FYI - this report is for sightings from July 28 through Aug 3 and was
compiled by Helen Patton & transcribed by Steve Cordle.
Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 8/4/2015
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/central and southern DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments and questions: voice@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:voice@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Compiler: Helen Patton
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
Atlantic States (independent of NAS)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle (scordle@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:scordle@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> )
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, July28 and was
completed on Tuesday, August 4 at 11:50 a.m.
The top birds this week were NEOTROPIC CORMORANT* and SWALLOW-TAILED KITE in
MD.
Other birds of interest this week included SNOW GOOSE, TRUMPETER SWAN,
ducks, NORTHERN BOBWHITE, COMMON LOON, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, BROWN
PELICAN, herons, WHITE IBIS, MISSISSIPPI KITE, COMMON GALLINULE, AMERICAN
AVOCET, BLACK-NECKED STILT, sandpipers, terns, and warblers.
TOP BIRDS
Birders continued to observe a NEOTROPIC CORMORANT* at Violette's Lock on
the C&O Canal in Montgomery Co, MD, with the latest sighting on August 3.
On August 2, a SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was observed in Salisbury, Wicomico Co,
MD near the Oak Hill Apartments off Riverside Drive. It was observed again
soaring north of the Oak Hill Apartments. Another SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was
viewed near the train tracks at Weaverton near the C&O Canal, Washington Co,
MD on August 2.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
On July 28 a SNOW GOOSE was found at Byrd Park in Snow Hill, Worcester Co,
MD. A tagged TRUMPETER SWAN* continues at Lake Churchill in Montgomery Co,
MD, with the latest sighting on August 2. A TUNDRA SWAN continues at Swan
Cove in Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA with the latest sighting on August
1.
Out-of-season waterfowl also include: a BLUE-WINGED TEAL at Swan Creek
dredge containment facility, Anne Arundel Co, MD on July 30; four juvenile
COMMON MERGANSERS in Skidmore Reservoir at Switzer Dam, near Harrisonburg,
Rockingham Co, VA on August 1 and three RUDDY DUCKS at Hog Island WMA, Surry
Co, VA on July 27.
A NORTHERN BOBWHITE was on Long Neck Road, Saint Mary's Co, MD on August 1.
A COMMON LOON was spotted in Cape Henlopen SP, Sussex Co, DE on August 1.
As many as nine AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were at Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co,
DE between July 28 and 30. A total of 252 young BROWN PELICANS were banded
on Adams Island, Dorchester Co, MD on July 29.
A LEAST BITTERN was at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA on August 2.
TRI-COLORED HERONS were sighted in several locations during the week,
including one to four at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Queen Anne's
Co, MD and the Port Penn Impoundments, New Castle Co, DE. A YELLOW-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERON was at Figgs Landing, Worcester Co, MD on August 3. Another
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at Flag Ponds Nature Park, Calvert Co, MD on
August 2.
A juvenile WHITE IBIS continues around a wet corn field and storm water pond
behind the Aaron's store along Rte. 213 in Elkton, Cecil Co, MD with a
sighting on July 29. More WHITE IBIS were seen during the week, including: a
high count of 50 at Freeman Highway and Monroe Avenue, Sussex Co, DE ; ten
at Indian River Inlet, Sussex Co, DE and one to three at Bombay Hook NWR,
Kent Co, DE.
A MISSISSIPPI KITE was observed at the Howard County Conservancy, Howard Co,
MD on August 1. Another MISSISSIPPI KITE was soaring over the common grounds
of the Hickory Farms subdivision immediately east of George Mason
University, Fairfax Co, VA on August 2. Two MISSISSIPPI KITES were circling
and landing in trees around Maybeury Elementary School in Richmond, VA on
August 2. Two MISSISSIPPI KITES were seen in the Virginia Beach area from
July 28 through August 3.
On July 29 a LEAST BITTERN and a COMMON GALLINULE were seen on Poplar
Island, Talbot Co, MD. Single COMMON GALLINULES were at LM Stevens Park,
Montgomery Co, MD on July 31 and at Flag Ponds Nature Park, Calvert Co, MD
on August 2.
Two AMERICAN AVOCETS continue to be seen at Swan Creek dredge containment
facility, Anne Arundel Co, MD with a sighting on July 28. A high count of 78
AMERICAN AVOCETS and 34 BLACK-Necked STILTS were observed on Poplar Island,
Talbot Co, MD on July 29.
Shorebirds increased in numbers and diversity and included small numbers of
WHIMBREL, MARBLED GODWIT, WESTERN SANDPIPER and PECTORAL SANDPIPER among
other species. UPLAND SANDPIPERS were found at several locations. On July 29
and 31, two were seen at the Salisbury Airport, Wicomico Co, MD. On July 29,
two UPLAND SANDPIPERS were east of Maple Dam Road in a wheat stubble field
in Dorchester Co, MD. An UPLAND SANDPIPER was at Kenilworth Park, DC on
August 3.
Noteworthy shorebird sightings also included a WILSON'S PLOVER* at Grandview
Nature Preserve, Hampton Co, VA on August 1.
GULL-BILLED TERNS were seen at several locations, including one at Truitt's
Landing, Worcester Co, MD on July 29, one at Figgs Landing, Worcester Co, on
July 30 and August 2 and one at Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, DE on August 3. A
BLACK TERN was at the Port Penn Impoundments, New Castle Co, DE on August 1.
A SANDWICH TERN was at Gordon's Pond Trail, Sussex Co, DE on August 2.
The beginning of southbound migration of passerines was further suggested by
recent reports of several species of wood warbler, including PROTHONOTARY,
KENTUCKY, MAGNOLIA, CHESTNUT-SIDED and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS. In
addition, an early TENNESSEE WARBLER was on Compton Mt. in Buchanan Co, VA.
***
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, 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
<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
