FYI Joe Coleman
-----Original Message-----
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 3/28/2017
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments, 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 (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.
This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon Naturalist
Society. This report covers the week starting Wednesday, March 22 and was
completed on Tuesday, March 28 at 10:30 a.m.
Information on noteworthy birds during this week is presented below in
taxonomic order, as set forth in the American Ornithologists' Union
Checklist for North and Middle American birds as revised through the 57th
supplement (July 2016).
TOP BIRDS THIS WEEK were PINK-FOOTED GOOSE* in DE, GREEN-WINGED TEAL
(EURASIAN) in MD, PRAIRIE FALCON* in VA, and WESTERN TANAGER in VA.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST included waterfowl, EARED GREBE, EASTERN WHIP-POOR-
WILL, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, KING RAIL, SORA, SANDHILL CRANE, shorebirds,
RAZORBILL, BLACK-HEADED GULL, LITTLE GULL, ICELAND GULL, GREAT CORMORANT,
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, AMERICAN BITTERN, GREEN HERON, YELLOW-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERON, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, NORTHERN SHRIKE, LAPLAND
LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, warblers, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, PAINTED BUNTING,
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
TOP BIRDS
The PINK-FOOTED GOOSE* which has been seen near Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co,
DE, was last reported on March 23; at that time it was seen along Wells Rd
just past the intersection with Buttonwood Rd.
The continuing GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN) at West Meadow Park, Cecil Co,
MD was most recently seen March 27. There was also one seen March 25 at the
Ashton Tract, Augustine Wildlife Area, DE.
A PRAIRIE FALCON* was found and photographed on March 25 at the
decommissioned Alexandria Power Plant in Alexandria, VA; it was seen again
on the 26th and 27. It is being seen most frequently perched in various
locations on the south side of the power plant. Because the bird
periodically flies out over the Potomac, it can also be considered a DC
sighting.
The WESTERN TANAGER at Settler's Mill, James City Co, VA was seen again on
March 26.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
The CACKLING GOOSE at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Queen Anne's
Co, MD was seen again on March 24 and 26.
A EURASIAN WIGEON was at Broadkill Marsh, Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, DE also
on March 23. A EURASIAN WIGEON was seem March 25 at Mulberry Landing,
Assawoman WMA, Sussex Co, DE. A LONG-TAILED DUCK continued at Lapidum,
Harford Co, MD, through March 22. Two COMMON EIDERS were seen from the
Lewes-Cape May ferry in Sussex Co, DE waters on 22.
The RED-NECKED GREBE at Loch Raven Reservoir, Baltimore, MD was seen as
recently as March 26. The EARED GREBE at Buckroe Beach, Hampton Co, VA, was
most recently seen on March 26.
An early EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL was heard at a residence in Hanover Co, VA
early on the morning of March 28.
The RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD continued to be seen during the week at Wildewood
Neighborhood Walk, St. Mary's Co MD.
A KING RAIL was calling from the marsh along the wildlife drive where the
road is blocked at the Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA on March 25.
A SORA was seen March 25 on the edge of a retention pond along Weaneck Haul
Rd, Charles City, Charles City Co, VA.
Six SANDHILL CRANES flew over Baker Park, Frederick, Frederick Co, MD on
March 25. Two were seen again on March 27 along Peat Moss Rd, Garrett Co, MD
in a corn field.
Shorebird numbers continued to increase this past week. Three PURPLE
SANDPIPERS were seen March 25 at the Veterans Memorial at Chesapeake Beach,
Calvert Co, MD. PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were seen in two different locations in
Garrett Co, MD on March 25; 6 were at Herrington Manor SP and 13 were
reported from Peat Moss Rd. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were displaying at Huntley
Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on March 25.
A RAZORBILL continued at Ft. Monroe, Hampton Co, VA with a report from March
26.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL found March 23 in the pond next to the Walmart, Colonial
heights, VA, was seen again March 26. Another was seen throughout the week
at Back River, Baltimore Co, MD. A LITTLE GULL was seen March 25 from
Lapidum, Harford Co, MD. An ICELAND GULL was seen March 25 from the
Lewes-Cape May Ferry in DE waters.
Six GREAT CORMORANTS were seen March 25 off of Kent Point, Queen Anne's Co,
MD.
The AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN at the pier at the Essex Wastewater Treatment
Plant, Baltimore, MD, was seen again on March 24 from Cox Point Park.
AN AMERICAN BITTERN was seen March 25 at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, NE
DC. Another AMERICAN BITTERN was seen the same day in the cell north & west
of the parking lot at the Julie Metz Wetlands Bank, in Woodbridge, Prince Wm
Co, VA.
The GREEN HERON that over-wintered at Ben Brenman Park, Alexandria, VA, was
last reported on March 21.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were seen at a variety of locations including
two at the Jones Fall Trail at Remington, Baltimore Co, MD, throughout the
week.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen March 27 as it flew over a yard near
Shepherdstown, Jefferson Co, WV.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen and photographed on March 27 at 20627 Old Forge
Rd, Washington Co, MD. The continuing NORTHERN SHRIKE, at Sully Woodlands,
Fairfax Co VA was seen as recently as March 26.
A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was seen and photographed March 25 at Chincoteague NWR,
Accomack Co, VA. Four SNOW BUNTINGS were seen March 23 at Craney Island
Disposal Area, Portsmouth, VA. Two SNOW BUNTINGS were seen March 25 at Fort
Monroe, Hampton, VA.
Early migrating warblers included a BLACK-THROATED GREEN heard at Lake
Matoaka, Williamsburg, VA on March 26.
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the Big Water Farm (private), Queen Anne's Co
MD, was seen as recently as March 26. Two VESPER SPARROWS were seen March 26
at the Agricultural History Farm Park, Montgomery Co, MD. A VESPER SPARROW
was seen March 26 at Swoope, VA along Trimbles Mill Rd. Two VESPER SPARROWS
were seen along Berry's Ferry Road (CR 628) March 27; they were at the edge
of a winter wheat field along the south border of Blandy Experimental Farm,
Clarke Co, VA.
A male PAINTED BUNTING continues to be seen and photographed at a private
residence in Berlin, Worcester Co, MD, with the most recent sighting on
March 27.
The YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at Hopkins Farm Pond, Harford Co, MD was last
seen on March 22.
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen throughout the area during the week including a
small flock at the Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA on March 25.
This report was based on reports on the DE, MD, VA, and WV list servers via
the ABA Internet links, and on eBird records.
The Audubon Sanctuary Shop (301-652-3606, 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.
Please post reports before midnight Monday, identify the county as well as
the state, and include your name and a Tuesday morning contact, either
e-mail or phone.
Thank you for your interest, and enjoy the birds.
*Of interest to the applicable records committee
