FYI Joe Coleman
-----Original Message-----
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 2/05/2019
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/central and southern DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments and questions: voice@xxxxxxxxxxx
Compiler: Lydia Schindler
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 https://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 29 and was
completed on Tuesday, February 5, at 8:00 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 59th Supplement (June 2018).
The top birds this week are BAR-TAILED GODWIT* in VA and VARIED THRUSH* in
MD.
Other birds of interest include SNOW, ROSS'S, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED, and
CACKLING GEESE, MUTE and TRUMPETER SWANS, GREATER SCAUP, COMMON EIDER,
HARLEQUIN DUCK, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and other ducks, HORNED and RED-NECKED
GREBES, SANDHILL CRANE, THICK-BILLED MURRE, RAZORBILL, gulls including
BLACK-HEADED, ICELAND, and GLAUCOUS, GREAT CORMORANT, AMERICAN WHITE
PELICAN, OSPREY, raptors including GOLDEN EAGLE, SHORT-EARED OWL, NORTHERN
SHRIKE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, HORNED LARK, EVENING GROSBEAK, COMMON
REDPOLL, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, CLAY-COLORED, VESPER, and LINCOLN'S
SPARROWS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER,
PAINTED BUNTING, DICKCISSEL, and PINE SISKIN.
TOP BIRDS
A BAR-TAILED GODWIT* continues at Chincoteague NWR-Tom's Cove, Accomack Co,
VA, with reports from Jan 29 and Feb 4.
The VARIED THRUSH* found in the Leonardtown area of St. Mary's Co, MD, in
late December was seen again Feb 2; this week it showed up across the street
from 22070 Philip Drive. Persons looking for this bird are asked to follow
the access guidelines, which may be found in posts by Tyler Bell on MD
Birding, most recently on Feb 2, and to include these guidelines in any
report.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
While SNOW GEESE by the thousands have been flooding the Eastern Shore, two
of them--one white and one blue--notably made it to Baltimore: they were
reported at Prettyboy Reservoir (Gates 36-37) on Feb 3.
A continuing ROSS'S GOOSE was seen through the week at Whittier Lake, and in
a marshy area bordered by Rocky Springs Road and Rosemont Avenue, in
Frederick Co, MD.
Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were reported Jan 30 at the Clifton
Institute (restricted access) in Fauquier Co, VA. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GOOSE was found in Howard Co, MD, in fields north of Jennings Chapel Rd. In
Baltimore, MD, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen Feb 3 at North Point
SP, in the first field south of the park entrance and, on Feb 4, at Todd's
Inheritance Historic Site.
CACKLING GEESE were found at several locations in Northern Virginia during
the week: in Fairfax Co at Dyke Marsh WP Jan 31; Burke Lake Park Feb 1; and
Belle Haven Park--Picnic Area Feb 4; and, in Prince William Co, at Silver
Lake RP on Feb 4.
A MUTE SWAN continues at Piney Run Park in Carroll Co, MD, with the most
recent sighting from Feb 4. Other MUTE SWAN sightings include one from the
C&O Canal (MP 107-108) in Washington Co, MD, Feb 2, and one from Fort Howard
Park in Baltimore Feb 3.
The tagged TRUMPETER SWAN (T87) visited Alter Pond along Soil Conservation
Road in Prince George's Co, MD on Jan 29 and 31 and Feb 3.
An inland GREATER SCAUP was found at Elizabeth Mills Riverfront Park,
Loudoun Co, VA on January 31. At least 2 COMMON EIDERS were present at Fort
Monroe in Hampton, VA, through the week. A single HARLEQUIN DUCK was
reported from Lynnhaven Inlet in Virginia Beach, VA Feb 3. On January 30 a
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER showed up at Burke Lake, Fairfax Co, VA. On Feb 2, 4
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were at Quarry Lake in Baltimore, MD. And on Feb 1 a
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was photographed at West Potomac Park, DC.
One upshot of last week's frigid temperatures was a waterfowl bonanza, with
hundreds of ducks gathering on the Potomac River in the District of Columbia
and Northern Virginia. Three LONG-TAILED DUCKS headlined the rafts that
could be seen from West Potomac Park on Feb 3. Other ducks in the mix that
day included GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARD, CANVASBACK, some 600 LESSER
SCAUP, 60 BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON and RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER-and 1 RUDDY DUCK. One LONG-TAILED DUCK also made it to Riley's
Lock on the C&O Canal in Montgomery Co, MD, Feb 2 and 3.
Smaller bodies of water in the area also benefited from the phenomenon. A
LONG-TAILED DUCK showed up at Burke Lake Park, Fairfax Co, VA, on Feb 2.
Gunner's Lake in Germantown, Montgomery Co, drew CANVASBACK and REDHEAD.
Further south, more than 40 COMMON GOLDENEYES and more than 60 HOODED
MERGANSERS flocked to Lake Monticello (gated community/ restricted access)
in Fluvanna Co, VA on Jan 31.
A RED-NECKED GREBE along with a HORNED GREBE were also to be seen on the
Potomac in DC, reported from West Potomac Park on Feb 1 and East Potomac
Park-Hains Point on Feb 3 and 4.
SANDHILL CRANES continue to visit fields along Harry James Road in St.
Mary's Co, MD, with a report from Feb 3.
A THICK-BILLED MURRE was noted at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD on
Feb 3. Two RAZORBILLS were seen off the jetty at Indian River Inlet in
Sussex Co, DE Feb 3. Two RAZORBILLS were reported from Rudee Inlet in
Virginia Beach, VA on Feb 2.
On Feb 2 a BLACK-HEADED GULL was dip-feeding with 5 BONAPARTE'S GULLS at
Pleasure House Point NA in Virginia Beach. On Feb 3 a BLACK-HEADED GULL was
seen again at Wolfe Neck WTP (restricted access), Sussex Co, DE. In Maryland
ICELAND GULLS showed up at Lorely Beach Community Pier (private), Baltimore
Co, Jan 29; the Trash Transfer Station (restricted access) in Howard Co on
Feb 2; and at the Salisbury Landfill-Naylor Mill Road Pond, Wicomico Co, on
January 29.
On Feb 3 a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL visited Franklin Manor, Anne Arundel Co,
MD.
In Worcester Co, MD, GLAUCOUS GULLS were spotted at the Ocean City Inlet Jan
29 and Feb 4, at the West Ocean City Marina on Jan 29 and 30 and Feb 4, and
at Ocean City's Sunset Park Feb 2 and 3. A GLAUCOUS GULL was also spotted at
Lorley Beach, Baltimore Co, on Jan 29.
During the week small numbers of GREAT CORMORANTS were seen at several
expected coastal locations in DE, MD, and VA.
Two AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were observed flying low over the water at Rudee
Inlet, Virginia Beach, Feb 2.
An early OSPREY was reported from Milton, Sussex Co, DE, on Feb 4.
A GOLDEN EAGLE was in the air over Pickering Creek Audubon Center, Talbot
Co, MD, on Jan 31 and Feb 3 and 4. GOLDEN EAGLES were also reported from two
Virginia locations on Feb 3: James Madison's Montpelier in Orange Co and
Mountain Run Lake Park in Culpeper Co.
A pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen Jan 30 from the W&OD trail in Ashburn,
Loudon Co, VA, flying between the electric towers and the cliffs of the
quarry. A PEREGRINE FALCON was reported Feb 3 at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince
William Co, VA.
Two SHORT-EARED OWLS-one perched on the ground and one soaring against a
clear blue sky--were a highlight of a Feb 2 Montgomery (MD) Bird Club trip
to Oaks Landfill (restricted access). The outing was raptor-rich: multiple
NORTHERN HARRIERS, RED-TAILED and RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, COOPER'S HAWK, and
MERLIN.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was an exciting find at Pickering Creek Audubon Center,
Talbot Co, MD, on Jan 29, and it gave excellent views thereafter. As of Feb
4 it could be seen between the start of the trail from the parking lot and
the first viewing platform. A NORTHERN SHRIKE is back for the third year at
Sully Woodlands in South Riding, VA, where on Feb 2 it was vigorously
singing.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH sightings include 4 birds at Prettyboy Reservoir in
Baltimore on Feb 3; 2 at MP 39 on the C&O Canal, Montgomery Co, MD, Feb 3;
and 4 at Flint Hill, Fairfax Co, VA, Feb 4.
An EVENING GROSBEAK continues to entertain visitors at a private residence
in Howard Co, MD, with reports through Feb 4. On Feb 2 EVENING GROSBEAKS
visited a private feeder in Washington Co, MD.
On Jan 31 a COMMON REDPOLL was reported at a feeder in Howard Co, MD. COMMON
REDPOLLS are also being seen just outside the reporting area in Northern
Delaware.
On Feb 3 two LAPLAND LONGSPURS were picked out of a flock of HORNED LARKS on
Savannah Rd in Dover, Kent Co, DE.
A flock of up to 10 SNOW BUNTINGS has been flying around North Point SP,
Baltimore Co, MD, with reports through Feb 4. On Feb 3, a dozen SNOW
BUNTINGS were seen at Black Marsh, Baltimore. On Jan 31 a single SNOW
BUNTING flew past a store on Price's Distillery Rd in Damascus, Montgomery
Co, MD. A dozen or more SNOW BUNTINGS continue to enliven the 85th St beach
in Virginia Beach, VA, with reports through Feb 4.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW spending its second consecutive winter at the Laurel
Hill Equestrian Center in Fairfax Co, VA was seen again Feb 2.
The VESPER SPARROWS wintering at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad NHP in
Dorchester Co, MD, were reported Jan 31 and Feb 3. LINCOLN'S SPARROW was
reported by CCBC Catonsville, Baltimore Co, MD, on Feb 2, and at Blue Mash
Nature Trail, Montgomery Co, MD, on Jan 29 and Feb 3.
On Feb 3 a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was reported from the canal south of Browns
Island in Richmond, VA.
A female BALTIMORE ORIOLE brightened a feeder in Dover, DE, on Feb 1.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was found at Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore, on
Jan 31.
A male PAINTED BUNTING visited a feeder at a private location in Hanover Co,
VA on Feb 2, and a male PAINETED BUNTING was again observed at a feeder in
Chesapeake, VA on January 29. A female PAINTED BUNTING--a "greenie"--visited
a feeder at a private residence in Virginia Beach Feb 2 and 3.
The out-of-season DICKCISSEL enjoyed last week along the C&O Canal near
Fletcher's Cove in Washington, DC, was still around as of Feb 4.
A PINE SISKIN was reported from Belle Haven Park, Fairfax Co, VA, on Feb 4.
Also on Feb 4, a flock of 8 PINE SISKINS were seen in Ellicott City, Howard
Co, MD; they were in a Norway Spruce at the intersection of Font Hill and
Carrigan Drives.
****
This week's report was based on reports on the DE, MD, VA and WV list
servers, eBird records, various birding pages on Facebook, and submissions
to ANS.
The Audubon Sanctuary Shop (301-652-3606,
https://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
