FYI Joe Coleman
-----Original Message-----
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 5/23/2017
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.AudubonNaturalist.org.
This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon Naturalist
Society. This report covers the week starting Tuesday, May 16 and was
completed on Tuesday, May 23 at 11:00 a.m.
Information on noteworthy birds 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).
The top birds this week were WHITE-WINGED DOVE in VA, WHITE-FACED IBIS in
MD, SWALLOW-TAILED KITE in MD and VA, and SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER* in VA.
Other birds of interest this week included waterfowl, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO,
rails, SANDHILL CRANE, shorebirds, PARASITIC JAEGER, GULL-BILLED TERN, BLACK
TERN, RED-THROATED LOON, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, AMERICAN BITTERN,
MISSISSIPPI KITE, flycatchers including OLIVE-SIDED and YELLOW-BELLIED,
PHILADELPHIA VIREO, SEDGE WREN, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, thrushes, warblers,
NELSON'S and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, PAINTED BUNTING, and DICKCISSEL.
TOP BIRDS
A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was seen at a private residence in Hampton, VA on May
16; it was not reported after the 16th.
An adult WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen May 19 on Green Dumpster Rd at Deal
Island WMA, Somerset Co, MD. A WHITE-FACED IBIS was also seen May 18, 19,
and 20 at the Ashton Tract, Augustine Wildlife Area, New Castle CO, DE.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE flew over North Glen Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May
19. A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was seen May 21 while driving on Rte 29 bypass in
Amherst Co, VA about 2.5 miles north of the Rte 130 exit.
A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER* was seen May 16 at Arlington Rd & Custis Tomb
Rd, Northampton Co, VA. A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER* was also seen May 18
and 19 at the NE Corner of the Wallops Flight Facility, Accomack Co, VA.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
Some waterfowl species that winter in the area continued to linger around
this past week. A continuing CACKLING GOOSE at Chesapeake Bay Environmental
Center (Horsehead) in Queen Anne's Co, MD was most recently reported on May
21. A COMMON EIDER was at Metompkin Island, Accomack Co, VA on May 17.
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS were observed at several locations during the week
including: at private homes in Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 16 and 18; at the
Main Section of the James River Park, Richmond, VA on May 16; from the
Hawkwatching platform at Kiptopeke SP, Northampton Co, VA on May 16; on
Wheat Ln, Northampton Co, VA on May 17; Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, VA on
May 18; Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA on May 21; Western Fairfax Co, VA on May
6; Leesylvania SP, Prince William Co, VA on May 7; and Sky Meadows SP,
Fauquier Co, VA on May 8.
A KING RAIL was at North Point SP, Baltimore Co, MD on May 19. Another was
at Wooton's Landing, Patuxent River Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 20 and
21. A COMMON GALLINULE was seen at Sandy Bottom Nature Park, Hampton, VA on
May 16, 17, and 18. A COMMON GALLINULE was also seen on May 20 and 21 at
Black Marsh, Baltimore Co, MD. Another was at Swan Harbor Farm Park, Harford
Co, MD, on May 22.
A SANDHILL CRANE was seen May 16 at Fisherman Island NWR, Northampton Co,
VA. One was also seen May 19 at Maury River below Cedar Grove, Rockbridge
Co, VA. SANDHILL CRANES were also seen in De with one at the Ashton Tract of
the Augustine Wildlife Area, New Castle Co, and the other on May 20 and 21 a
little west of Port Penn.
Among the numerous shorebirds at the Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA last
week were PIPING PLOVERS and, on May 17, a MARBLED GODWIT. Three MARBLED
GODWITS were at Willis Wharf, Northampton Co, VA on May 21.
As many as 3 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were seen at a private pond on Peat
Moss Rd, Garrett Co, MD, from May 16 through the 20th. A WILSON'S PHALAROPE
was at the Bombay Hook NWR on May 18, 19, and 20. A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was
seen May 22 at the Roanoke Sewage Treatment Plant, Roanoke, VA.
A PARASITIC JAEGER was seen May 19 from the Assateague SP, Worcester Co, MD.
Two GULL-BILLED TERNS were seen May 17 at Queen Sound Public Landing,
Accomack Co, VA. Three BLACK TERNS were seen May 19 at the Assateague SP. A
BLACK TERN were seen at Bombay Hook NWR on May 19.
A RED-THROATED LOON was seen May 16 from the Fort Smallwood Park Hawkwatch,
Anne Arundel Co, MD. Another was seen May 18 from the Bayside Peninsula,
Assateague Island NS, Worcester Co, MD. On May 19 a RED-THROATED LOON was
seen at Masonville Cove, Baltimore, MD. RED-THROATED LOONS were also seen in
Sussex Co, DE at the DuPont Nature Center, on May 18 and at Indian River
Inlet on May 19.
As many as 5 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen throughout the week at the
Ashton Tract, Augustine Wildlife Area, New Castle Co, DE.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on May 16.
Another AMERICAN BITTERN was seen the same day at Meadowbrook Park, Howard
Co, MD. An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen and photographed May 20 at the Nazarene
Church Road Wetlands, Rockingham Co, VA.
MISSISSIPPI KITES turned up at a number of locations during the week. In
Northampton Co, VA on May 16 single birds were seen at Fisherman Island NWR
and at Taylor Pond, Kiptopeke NWR; one was also seen the same day along the
Wildlife Loop, Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA. On May 17 and 18 they were
seen along 17th Street, Upton and Utah Streets, Arlington County, VA; two
were seen at 18th and Utah St on the 19th and as many as 4 were seen either
there or at 17th and Utah on the 20th. One was also seen on May 17 along
Cameron Mills Rd, Alexandria, VA and on the 18th over nearby Central Ave.
One was also seen May 17 in Ferndale, Anne Arundel Co, MD. A MISSISSIPPI
KITE was seen May 18 at the Craney Island Disposal Area (restricted access),
Portsmouth, VA and another in an area where they have been seen for several
years, Runt Powell Farm, Halifax Co, VA. Single MISSISSIPPI KITES flew over
the Fort Small Park Hawkwatch, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 18 and 19. Two
MISSISSIPPI KITES were seen May 20 at the private Big Water Farm, Queen
Anne's Co, MD.
The OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER at Monticello Park, Alexandria, VA, was seen
again on May 16. A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was seen and heard in a yard
near Bluemont, Loudoun Co, VA. ALDER FLYCATCHERS were found at several
locations throughout the area including one at the Blue Ridge Center for
Environmental Stewardship in northwestern Loudoun Co, VA on May 16; Hughes
Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on May 16; at the Occoquan NWR, Prince William Co,
VA on May 20 and 21; along the Huntley Meadows Park Hike and Bike Trail,
Fairfax Co, VA on May 21. Others were observed at Big Water Farm (private),
Queen Anne' Co, MD, on May 17 as well as one at Leesylvania SP, Prince
William Co, VA on May 17. Three LEAST FLYCATCHERS were at the Swan Creek
Wetlands/Cox Creek DMCF, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 16. A LEAST FLYCATCHER
was also observed on this week's Dyke Marsh (Fairfax Co) walk on May 21.
Other LEAST FLYCATCHERS were observed at the Middle Patuxent Environmental
Area, Howard Co, MD on May 20; at Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore Co, MD on
May 21; at Patterson Park, Baltimore, MD, on May 21.
PHILADELPHIA VIREOS were seen at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on May
16; at Watkins Ponds, King Farm Stream Park, Montgomery Co, MD on May 17;
and at a home in Randallstown, Baltimore, MD, on May 18.
On May 21 a SEDGE WREN was seen and heard at Finzel Swamp, Garret Co, MD.
Late RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS popped at a variety of locations in MD & VA early
in the week.
Various thrush species continued to seen and heard throughout the region
this past week, including GRAY-CHEEKED, SWAINSON'S and VEERY.
While warbler migration began to wind down as the week progressed, there
were still a lot of nice sightings especially during the beginning of the
time period. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER and 3 MOURNING WARBLERS were among the
20 warbler species observed at Rock Creek Park, NW DC, on May 16; the former
and two of the latter were seen in the Maintenance Yard and the other
MOURNING WARBLER was along the Fence Line. A continuing GOLDEN-WINGED
WARBLER was seen again on May
16 at Watkins Ponds, King Farm Stream Valley Park, Montgomery Co, MD. Four
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS were found along Big Valley Rd in Highland Co, VA on
May 19. The 16th was a very good day for MOURNING WARBLERS with one at
Susquehanna SP, Harford Co, MD (along with 27 other warbler species); one at
the Beaver Pond, Fort Frederick SP, Washington Co, MD; and still another at
the Swan Creek Wetlands/Cox Creek DMCF, Anne Arundel Co, MD. MOURNING
WARBLERS were also observed on May 17 with one at the Wheaton RP (Montgomery
Co, MD) and another at the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area, Howard Co,
MD. A MOURNING WARBLER was heard May 18 near the power line between Deer
Pasture Dr and Brush Run in Columbia, MD. Monticello Park (Alexandria, VA)
and Wheaton RP (Montgomery Co, MD) were other great places to see several
warblers with 18 at both on May 16.
There was a NELSON'S SPARROW at Raymond Pool, Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co, DE
on May 20. A NELSON'S SPARROW was also seen May 21 at the Chesapeake Bay
Environmental Center, Queen Anne's Co, MD. Another NELSON'S SPARROW was seen
the same day in Finzel Swamp, Garrett Co, MD. On May 16 single LINCOLN'S
SPARROW were seen at Finzel Swamp, Garrett Co, MD and the Middle Patuxent
Environmental Area, Howard Co, MD. On May 17 one was seen at Mt. Nebo WMA,
Garrett Co, MD.
A PAINTED BUNTING was seen, heard, and photographed on May 16, and again on
May 17 and 18, at Fisherman's Island NWR (restricted access), Northampton
Co, VA.
A DICKCISSEL was at the Taylor Pond, Kiptopeke SP, Northampton Co, VA, on
May 16. On May 20 one was at Collipher Farm, Virginia Beach, VA. A
DICKCISSEL was also heard on May 20 at Shirley Plantation, Charles City Co,
VA. Two DICKCISSELS were observed May 17 at the private Oaks Landfill,
Montgomery Co, MD. Six DICKCISSELS were seen May 22 on Mason Dixon Farms
which straddles the MD/PA border near Emmitsburg, MD, with several males and
some females near the intersection of Bullfrog Rd and Harney Rd, Frederick
Co.
***
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, 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, e-mail or
phone.
Thank you for your interest, and enjoy the birds.
*Of interest to the applicable state records committee
