FYI Joe Coleman
-----Original Message-----
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 1/23/2018
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/central and southern DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments and questions: 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.anshome.org.
This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon Naturalist
Society. This report covers the week starting Tuesday, January 16 and was
completed on Tuesday, January 23 at 6:30 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 were BARROW'S GOLDENEYE* in MD, BLACK GUILLEMOT* in
MD, SNOWY OWL in MD and VA, HARRIS'S SPARROW* in MD and WESTERN TANAGER* in
VA.
Other birds of interest this week included SNOW, ROSS'S and GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, BRANT, CACKLING GOOSE, TRUMPETER SWAN, EURASION WIGEON,
KING and COMMON EIDER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RED-NECKED and
EARED GREBES, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, KING RAIL, SANDHILL CRANE, PURPLE
and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, DOVEKIE, RAZORBILL, BLACK-HEADED, ICELAND, GLAUCOUS
and GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, GREAT CORMORANT, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN,
AMERICAN and LEAST BITTERNS, TRICOLORED HERON, GLOSSY IBIS, OSPREY,
"NORTHERN" RED-TAILED HAWK*, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, SHORT-EARED
OWL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, NORTHERN SHRIKE, SEDGE WREN, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW
BUNTING, CLAY-COLORED, VESPER, LARK and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, BALTIMORE
ORIOLE, BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, ORANGE-CROWNED, YELLOW-THROATED and WILSON'S
WARBLERS and PAINTED BUNTING.
TOP BIRDS
A male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE* continues at The Elms Environmental Center
(private) in St. Mary's Co, MD for the seventh consecutive winter. This bird
was seen most recently on January 22.
On January 20 an apparent first-state record BLACK GUILLEMOT* was
photographed at the Ocean City Inlet in Worcester Co, MD.
A continuing SNOWY OWL was seen all week at Dulles Airport in Loudoun Co,
VA. A continuing SNOWY OWL at Assateague State Park/Assateague I. NS in
Worcester Co, MD was seen most recently on January 21. A SNOWY OWL also was
found in Cell 7 on Poplar Island in Talbot Co, MD on January 19.
A HARRIS'S SPARROW* continues along a short spur to a boat ramp off the
Anacostia River Trail in Prince George's Co, MD, with the most recent
sighting on January 21.
A male WESTERN TANAGER* has been seen almost daily since it returned to a
residential feeder in Settlers' Mill, Williamsburg, VA on December 2 for the
seventh consecutive winter. In addition, during the week several WESTERN
TANAGERS were seen at feeders in Virginia Beach, VA, two in the Alanton
neighborhood on January 21 and one at another location on January 16.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
A continuing SNOW GOOSE was seen most recently at Piney Run Park in Carroll
Co, MD on January 22, and 1-2 SNOW GEESE were seen all week at Whittier Lake
Park in Frederick Co, MD. A continuing ROSS'S GOOSE also was seen at
Whittier Lake Park in Frederick Co, MD all week, and three ROSS'S GEESE were
found there on January 22. A ROSS'S GOOSE was found at Cape Henlopen
SP-Wolfe Neck area in Sussex Co, DE on January 22. A continuing ROSS'S
GOOSE was seen at Lake Frederick in Frederick Co, VA most recently on
January 19.
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was spotted at Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co, DE on
January 19. Sightings of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in Maryland included a
continuing individual at Centennial Lake in Howard Co that was most recently
on January 20; five individuals at Lake Artemesia in Prince Georges Co on
January 19-21; three individuals at Fort Frederick SP-Big Pool in Washington
Co most recently on January 20; two continuing individuals at the
Cumberland-Terminus in Allegany Co most recently on January 22; and two
individuals along Villa Road in St. Mary's Co on January 18. Sightings of
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in Virginia included a high of eight continuing
individuals at Lake Frederick in Frederick Co on January 16, 19 and 20; 13
individuals at a private location along LaGrange Lane in King George Co on
January 20; a high of 18 individuals at the Fishersville Quarry in Augusta
Co on January 18, 20 and 21; three individuals at the Foggy Branch Farm
ponds in Montgomery Co on January 21; and five individuals at Elkton Farm
pond in Bedford Co on January 22. In West Virginia GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE continue at a pond at 3772 Shepherdstown Road in Berkeley Co, with a
high of 15 individuals reported on January 19.
A continuing inland BRANT was most recently seen in a field near the
intersection of Routes 723 and 460 in Nottoway Co, VA on January 21 and at
Lake Holiday (gated community; restricted access) in Frederick Co, VA on
January 22.
Sightings of CACKLING GEESE included four individuals at Bombay Hook NWR,
Kent Co, DE on January 19; one individual at Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, DE
on January 16; one individual at Cape Henlopen SP-Wolfe Neck area in Sussex
Co, DE on January 22; and one individual at Lake Artemesia in Prince
George's Co, MD on January 20. In Virginia CACKLING GEESE included eight
individuals at the Foggy Branch Farm ponds in Montgomery Co on January 21;
two individuals at Sleeters Lake in Loudoun Co on January 20; and five
individuals along 11976 Bristow Lake Boulevard in Prince William Co on
January 22.
A continuing TRUMPETER SWAN was seen most recently at Lake Elkhorn in Howard
Co, MD on January 21 and White Swan Drive Community Park in Anne Arundel Co
on January 20, and two TRUMPETER SWANS were seen again at the Owensville
Road ponds in Anne Arundel Co, MD on January 22. Sightings of TRUMPETER SWAN
in Virginia included a continuing individual at the Ivy Street ponds in
Waynesboro, VA most recently on January 22; three continuing individuals
along Cold Spring Road in Rockingham Co most recently on January 16; and six
individuals at Vet School pond on the campus of Virginia Tech in Montgomery
Co on January 21.
A EURASIAN WIGEON was spotted at Mason Neck SP in Fairfax Co, VA on January
21. A continuing young male KING EIDER was last seen off the fishing pier at
Kiptopeke SP in Northampton Co, VA on January 19.
COMMON EIDERS were seen at expected coastal locations, with a high of 14
individuals at the Ocean City Inlet in Worcester Co, MD on January 21. Three
HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen off Island #4 at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
in Northampton Co, VA on January 20 and at the Ocean City Inlet in Worcester
Co, MD through January 20. A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was seen at Fort McHenry NM
in Baltimore Co, MD on January 18 and inland again at Willow Lake in
Rockbridge Co, VA on January 19.
Inland diving ducks also included a LONG-TAILED DUCK at James River
Park-Belle Isle in Richmond, VA on January 20, and two REDHEADS and a
week-high 22 COMMON GOLDENEYE at the Cumberland-Terminus in Allegany Co, MD
most recently on January 22.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at Kingston Landing in Talbot Co, MD on January
17-22 and the K-Cave campsite area in Washington Co, MD on January 20. A
RED-NECKED GREBE also was reported at the Ocean City Inlet in Worcester Co,
MD on January 22. In Virginia, a RED-NECKED GREBE was seen in the Roanoke
River Greenway in Roanoke on January 21 and 22. An EARED GREBE was seen off
the end of the concrete fishing pier at King-Lincoln Park in Newport News,
VA on January 18 and 20-22.
A continuing out-of-season male RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was seen most
recently at a feeder in the Alanton neighborhood in Virginia Beach, VA on
January 21.
On January 21 a KING RAIL was spotted up one of the streams that crosses
Deephole Point Road near the intersection with Fox Road at Occoquan Bay NWR,
Prince William Co, VA.
A SANDHILL CRANE was spotted in flight at 6119-6121 Ebenezer Road in Middle
River, Baltimore Co, MD on January 16, and in fields viewed from the end of
Harry James Road in St. Mary's Co, MD on January 20-22. In Virginia two
continuing SANDHILL CRANES were observed along the Sanctuary Trail at
Algonkian Nature Preserve in Loudoun Co on January 21, and likely these same
birds were observed in flight in nearby Lucketts on January 16.
A non-coastal PURPLE SANDPIPER was seen on a jetty at Chesapeake Beach
Veterans Memorial Park in Calvert Co, MD on January 16 and at the Hooper's
Island Bridge in Dorchester Co, MD on January 19, 20 and 22.
A continuing SPOTTED SANDPIPER was seen at the Kerr Reservoir-Tailrace Park
in Mecklenburg Co, VA on January 20.
A DOVEKIE was photographed at the Ocean City Inlet in Worcester Co, MD on
January 19 and 21. A RAZORBILL was seen off Island #3 of the Chesapeake Bay
Bridge-Tunnel in Northampton Co, VA on January 20, and 1-3 RAZORBILLS were
at Rudee Inlet and Little Island Park in Virginia Beach, VA on January 22. A
RAZORBILL also was found at the Ocean City Inlet in Worcester Co, MD on
January 21.
Two continuing BLACK-HEADED GULLS were spotted at Wolfe Neck WTP (restricted
access) in Sussex Co, DE on January 18 and 22. In Maryland a continuing
ICELAND GULL was seen most recently at the Annapolis Junction Transfer
Station (restricted access) in Anne Arundel Co on January 16; Gwynns Falls
Trail South in Baltimore Co on January 16; and the Choptank River from the
Route 50 bridge and Long Wharf Park in Dorchester Co on January 22. In
Virginia an ICELAND GULL was seen most recently at Occoquan Bay RP in
Fairfax Co, VA on January 19; off Island #3 of the Chesapeake Bay
Bridge-Tunnel in Northampton Co, VA and in nearby inshore waters in Virginia
Beach, VA on January 20; and at Ancarrow's Landing in Richmond, VA on
January 20. A continuing GLAUCOUS GULL was most recently seen at Occoquan RP
in Fairfax Co, VA and at the nearby Belmont Bay Marina in Prince William Co,
VA on January 21. A GLAUCOUS GULL also was reported at Pohick Bay RP in
Fairfax Co, VA on January 21. A young GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was most
recently seen at the Cumberland-Terminus in Allegany Co, MD on January 22.
GREAT CORMORANTS were seen at several locations on the Chesapeake Bay in
Maryland, with a high of 13 individuals at Point Lookout SP-The Causeway in
St. Mary's Co on January 19, and at expected coastal locations in the
reporting area.
A single AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was reported at Blackwater NWR in Dorchester
Co, MD during the week, on January 20.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was encountered at several locations in Maryland and
Virginia, including Black Marsh in Baltimore Co, MD on January 16 and 18 and
Little Island Park in Virginia Beach, VA on January 21. A continuing LEAST
BITTERN was seen most recently at Little Island Park in Virginia Beach, VA
on January 18. On January 18 two TRICOLORED HERONS were found at 6032 Marvin
Road in Virginia Beach, VA.
On January 21 two GLOSSY IBIS were found at Little Island Park in Virginia
Beach, VA.
On January 21 an OSPREY was seen again at the Dutch Gap
Conservation/Henricus Historical Park in Chesterfield Co, VA. A so-called
"NORTHERN" RED-TAILED HAWK (abieticola)*, a distinctive subspecies that is
not uniformly recognized as separate from the eastern subspecies, was
reported at Oxon Hill Farm in Prince George's Co, MD on January 20 and along
3235 Twymans Mill Road in Madison Co, VA on January 21. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
was seen all week at marshes near the ends of Broadkill and Fowler Beach
Roads and nearby locations in Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, DE. In Maryland a
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen most recently at Pemberton Manor and Quail Covey
Farm Pond in Queen Anne's Co on January 21 and 22, respectively. A
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK also was spotted along Cranesville Road in Garrett Co, MD
on January 21. In Virginia a continuing ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen most
recently at Dulles Airport in Loudoun Co on January 21. Raptor highlights
during the week also included a GOLDEN EAGLE spotted from the south end of
Windy Hill Road in Talbot Co, MD on January 20.
In Maryland SHORT-EARED OWLS continue at the Konterra Drive fields and ponds
in Prince George's Co, Pemberton Manor in Queen Anne's Co and along Russell
Road in Garrett Co, with the most recent sightings on January 21. Sightings
of SHORT-EARED OWL in Virginia included six individuals seen from St. Louis
Road just north of the intersection with Foxcroft Road in Loudoun Co on
January 20; a high of four individuals at Messick Point in Poquoson on
January 19-21; and three individuals along Harrison Road in Fauquier Co most
recently on January 20.
A continuing LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen at the Smith Farm in Lunenburg, VA
on January 16. A NORTHERN SHRIKE* continues at the Sully Woodlands in
Fairfax Co, VA for the second consecutive winter, with the most recent
sighting on January 22.
Noteworthy wrens included a SEDGE WREN found at Jefferson Patterson Park in
Calvert Co, MD on January 20 and MARSH WRENS reported at several locations.
On January 18 five LAPLAND LONGSPURS were found along Fowler Beach Road in
Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, DE. In Virginia three LAPLAND LONGSPURS were
found near the intersection of Nicholson and Model Roads in Rockingham Co on
January 17, and one LAPLAND LONGSPUR was reported along Airport Road in
Augusta Co, VA on the same day. Sightings of SNOW BUNTING included 30
individuals observed along Fowler Beach Road in Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co,
DE on January 21; two individuals at Kiptopeke SP in Northampton Co, VA on
January 21 and 22; and a single individual flushed at Lake Holiday (gated
community; restricted access) in Frederick Co, VA on January 21.
A continuing CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen most recently at the Laurel Hill
Equestrian Center in Fairfax Co, VA on January 21. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
was found along Pocahontas Club Road in Virginia Beach, VA on January 18. Up
to four continuing VESPER SPARROWS were seen at Harriet Tubman Underground
Railroad National Historical Park in Dorchester Co, MD on January 19 and 20.
A VESPER SPARROW also was found along 4541 Harford Creamery Road in Harford
Co, MD on January 20. A LARK SPARROW was seen again at the Foggy Branch Farm
ponds in Montgomery Co, VA on January 21. On January 21 a LINCOLN'S SPARROW
was spotted by a woodlot opposite Raymond Pool at Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co,
DE.
On January 21 a BALTIMORE ORIOLE visited a feeder in the Alanton
neighborhood of Virginia Beach, VA.
On January 20-21 2-4 continuing BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS were seen at Breeze Farm
in Virginia Beach, VA.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were found at several locations in the reporting
area. Sightings in Maryland included single individuals found at Bogles
Wharf in Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co on January 16; Terrapin Nature Park in
Queen Anne's Co on January 20; and Lake Artemesia, Oxon Hill Farm and near
the Wilson Bridge in Prince George's Co on January 20. An ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLER continues at the LBJ Memorial Grove in Washington, DC, with the most
recent sighting on January 21. In Virginia an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was
found at Ancarrow's Landing in Richmond on January 20; Little Island Park in
Virginia Beach on January 19; and the Weyanoke Sanctuary in Norfolk on
January 20.
Out-of season warblers included a continuing YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER at a
residential feeder in Virginia Beach, VA on January 16 and 17, and a
WILSON'S WARBLER found on the grounds of the Loudoun Water Authority in
Loudoun Co, VA on January 20 and 21.
A continuing male PAINTED BUNTING was seen at a feeder in Manassas, Prince
William Co, VA on January 16 and 21.
***
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
