FYI Joe Coleman
----- Original Message -----
Birdeast
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 3:30 PM
Subject: DC Area, 11/08/2005
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 11/08/2005
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 $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 tape was made Tuesday, November 8, at 1 p.m.
Top birds this week are MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD in DE, *NEOTROPIC
CORMORANT, FRANKLIN'S GULL, and SNOW BUNTING in MD, and WHITE-WINGED DOVE,
ALLEN'S or RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, and LE CONTE'S SPARROW in VA.
Other birds of interest include GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, CACKLING
GOOSE, TRUMPETER SWAN, EURASIAN WIGEON, GREAT EGRET, raptors,
SANDHILL CRANE, RED KNOT, gulls, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, SHORT-EARED OWL,
CHIMNEY SWIFT, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE,
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, SEDGE WREN, AMERICAN PIPIT, ORANGE-CROWNED and other
WARBLERS, sparrows, SNOW BUNTING, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, and
PINE SISKIN.
Two MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS wafted into DE yesterday afternoon. An
adult male was spotted from the hawk watch at Cape Henlopen SP around
3 pm. A male and a female were seen around 3:30 near Roosevelt Inlet.
The male was picked up at the Lewes ferry terminal, where it could be
seen soaring until nearly dusk.
The *NEOTROPIC CORMORANT continues to appear, intermittently, on the
Potomac River just upstream from Violette's Lock in Montgomery Co, MD.
The most recent sighting is from Nov 7.
A second-winter FRANKLIN'S GULL appeared at Schoolhouse Pond, Upper
Marlboro, Prince George's Co, MD, on Nov 4.
The selasphorus hummingbird in Cape Charles, Northampton Co,
VA--likely an ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD--had been joined by two
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS as of Nov 6.
That same Cape Charles yard (9 Randolph Ave) is also hosting a
WHITE-WINGED DOVE. On Nov 6 and 7, the dove fed on millet on the
ground and roosted in oak and gum trees (where it could be difficult
to spot when sleeping, but was easily studied once located).
A SNOW BUNTING was an astonishing find along the C&O Canal in
Montgomery Co on Nov 5; it was spotted just upstream from Blockhouse
Point, which is about halfway between Pennyfield Lock and Violette's
Lock. Somewhat less surprising were the 8 SNOW BUNTINGS found that day
at Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co.
The LE CONTE'S SPARROW at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA, was
seen again Nov 2, 3, and 4. The last report was of a fleeting glimpse
on Nov 5. As before, it was seen near the intersection of Bayview and
Charlie Rds.
TUNDRA SWANS are signaling the winter season. On Nov 5, a flock flew
over the lake at Oakland Mills Point, Carroll Co, MD, calling as they
went. On Nov 6, 30 or more TUNDRA SWANS flew past the hawk watch at
Kiptopeke SP, Northampton Co.
An adult GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was discovered Nov 2 at Sandy
Point SP, Anne Arundel Co, MD; it was on the grass between the small
boat launch parking lot and the bathhouse. [This is not to be confused
with a large Greylag/Canada Goose hybrid, also present, that has a
white front to the face.]
Reports of CACKLING GOOSE came from several locations, including the
Rte 309 pond (near Rte 213), Queen Anne's Co, MD, Nov 5; and the ponds
on Rte 3 in King George Co on VA's upper Northern Neck Nov 6.
A EURASIAN WIGEON, now in bright alternate plumage, continues to
frequent Ridgeway Park, Hampton, VA.
In NE DC, on the north side of the East Capitol Street bridge over the
Anacostia, trees are "festooned" with a dozen or more roosting GREAT
EGRETS.
The hawk watch at Snicker's Gap, on the Clarke/Loudoun Co (VA) line,
scored a NORTHERN GOSHAWK Nov 4 and 2 GOLDEN EAGLES Nov 3. The hawk
watch at Harvey's Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA saw a GOLDEN
EAGLE Nov 2. The Kiptopeke hawk watch had 2 young GOLDEN EAGLES Nov 7.
A low-flying GOLDEN EAGLE was enjoyed Nov 1 at Terrapin Point Park,
Anne Arundel Co.
Birders searching for the LeConte's Sparrow at Occoquan pished up a
MERLIN on Nov 7.
Early on the evening of Nov 3, a PEREGRINE FALCON circled in the
lights illuminating the Washington Monument. On the morning of Nov 5,
a PEREGRINE FALCON soared through the grounds of the ANS headquarters
at Woodend, Chevy Chase, Montgomery Co. A pair of PEREGRINES seen last
week, perched on the rocks in the Potomac, near Blockhouse Point, were
seen Nov 2 a little further downstream, soaring over Carderock.
Two SANDHILL CRANES flew over the Kiptopeke hawk watch Nov 2.
The beach at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge/False Cape SP, Virginia
Beach, has been host to a few RED KNOTS through the fall, including,
on Nov 4, a group of 39, about 7 miles below the refuge Visitor
Center.
Gull season is open. Two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were among 6
species seen Nov 5 at Town Park in North East, Cecil Co, MD.
A lingering CHIMNEY SWIFT was noted Nov 3 at Lake Artemesia, College
Park, Prince George's Co.
A SHORT-EARED OWL was found at Hart-Miller Nov 5.
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS are on the move, with reports from banding
stations throughout the area.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve were one of
the highlights of an ANS trip to Loudoun Co, VA, Nov 5. Another
highlight were the 3 or 4 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES at ANS's Rust Nature
Sanctuary in Leesburg.
The BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE invasion continues in northeastern MD. Half
a dozen were found at Town Park, North East, Cecil Co, while 13 or
more were identified Nov 5 at Turkey Point.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were again at the National Arboretum, NE DC,
Nov 5, in the pines across the road from the Asian gardens.
A SEDGE WREN was discovered Nov 5 at the North Branch spray fields,
Allegany Co, MD.
AMERICAN PIPITS were found Nov 5 in Queen Anne's Co, near the Rte 309
pond; along John Shirk Rd in northwestern Carroll Co, MD; and at
Hart-Miller Island. On Nov 6, some 44 Pipits were tallied at Turkey
Point, and 18 at Conowingo Dam, Harford Co, MD.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was spotted Nov 4 at Blue Mash Nature Trail,
Montgomery Co. Late migrants included PINE WARBLER in the 1900 block
of M St, NW DC, Nov 2 and 3, and a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER in the
2000 block of M St Nov 4. A BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was seen at
the National Arboretum Nov 6, and a NASHVILLE WARBLER turned up in
Ashton, Montgomery Co, Nov 8.
A VESPER SPARROW was seen Nov 4 at Lilypons Water Gardens, Frederick
Co, MD, near the upper parking lot.
VESPER was one of 8 sparrow species found Nov 5 at the North Branch
spray fields, along with NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW (a first
Allegany county record) and LINCOLN'S SPARROW.
A NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was reported Nov 5 from Assateague
Island, Worcester Co, MD; it was in the marsh north of the canoe
rental area.
FOX SPARROWS showed up this week. One was seen Nov 2 on Powell's Run
Rd off Marriottsville Rd, western Baltimore County; one showed up in a
Baltimore yard Nov 4. On Nov 5, a FOX SPARROW was seen at Blue Mash,
and on Nov 6, one was seen at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA, in
the brush piles to the left of the platform.
Additional good finds at the very birdy Turkey Point on Nov 6 included
111 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, 3 BALTIMORE ORIOLES, 37 PURPLE FINCHES, and 1
PINE SISKIN.
A PINE SISKIN also visited a feeder in Gaithersburg, Montgomery Co, on
Nov 3.
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 of 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 photographs, 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 MD/DC Records Committee. For more information,
visit www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html.
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