FYI - this report is for sightings from April 7 through April 13 and was
compiled by Joe Coleman & transcribed by Steve Cordle.
Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 04/14/2015
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments, questions: voice@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto: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 Tuesday, April 7 and was
completed on Tuesday, April 14 at 10:30 a.m.
The top bird this week was a WESTERN GREBE* in VA.
Other birds of interest this week included TRUMPETER SWAN, ducks, RED-NECKED
GREBE, ANHINGA, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, AMERICAN and LEAST BITTERNS,
SANDHILL CRANE, shorebirds, LITTLE GULL, NORTHERN SHRIKE, COMMON RAVEN,
CLIFF SWALLOW, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, warblers including SWAINSON'S,
sparrows, and PAINTED BUNTING,.
TOP BIRDS
Numbers of First of Season species were observed throughout the area.
A WESTERN GREBE* was seen and photographed April 7 from a private lane at
Suggett's Point, Richmond, VA.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
A TRUMPETER SWAN continues in the vicinity of the Black Hill Regional Park,
Montgomery Co, MD with sightings on April 7 and 9 at the nearby Lake
Churchill.
A EURASIAN WIGEON was seen April 8 at the Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL continued to be seen in a variety of locations during the
week. Three HARLEQUIN DUCKS, a drake and two females, were seen April 13 at
Indian River Inlet, DE; the drake HARLEQUIN was seen there April 7.
A SURF SCOTER was seen April 9 on the Shenandoah River from Bloomery Rd,
Jefferson Co, VA. Inland WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS continued to be observed at a
number of locations including one on April 8 at the James River Park--The
Wetlands, Richmond, VA and another the 8th through the 10th at Violette's
Lock, Montgomery Co, MD.
RED-NECKED GREBES are still being seen at a number of locations including at
the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD on April 7, at Rocky Gap SP,
Allegany, MD on April 7, at Fort Washington NP, Prince George's Co, MD on
the 9th, at Colonial Beach, Westmoreland Co, VA on April 7, and at Lake
Frederick, Frederick Co, VA on April 10, There were also two RED-NECKED
GREBES at Indian River Inlet, DE on April 7.
A male ANHINGA was soaring over Taylors Millpond in Greensville Co, VA on
April 11.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS continue to be seen at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester
Co, MD with over 30 there on April 9. An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was seen
April 10 at the Belmont Bay Marina, Prince William Co, VA. An astounding 85
were seen flying over the private Evergreen Park, St. Mary's Co, MD, on
April 12. Six AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen April 10 at Hog Island WMA,
Surry Co, VA; five were there on the 11th.
AMERICAN BITTERNS turned up at a few locations this past week. A LEAST
BITTERN was seen April 11 at Patuxent River Park- Wooton's Landing, Anne
Arundel Co, MD.
Four SANDHILL CRANES flew over Jones Junction, Bel Air in Hartford Co on
April 14. A SANDHILL CRANE was seen April 12 on the mud flats in Little
Tom's Cove, Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA.
Two PIPING PLOVERS were spotted April 11 at Fort Monroe, Hampton, VA.
SPOTTED SANDPIPERS also turned up at a few widely scattered locations this
past week.
LITTLE GULLS were seen at a few locations this past week including one at
Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA on April 12 and 13. There was also one on the
Back River at Eastern Blvd, Baltimore, MD on the 10th and 12th and another
at Centennial Park, Howard Co on April 12. Two, possibly three, were seen at
Fort Smallwood Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD on the 11th and another at Fort
Washington NP, Prince George's Co, MD, on the 12th.
The NORTHERN SHRIKE that was found last week in Frederick Co, MD on Shriver
Rd, about 0.4 miles south of Harney Rd, just north of the big tree line was
seen through April 10.
Lowland COMMON RAVENS continue to be observed throughout the reporting area.
CLIFF SWALLOWS were seen April 12 working on their nests on the Rte 50
Bridge over the Shenandoah River in Clarke Co, VA.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES popped up a number of widely scattered locations
this past week.
WARBLERS, including many First of Season species, popped up at a number of
locations this past week. A SWAINSON'S WARBLER was found April 13 along
Washington Ditch, Great Dismal Swamp NWR, Suffolk, VA.
The continuing VESPER SPARROW was seen again at Kenilworth Park on April 7.
Three VESPER SPARROWS were observed April 11 at the Irvine Nature Center,
Owings Mills, Howard Co, MD. Five VESPER SPARROWS were reported from the
Indian Creek WMA, Charles Co, MD, on April 11. A flock of at least six
VESPER SPARROWS were seen along Possum Pt Rd, Prince William Co, VA on the
12th. Two VESPER SPARROWS were seen at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on
April 12.
A PAINTED BUNTING showed up at a feeder in Norfolk, VA on April 8; another
also showed up the same day at a feeder in Great Bridge, Chesapeake, VA.
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS continue to be reported from a number of locations.
PURPLE FINCHES and PINE SISKINS seemed to turn up at feeders all over the
area the past few days.
***
This week's 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, 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
<mailto: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
