seen and photographed Nov 6 at Bombay Hook, as
they spent the day foraging--indifferent to their audience--at the
parking pull-off at Shearness Pool. On Nov 5, 18 SNOW BUNTINGS were
found at the dune at the south end of Fowler Beach Rd in Prime Hook
NWR.
PURPLE FINCHES and PINE SISKINS appeared at feeders and parks
throughout the area.
A flock of 9 COMMON REDPOLLS was seen Nov 7, heading south past the
lighthouse at Point Lookout. COMMON REDPOLLS were also seen Nov 8 at
the CBB/T's Island #3.
A pelagic trip is scheduled for Dec 11 out of Lewes, DE. For more
information, contact See Life Paulagics at 215-234-6805 or check their
web site at www.paulagics.com.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOSPREY,
VA-Bird, and Delaware Birds list servers.
Claudia Wilds's book, Finding Birds in the National Capital Area, is
an excellent source of directions to many birding sites. And the ANS
Bookstore is an excellent source for this and many other
nature-related titles: 301-652-3606.
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 e-mail reports
before midnight Monday, identify the county and state, and 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 www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html.
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