FYI Joe Coleman
-----Original Message-----
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 11/28/2017
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/central and southern DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments and questions: voice@xxxxxxxxxxx
Compiler: Joe Coleman
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.anshome.org.
This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon Naturalist
Society. This report covers the week starting Tuesday, November 21 and was
completed on Tuesday, November 28 at 10:20 a.m.
Information on noteworthy birds is presented below in taxonomic order, as
set forth in the American Ornithological Society Checklist for North and
Middle American Birds, as revised through the 58th Supplement (July 2017).
The top birds this week are WHITE-WINGED DOVE* in VA, ASH-THROATED
FLYCATCHER* in MD, FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER* in MD, GRAY KINGBIRD* in MD,
HARRIS'S SPARROW* in MD, SHINY COWBIRD* in MD, and WESTERN TANAGER in VA.
Other birds of interest include waterfowl, RUBY-THROATED and RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD, VIRGINIA RAIL, COMMON GALLINULE, SANDHILL CRANE, shorebirds,
jaegers, LITTLE GULL, ICELAND GULL, GREAT CORMORANT, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN,
AMERICAN BITTERN, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, SNOWY and SHORT-EARED
OWL, LOGGERHEAD and NORTHERN SHRIKE, vireos, BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH, SEDGE
WREN, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, sparrows including LARK, YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRD, and warblers.
TOP BIRDS
A WHITE-WINGED DOVE* again visited a feeder in Chesapeake, VA mid-day Nov
21; it hasn't been reported since then.
An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER* was seen Nov 26 at Sunset Park, Ocean City,
Worcester Co, MD. While searching for the Harris's Sparrow there, another
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER* was found Nov 27 at the junction of the gravel road
that leads to the boat ramp and the Anacostia River Trail, Prince George's
Co, MD.
The GRAY KINGBIRD*, first found Nov 7, at Big Water Farm (private), Queen
Anne's Co, MD was seen throughout the past week. Per the homeowners:
"Anyone is welcome to come for the bird. Please park along Bennett Point Rd,
not in our driveway. You can view the bird from where our driveway
intersects with Bennett Point Rd or through the gaps in the tree row along
the road. Please do NOT go walking around the pastures or around the yard.
The bird is usually on the sheep pasture fence and is easily viewable from
the above locations."
A FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER* was found at Sunset Park in, Ocean City, Worcester
Co, MD on Nov 23 and seen again on the 24th it was also seen at various
close-by locations.
The HARRIS'S SPARROW* along the Anacostia River Trail, Prince George's Co,
MD continued to be seen with numerous sightings throughout the week.
A SHINY COWBIRD*, the first documented in MD, was found Nov 23 in the
Kensington section of Bethesda, Montgomery Co, MD, and has been seen every
day since then. The owner asks that people not trespass and that the bird
can often be seen, mixed in with Brown-head Cowbirds, from 9901 Parkwood Dr
and 4806 Edgefield Dr; space is limited and the owner asks that people not
overcrowd the area.
On Nov 27, for the ninth year in a row, a WESTERN TANAGER has returned to
the same suburban yard in Settler's Mill, James City Co, VA.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
ROSS'S GEESE turned up at numerous locations this past week. GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE also turned up at a number of locations this past week
including more than 50 in Accident Pond, Garrett Co, MD on Nov 22 and 23;
eight at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA on Nov 24 and 25; four on Nov 22
along Union Hope Rd, King William Co, VA and six at the close-by Pocket on
the 26th. One was also seen at Chesapeake Farms, Kent Co, MD on Nov 21 and
27. A TRUMPETER SWAN was seen Nov 27 at the Beltsville Agricultural Research
Center (restricted access), Prince George's Co, MD.
A EURASIAN WIGEON was found Nov 27 at Calfpasture Cove, Eastern Neck NWR,
Kent Co, MD.
Three WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were at North Point SP, Baltimore Co, MD on Nov
22. A single WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was at Botetourt Center, Greenfield,
Botetourt Co, VA on Nov 21. Four LONG-TAILED DUCKS were seen Nov 24 in DC
waters at the Washington Sailing Marina.
Lingering RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS continued to visit feeders with one,
and sometimes two, seen at the Kiptopeke Hawk Watch, Northampton Co, VA on
Nov 22, the 23rd, and the 27th. There was also one in Virginia Beach, VA on
Nov 23. A RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was seen and photographed at a private
residence in Roanoke, VA throughout the week.
A VIRGINIA RAIL was observed at the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, NE
DC, on Nov 24, 25, and 26. A COMMON GALLINULE was seen Nov 24 in the Back
Bay NWR (Virginia Beach, VA) impoundments. A continuing COMMON GALLINULE was
seen Nov 24 and 25 at the Bayside Development Pond, Worcester Co, MD.
A SANDHILL CRANE flew over Roanoke Blvd, Roanoke, VA on Nov 21.
An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was seen Nov 24 on private property from LaGrange
Ln, King George Co, VA.
A WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was seen Nov 24 at Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, DE.
Both POMARINE and PARASITIC JAEGERS were seen from the Cape Charles Coastal
Habitat NAP, Northampton County, VA Nov 25, 26, and 27. Two POMARINE JAEGERS
were seen Nov 22 at Little Island Park, Virginia Beach, VA.
A PARASITIC JAEGER was seen Nov 21 from the Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch, Sussex
Co, DE. Two PARASITIC JAEGERS were seen Nov 23 at the Ocean City Inlet,
Worcester Co, MD.
A possible LITTLE GULL was spotted Nov 22 flying by NAS Oceana - Dam Neck
Annex (restricted access), Virginia Beach, VA. An ICELAND GULL was seen Nov
23 flying over the river at Violette's Lock, C&O Canal, Montgomery Co, MD.
A flock of a dozen GREAT CORMORANTS was found Nov 25 at Kent Point Marina,
Queen Anne's Co, MD.
On Nov 23 an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was seen flew by Bethany Beach, DE.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen at the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, NE
DC on Nov 25 and 26. An AMERICAN BITTERN was also seen Nov 26 at the Dick
Cross WMA, Mecklenburg Co, VA.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen Nov 21 through 24 at Fowler Beach, Sussex Co,
DE. Another was reported from the Cape Henlopen Hawkwatch, Sussex County, DE
on Nov 22.
Two adult GOLDEN EAGLES flew by the Harvey's Knob, Hawk Watch, Roanoke, VA
on Nov 22; the same day one flew over the Snicker's Gap Hawk Watch,
Loudoun/Clarke Co, VA. On both the 23rd and 27th single GOLDEN EAGLES flew
by the Kiptopeke Hawk Watch, Northampton Co, VA. A GOLDEN EAGLE was
photographed Nov 23 soaring with three Bald Eagles at Todd's Corner
Wetlands, Talbot Co, MD. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE flew overhead near the road
to Fowler Beach, Sussex Co, DE on Nov 25.
A SNOWY OWL was seen Nov 22 on Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD; two, one of
which was banded, were seen there on Nov 25. Another was seen and
photographed Nov 26 near the shack right before the Eastern Neck NWR (Kent
Co, MD) causeway; on the 27th it was photographed on top of the hunting
blind in Calfpasture Cove. A SNOWY OWL was seen at The Point, Cape Henlopen
SP, Lewes, Sussex Co, DE.
During the past week up to six SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen flying over the
fields along Russell Rd, Garrett Co, MD. As many as three SHORT-EARED OWLS
were seen Nov 21 in the fields at Konterra Drive, Prince George's Co, MD; if
you visit this location do not trespass on the fields as viewing is only
allowed from the gate at Konterra and Van Dusen. Three SHORT-EARED OWLS were
also seen Nov 24 at Bell's Ln, Staunton, VA.
Two continuing LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES were seem at the Smith Farm in Lunenburg
County, VA on Nov 21 and 23. A perched LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen in the
Fossil Run area of Highland Co, VA on Nov 24. A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen
and photographed Nov 25 at the Blandy Experimental Farm, Clarke Co, VA.
The wintering NORTHERN SHRIKE at Sully Woodlands, Fairfax County, VA was
seen several times throughout the week.
A WHITE-EYED VIREO was seen Nov 23 and 24 in the woods along Fowler Beach
Rd, Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, DE. A WHITE-EYED VIREO was seen again at
Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel Co, MD on Nov 24 and another was seen Nov 26 at
Occoquan NWR, Prince William Co, VA. A WARBLING VIREO was seen Nov 23 at the
Pickering Creek Audubon Center, Talbot Co, MD. There were also a couple
reports of BLUE-HEADED VIREOS in VA.
A BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH was heard Nov 21 and heard and recorded Nov 25 at
Mountain Lake Park, Culpeper Co, VA.
One, and sometimes two, SEDGE WRENS continue in the area just beyond the
walking gate from the parking lot on the north side at Fowler Beach Rd,
Prime Hook NWR, Sussex County, DE. A SEDGE WREN was seen Nov 26 at the Dick
Cross WMA, Mecklenburg Co, VA.
A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was found Nov 21 along Meyerstown Rd, Jefferson Co, WV.
On Nov 23 a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was seen at Fowler Beach, Sussex Co, DE; on the
24th it and 50 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen there.
A SNOW BUNTING was seen Nov 24 at Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel Co, MD.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen Nov 25 at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA.
A VESPER SPARROW was found Nov 25 near the observation deck at Blackwater
NWR, Dorchester Co, MD. The LARK SPARROW in the vicinity of Valley and
Meadow at the National Arboretum in NE DC was seen again on Nov 23 and 25.
A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was found Nov 23 with a flock of Red-winged
Blackbirds in cattails along Magotha Rd, Northampton Co, VA. A YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRD flew by the Kiptopeke Hawk Watch, Northampton Co, VA on Nov 27.
During the week as many as two ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen at the
Anacostia River Trail, Prince George's Co, MD. Two ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS
were seen at the nearby Bladensburg Waterfront Park, Prince George's Co, MD
on Nov 24 and 26. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was also seen Nov 25 at East
Potomac Park, SW DC. Lingering warblers this past week included
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS at a couple locations; a NASHVILLE WARBLER at
Shawnee Springs Preserve, Winchester, VA on Nov 26; another NASHVILLE
WARBLER along the Anacostia River Trail on Nov 27; single YELLOW WARBLERS at
the Anacostia River Trail and at Patterson Park, Baltimore, MD, both on the
25th.
This week's report was based on reports on the DE, MD, VA, and WV list
servers, and eBird records.
The Audubon Sanctuary Shop (301-652-3606,
http://anshome.org/naturalist-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, e-mail or
phone.
Thank you for your interest, and enjoy the birds.
*Of interest to the applicable state records committee
