Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 4/4/2017
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/central and southern DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments and questions: voice@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:voice@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Compiler: Gerry Hawkins
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 of the Naturalist (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.AudubonNaturalist.org ;<http://www.AudubonNaturalist.org> .
This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon Naturalist
Society. This report covers the week starting Tuesday, March 28 and was
completed on Tuesday, April 4 at 6:00 a.m.
Information on noteworthy birds is presented below in taxonomic order, as
set forth in the American Ornithologists¹ Union Checklist for North and
Middle American birds, as revised through the 57th Supplement (July 2016).
The top birds this week were GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN) in MD, WESTERN
GREBE* in VA, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in MD and PRAIRIE FALCON* in VA and DC.
Other birds of interest this week included ROSS¹S and CACKLING GEESE,
TRUMPETER SWAN, EURASIAN WIGEON, COMMON EIDER, LONG-TAILED DUCK, NORTHERN
BOBWHITE, RED-NECKED GREBE, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, SANDHILL CRANE, AMERICAN
AVOCET, RAZORBILL, BLACK-HEADED, LITTLE and ICELAND GULLS, RED-THROATED
LOON, GREAT CORMORANT, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, AMERICAN and LEAST BITTERNS,
GREEN HERON, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, WHITE and GLOSSY IBIS, BROAD-WINGED
HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, LOGGERHEAD and NORTHERN SHRIKES, RED CROSSBILL, EVENING
GROSBEAK, OVENBIRD, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, BLACK-AND-WHITE, PROTHONOTARY,
ORANGE-CROWNED and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS, AMERICAN TREE, CLAY-COLORED and
VESPER SPARROWS, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, PAINTED BUNTING and ORCHARD and
BALTIMORE ORIOLES.
TOP BIRDS
A continuing GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN), which is considered a separate
species known as EURASIAN or COMMON TEAL by many authorities, was last seen
at West Meadow Park in Cecil Co, MD on March 29.
On April 3 a WESTERN GREBE* was photographed off Little Island Park in
Virginia Beach, VA.
A continuing young female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in the Wildewood neighborhood
in St. Mary¹s Co, MD was most recently seen on April 4.
A PRAIRIE FALCON* that was found on March 24 at a decommissioned power plant
in Alexandria, VA and over nearby DC waters was seen on March 28, 30 and 31
and April 1 and 3 but not, to the dismay of numerous birders, on March 29
and April 2. Subject to review by the VA and MD/DC avian records committees,
this is a first record for VA and DC.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
On March 31 two ROSS¹S GEESE were spotted in a large flock of SNOW GEESE
along Holland Glade Road in Sussex Co, DE, and a solitary ROSS¹S GOOSE was
seen with CANADA GEESE on the grounds of the Wade B. Elementary School in
Charles Co, MD. A continuing CACKLING GOOSE was seen at the Chesapeake Bay
Environmental Center (Horsehead) in Queen Anne¹s Co, MD on March 29-31 and
April 2. A CACKLING GOOSE also was spotted with CANADA GEESE in flight over
Perryman Park in Harford Co, MD on March 30. In addition, on April 3 two
CACKLING GEESE were seen at Cranberry Reservoir in Carroll Co, MD.
A continuing TRUMPETER SWAN was at a pond along Otwell Road in Talbot Co, MD
all week. TRUMPETER SWAN sightings in Maryland also included a single
individual at Patuxent Research Refuge-Central Tract (private) in Prince
George¹s Co on March 30, and two individuals at the Smithsonian
Environmental Research Center in Anne Arundel Co on April 1. In Virginia two
TRUMPETER SWANS were found near the Airlie Conference Center (restricted
access) in Fauquier Co on March 30 and a short distance north along O¹Bannon
Road on April 1.
Two male EURASIAN WIGEONS were at the Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary
(private) in Montgomery Co, MD all week. Noteworthy diving ducks included a
continuing COMMON EIDER at the Point in Point Lookout SP, St. Mary¹s Co, MD
on March 29 and seven COMMON EIDERS at the Ocean City Inlet in Worcester Co,
MD on April 1. LONG-TAILED DUCKS were found at several inland locations in
Maryland, including single individuals at Violette¹s Lock on the C & O Canal
in Montgomery Co on March 28; Triadelphia Reservoir-Brighton Dam in Howard
Co on March 29; Baker Park in Frederick Co on April 1-3; and Rock Run
Landing in Cecil Co on April 1. In addition, two LONG-TAILED DUCKS were
found at Finzel Swamp in Allegany Co, MD on March 29. Elsewhere, two
LONG-TAILED DUCKS were photographed in the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC on
March 29.
Encounters with NORTHERN BOBWHITE included a mixed male and female flock
containing 11 individuals along Pirates Cove Road in Talbot Co, MD on March
31, and three continuing individuals in fields along Sycamore Landing Road
in Montgomery Co, MD on April 2. NORTHERN BOBWHITES also continue at Chino
Farms-Foreman's Branch Bird Observatory in Queen Anne's Co, MD, with two
individuals reported there on April 2.
A continuing RED-NECKED GREBE at Loch Raven Reservoir-Loch Raven Point in
Baltimore Co, MD was most recently seen on April 3.
A continuing EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was seen in Selbyville, Sussex Co, DE on
April 1. On April 3 a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was seen in a residential yard
in Chincoteague, Accomack Co, VA.
Two continuing SANDHILL CRANES were seen along Peat Moss Road in Garrett Co,
MD on March 29 and April 1 and 3, in flight over nearby Herrington Manor SP
on March 30 and along 335 Orendorf Road on April 2, which likely were the
same birds.
A large number of AMERICAN AVOCETS continue at Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co, DE,
Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, DE and the Craney Island Disposal Area
(restricted access), Portsmouth, VA, with highs of 86, 61 and 54 individuals
reported at these respective locations on April 2, April 1 and March 30,
respectively.
The recent northward movement of RAZORBILLS was essentially over with only
one individual reported, at Island No. 1 to the Chesapeake Bay
Bridge-Tunnel, Virginia Beach, VA on March 3
On March 29 and 30 and April 1 and 2 1-2 BLACK-HEADED GULLS, and on April 1
and 2 a single LITTLE GULL, were spotted among the many BONAPARTE¹S GULLS at
Back River WWTP in Baltimore Co, MD. On March 30 an ICELAND GULL was found
among the many other gulls on Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD.
On April 3 an inland RED-THROATED LOON was spotted in Triadelphia Reservoir,
Howard Co, MD (restricted access).
A reporting area high 14 GREAT CORMORANTS were counted at the Cape Henlopen
Hawk Watch in Sussex Co, DE on April 3. GREAT CORMORANTS also were seen at
several locations in Maryland during the week, consisting of three
individuals at Point Lookout SP in St. Mary¹s Co on March 29; two
individuals at Black Walnut Point in Talbot Co on March 28; and one
individual at Downs Memorial Park in Anne Arundel Co on March 29.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS continue at Blackwater NWR in Dorchester Co, MD,
with a high of 45 individuals counted there on April 2.
Birders were fortunate to encounter an AMERICAN BITTERN at Black Marsh in
Baltimore Co, MD on March 29 and 30 and April 2; Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
in Washington, DC on April 3; and the Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation
Project (restricted access) in Loudoun Co, VA on April 2. On April 3 a LEAST
BITTERN was heard calling at Little Island Park in Virginia Beach, VA.
A wintering GREEN HERON at Ben Brenman Park in Alexandria, VA was seen on
March 29 and joined in the reporting area by migrant GREEN HERONS at several
locations. Returning YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS included an annual breeder
in the Whooping Crane cage at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, which was
first seen on March 29.
On March 28 a WHITE IBIS was spotted along Wildlife Drive in Blackwater NWR,
Dorchester Co, MD. On April 1 ten GLOSSY IBIS were seen in flight toward
Jane¹s Island SP in Somerset Co, MD.
On April 3 a wintering GOLDEN EAGLE was again seen in flight above the
Pickering Creek Audubon Center in Talbot Co, MD. Noteworthy raptors also
included a small number of early BROAD-WINGED HAWKS at several locations in
Virginia and the panhandle of West Virginia.
Continuing LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES were seen most recently at the Smith farm in
Lunenburg Co, VA on April 3 and the Sumday Ranch in Cumberland Co, VA on
April 1. A NORTHERN SHRIKE* continues at the Sully Woodlands in Fairfax Co,
VA, with the most recent sighting on April 2.
On April 3 a birder was pleased to see RED-BREASTED, WHITE-BREASTED and
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES in his yard in South Boston, Halifax Co, VA.
RED CROSSBILLS continue at Briery Branch Gap in Rockingham Co, VA, with 2-3
individuals seen there on April 1 and 2. Residents along Wilson Circle in
Gloucester Co, VA were surprised to see a male EVENING GROSBEAK visit their
feeders on April 1 and 2.
Continuing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were observed most recently at private
yards in Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, Sussex Co, DE on April 2 and March 29,
respectively. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS also were found at Bombay Hook NWR,
Kent Co, DE on April 1; Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (Horsehead) in
Queen Anne¹s Co, MD on April 2; Assateague Island NS-Life of the Dunes,
Worcester Co, MD on April 2; and the LBJ Memorial Grove in Washington, DC on
April 1. During the week there were increased sightings of several early
migrant warblers in the reporting area, including OVENBIRD, LOUISIANA
WATERTHRUSH and BLACK-AND-WHITE, PROTHONOTARY and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS.
Wintering AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS included two individuals reported at each
of Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co, DE on April 1; Cromwell Valley Park in
Baltimore Co, MD on March 29; Finzel Swamp in Garrett Co, MD on April 1 and
2; Blandy Experimental Farm in Clarke Co, VA on March 29; and the Dulles
Greenway Mitigation Project (restricted access) in Loudoun Co, VA on April
2. A continuing CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen most recently at Big Water
Farm (private) in Queen Anne¹s Co, MD on April 3 and at 103 Exeter Court in
James City Co, VA on March 30. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW also was found along
Driver Road at Patapsco Valley SP in Howard Co, MD on April 3. Migrating
VESPER SPARROWS were seen at several locations, with a high of three
individuals at Blandy Experimental Farm/State Arboretum of Virginia in
Clarke Co, VA on April 3.
A male PAINTED BUNTING continues at a private residence in Berlin, Worcester
Co, MD, with the most recent sighting on April 3.
An early BALTIMORE ORIOLE was a bonus for birders at the above-noted PRAIRIE
FALCON location in Alexandria, VA on April 1.
Early returning songbirds also included ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS reported in
Ferndale, Anne Arundel Co, MD on March 29 and April 1 and 3 and Stuarts
Draft, Augusta Co, VA on April 2 and 3, and ORCHARD ORIOLES reported in
Rohrersville, Washington Co, MD and Patuxent Research Refuge-North Tract,
Anne Arundel Co, MD on April 1 and 2, respectively.
***
This week¹s report was based on reports on the DE, MD, VA, and WV list
servers, eBird records and various birding pages on Facebook.
The Audubon Sanctuary Shop (301-652-3606, http://anshome.org/shop
<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
<mailto: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, e-mail or phone.
Thank you for your interest, and enjoy the birds.
*Of interest to the applicable state records committee
