FYI Joe Coleman
-----Original Message-----
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 01/16/2018
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/central and southern DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments and questions: voice@xxxxxxxxxxx
Compiler(s): Rick and Nancy Sussman
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, January 9 and was
completed on Tuesday, January 16, at 11:00 AM.
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 were KING EIDER in VA, RED PHALAROPE in DE and VA,
LARK SPARROW* in DC, HARRIS'S SPARROW* in MD, SHINY COWBIRD* in MD, WESTERN
TANAGER* in VA, and BLUE GROSBEAK in MD.
Other birds of interest included waterfowl, grebes, SANDHILL CRANE, gulls,
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, bitterns, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, SNOWY
and SHORT-EARED OWLS, LOGGERHEAD and NORTHERN SHRIKES, LAPLAND LONGSPUR,
sparrows, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, ORANGE-CROWNED and NASHVILLE WARBLERS, and
PAINTED BUNTING.
TOP BIRDS
A first year male KING EIDER was off Island Number 3 of the Chesapeake Bay
Bridge-Tunnel in Northampton Co, VA on Jan 13.
Two separate reports came in this week of RED PHALAROPES. One was seen at
Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA and another at Indian River Inlet, Sussex
Co, DE both on Jan 12.
The long continuing LARK SPARROW was seen again on Jan 14 at the National
Arboretum, NE DC.
The continuing HARRIS'S SPARROW was still being seen along the Anacostia
River Trail in Prince George's Co, MD throughout most of the week, last seen
on Jan 15.
The SHINY COWBIRD continues near the intersection of Parkwood Drive and
Franklin Street in Bethesda, Montgomery Co, MD, with the most recent
sighting on Jan 15.
The male WESTERN TANAGER seen last week was seen again at a feeder in
Yorktown, York Co, VA on Jan 10, and again on Jan 14.
A first year male BLUE GROSBEAK was seen and photographed at Blackwater
National Wildlife Refuge, Dorchester Co, MD on Jan 10.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
SNOW GEESE were seen at many inland locations, including Washington,
Frederick, Carroll, Howard, and Anne Arundel Counties, in MD throughout the
week. ROSS'S GEESE were at Shannondale Lake in Jefferson Co, WV on Jan 9 and
11, another at the Jackson River in Allegheny Co, VA on Jan 10 and 12, and
at a farm pond in Fauquier Co, VA on Jan 13. Another was at Black Hill
Regional Park in Montgomery Co, MD on Jan 13 and 14, another single bird was
at Fort Frederick SP-Big Pool, Washington Co, MD on Jan 14 and 15, and
another lone bird was seen at the Virginia Tech-Duck Pond, Montgomery Co, VA
on the same day. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were reported from many areas
throughout the region during the week, including Allegany, Howard, and
Baltimore Counties in MD, Berkeley County, WV, and Prince Edward, Fauquier,
Frederick, Rockingham, Augusta, Bedford Counties and Virginia Beach in VA.
As many as 24 BRANT were seen at Anderson Park in Newport News, VA, while a
single bird was seen at the Piedmont Geriatric Hospital Pond in Nottoway Co,
VA on Jan 14 and 15. On Jan 9 a CACKLING GOOSE was seen at the
Cumberland-Terminus in Allegany Co, MD and in Henrico Co, VA Jan 10,
Virginia Beach, VA, and Prince William and Fairfax Counties in VA on Jan 13,
and Silver Lake in Rehoboth, Sussex Co, DE on Jan 14.
TRUMPETER SWANS were seen at several locations this week, including a
continuing bird at Lake Elkhorn, Howard Co, MD, through Jan 13 and in VA at
Ivy Street Ponds in Waynesboro, and Mountain Run Lake Park in Culpeper on
Jan 9. Six were seen at the International Conservation House, Fauquier Co,
VA on Jan 11, 12 and 15.
A EURASIAN WIGEON was seen at Pohick Bay Regional Park, Fairfax Co, VA on
Jan 9, 10 and 15.
HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD and at
the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Islands in Virginia Beach, VA both on Jan
13. LONG-TAILED DUCKS were seen at the Conowingo Dam, Harford Co, MD on Jan
9 and 14, and the C&O Canal, Frederick Co, MD on Jan 9, another at the
King-Lincoln Park, Newport News, VA on Jan 9 and 10, at the Wilson Bridge in
both Washington, DC and Prince George's Co, MD waters on Jan 11, and Dyke
Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Fairfax Co, VA on Jan 13.
RED-NECKED GREBES were reported in low numbers this week, with one at the
Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD on Jan 11 and 13, and another at the
Indian River Inlet, Sussex Co, DE on Jan 11. On Jan 13 one was seen at Beach
Plum Island Natural Preserve, Sussex Co, DE. An EARED GREBE was reported
from the south end of King-Lincoln Park in Newport News, VA on Jan 9, for a
possible first county record.
SANDHILL CRANES were reported from three locations this week, including one
heard at Green Springs National Historic Landmark District-East Jack Jouett
Rd. in Louisa Co, VA on Jan 10, two seen on a private farm in Montgomery Co,
MD the same day, and two seen flying and calling at the Algonkian Nature
Preserve-Sanctuary Trail, Loudoun Co, VA on Jan 14.
Notable gulls this week include a BLACK-HEADED GULL at Cape Henlopen State
Park-Herring Point, Sussex Co, DE on Jan 11, ICELAND GULL at the Gwynns
Falls Trail South, Baltimore Co, MD Jan 9 and 15, another continuing bird at
the trash transfer station in Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, MD Jan 9,
10, 11, 12 and 15. Another was at North East Community Park, Cecil Co, MD on
Jan 9, 11 and 15. In VA, a single ICELAND GULL was seen on Jan 15 at the
Walmart Ponds in Colonial Heights. Two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were
spotted at Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary, Anne Arundel Co, MD on Jan 11.
GLAUCOUS GULLS were seen at Occoquan Regional Park, Fairfax Co, VA on Jan 9,
10, 12, 13 and 15, and another at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA on Jan
13. A GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was being seen at the Cumberland-Terminus in
Allegany Co, MD on Jan 9, 10, and 12.
An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was being seen and photographed at Sherwood Lakes
in Virginia Beach, VA on Jan 12 and 13.
An AMERICAN BITTERN continued at Black Marsh, Baltimore Co, MD, seen on Jan
9, 10, 14 and 15, while a single LEAST BITTERN held on in the cold at Little
Island Park in Virginia Beach, VA, also on Jan 9, and again on Jan 14.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK reports came from Dulles Airport in Loudoun Co, VA on Jan
12, 14 and 15, Prime Hook NWR, Broadkill Marsh, Sussex Co, DE on Jan 12, 13,
14 and 15, and Quail Covey Farm pond in Queen Anne's Co, MD on Jan 13, and
two birds nearby at Pemberton Manor on Jan 14 and 15. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE
was seen and photographed along Plum Branch Rd. Campbell Co, VA on Jan 14, a
first county record. Another two were seen and one photographed on Jan 15 at
Gleason Knob, Garrett Co, MD.
SNOWY OWL reports came from Assateague SP-Campground, Worcester Co, MD on
Jan 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15, from Dulles Airport, Loudoun Co, VA on Jan 9,
12, 14 and 15, and continuing birds at Rockingham Co, VA Jan 10, and 12,
Port Mahon Rd. Kent Co, DE on Jan 13, 14, and 15, and Prime Hook NWR-Fowler
Beach Rd. in Sussex Co, DE on Jan 14.
SHORT-EARED OWLS were reported from Hamilton Farms in Garrett Co, MD on Jan
9, and the continuing birds being seen at the Konterra Drive fields in
Prince George's Co, MD, with as many as five being seen there at dusk on Jan
10, at least two being seen on Jan 11, 13 and 14 and as many as six, or
possibly seven, seen there the afternoon of Jan 15. On Jan 14 and 15 two
SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen at Pemberton Manor, Queen Anne's Co, MD and on
Jan 15 five were seen at Russell Rd, Garrett Co, MD.
A continuing LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was still being seen as of Jan 9 along
Langhorne Rd, Albemarle Co, VA, and the wintering NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen
again on Jan 12, 13, and 14 at the Sully Woodlands in Fairfax Co, VA.
A continuing CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen at Laurel Hill Equestrian Center,
Fairfax Co, VA on Jan 14 and 15. A VESPER SPARROW was spotted at the Harriet
Tubman Underground Railroad State Park in Dorchester Co, MD on Jan 10, 14
and 15, and another was seen at Bradenbaugh Flats, Harford Co, MD on Jan 10
and 15.
The only LAPLAND LONGSPUR reports this week were of three birds seen along
the dunes with a flock of Horned Larks, at Prime Hook NWR in Sussex Co, DE
on Jan 13, and a single bird seen in Augusta Co, VA on Jan 13.
A male BALTIMORE ORIOLE was at a feeder in Cecil Co, MD on Jan 10.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park in
Prince George's Co, MD on Jan 10, and at the Wilson Bridge also in Prince
George's County on Jan 11, and in Washington D.C. at Kingman Island South on
Jan 10, and one seen in Bedford Co, VA on Jan 13. Another was seen at the
Fred Archibald Audubon Sanctuary, Frederick Co, MD on Jan 15, and yet
another at Mountain Run Lake Park, Culpeper, VA the same day. A NASHVILLE
WARBLER was seen on Daingerfield Island, Alexandria, VA on Jan 14.
A PAINTED BUNTING was seen in Virginia Beach, VA on Jan 13.
This week's 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/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
