FYI - this report is for sightings from Nov 24 through Nov 30 and was
compiled by Helen Patton & transcribed by Steve Cordle.
Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 12/01/2015
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
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, November 24 and was
completed on Tuesday, December 1 at 12:40 p.m.
The top birds this week were BROWN BOOBY* in MD, FRANKLIN'S GULL* in DE and
VA and CAVE SWALLOW* in VA.
Other birds of interest this week included waterfowl, RED-THROATED LOON,
GREAT CORMORANT, AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, herons, GOLDEN EAGLE, shorebirds,
RAZORBILL, BLACK-HEADED and ICELAND GULLS, SNOWY OWL, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER,
PEREGRINE FALCON, SNOW BUNTING, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, WILSON'S WARBLER,
sparrows, BALTIMORE ORIOLE and PURPLE FINCH.
TOP BIRDS
An adult female BROWN BOOBY* continues near two large cargo ships on Locust
Point in Baltimore Harbor, with sightings during the week. On November 29, A
BROWN BOOBY* was observed at Fort McHenry NM, Baltimore, MD, most likely the
same bird.
A FRANKLIN'S GULL* was working the cut turf at the Summit Hall Turf Farm
(private) one mile upstream from Sycamore Landing Road, Montgomery Co, MD on
November 24 and 26. The bird was viewed from the C&O Canal towpath.
The perplexing post-breeding movements of CAVE SWALLOWS* continued to be
evident at several coastal locations. Sightings were mostly at the Kiptopeke
SP, Northampton Co, VA with two sighted at the Fishing Pier on November 27;
at least twenty from the Hawk Platform on November 25 and another fourteen
in the park itself.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
A ROSS'S GOOSE was discovered near Lynchburg, VA on November 24 and 25. It
was on a small pond and surrounding fields along Coffee Road near the
intersection with Huntingwoods Blvd. As many as six ROSS'S GEESE were at the
Easton WWTP, Talbot Co, MD on November 24, 25 and 27. A ROSS'S GOOSE was at
Pickering Beach Road, Kent Co, DE on November 27. A CACKLING GOOSE was at
Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co, DE on November 27. Twenty-one CACKLING GEESE along
with an estimated 5500 CANADA GEESE were in the main pond at Chesapeake
Farms, Kent Co, MD on November 29.
In MD, a longstanding, tagged TRUMPETER SWAN continues at Lake Churchill in
Montgomery Co, seen on November 26, 27 and 28.
A male EURASIAN WIGEON was at Loch Raven Reservoir, Baltimore Co, MD on
November 24 and 25. A EURASIAN WIGEON was at West Ocean City pond, Worcester
Co, MD on November 27 and 28. A EURASIAN WIGEON was at the Chincoteague NWR,
Accomack Co, VA on November 28 and 29. Ten REDHEADS were at Lock Raven
Reservoir, Baltimore Co, MD on November 26 and 27. Eight REDHEADS were at
Aquia Landing, Stafford Co, VA on November 28. Three HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at
the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD on November 27. Two adult, female
COMMON GOLDENEYES were at Riverbend Park, Fairfax Co, VA on November 25 and
27. Gunner's Lake, Germantown, Montgomery Co, MD hosted eight duck species
including four COMMON GOLDENEYES on November 29. Five LONG-TAILED DUCKS were
at Marina Park, Port Deposit, Cecil Co, MD on November 29. A LONG-TAILED
DUCK was at Daley Pond, Loudoun Co, VA on November 29. A LONG-TAILED DUCK
and a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER along with other ducks were at Triadelphia
Reservoir, Howard Co, MD on November 30. Triadelphia Reservoir is closed for
the season and viewing is allowed only from Brighton Dam until March 2016. A
breeding plumaged male HOODED MERGANSER was on Pine Lake in Wheaton Regional
Park, Montgomery Co, MD on November 24. Twenty-two HOODED MERGANSERS were at
Kinder Farm Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD on November 27.
A RED-THROATED LOON was at Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD on November
25. A RED-THROATED LOON was at Augustine Beach, New Castle Co, DE on
November 25 and 29. A RED-THROATED LOON was observed from Hains Point, DC on
November 30.
A GREAT CORMORMANT was at Fox Point SP, New Castle Co, DE on November 29.
Forty-eight AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co,
MD on November 25. Forty-one AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were at Blackwater NWR
by November 27. Three AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were at Willis Wharf Road,
Northampton Co, VA on November 29.
Seven LITTLE BLUE HERONS were at Assateague Island, Worcester Co, MD on
November 28. A TRICOLORED HERON was also at Assateague Island at the Life of
the Marsh Trail on November 25.
The Harvey's Knob Hawk Watch, Roanoke, VA and the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch,
Waynesboro, VA both reported a GOLDEN EAGLE on November 24. The Cape
Henlopen Hawk Watch, Sussex Co, DE observed a GOLDEN EAGLE on November 27.
Lingering shorebirds included as many as five SEMIPALMATED PLOVER at
Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA on November 27 and 28; 12 SEMIPALMATED
PLOVERS at Maddox Blvd, Accomack Co, VA on November 29; RED KNOTS at
Grandview Beach and Park, Hampton, VA during the week; six to ten WILLETS at
Castaways Campground, Worcester Co, MD on November 27 and four to eight
MARBLED GODWITS also at Castaways Campground on November 27 and 30.
A RAZORBILL was at Back Bay NWR Beach in Virginia Beach, VA on November 25.
On November 28 a first-cycle ICELAND GULL was at Conowingo Dam on the
Harford/Cecil county line, MD. A BLACK-HEADED GULL was at the Loch Raven
Reservoir Paper Mill Flats, Baltimore Co, MD on November 26 and 27. A
BLACK-HEADED GULL also continues in Swan Cove at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack
Co, VA, with the latest sighting on November 29.
A SNOWY OWL was seen and photographed on a fence in a private residence yard
in South Arlington, VA on the morning of November 29. It flew off when
mobbed by crows.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen in many venues throughout the region during
the week.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was perched on the south-east corner of the southwest
tower at the Annapolis Town Center, Anne Arundel Co, MD on November 30.
Another PEREGRINE FALCON was at Poplar Neck Marsh, Caroline Co, MD also on
November 30.
Two SNOW BUNTINGS were at the Grandview beach in Hampton, VA on November 26.
A SNOW BUNTING was on the Wildlife Drive at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co,
MD on November 30.
COMMON YELLOWTHROATS were seen at many sites during the week. A WILSON'S
WARBLER was at Lothian, Blue Shirt Road, Anne Arundel Co, MD on November 27.
At least four AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were at Finzel Swamp, Allegany Co, MD
on November 26. A VESPER SPARROW was at Saddlebrook Community Park, Prince
George's Co, MD on November 25. At least 8 FOX SPARROWS were at Occoquan Bay
NWR, Prince William Co, VA on November 25. A FOX SPARROW was at the
Cumberland Terminus, Allegany Co, MD on November 26. Another FOX SPARROW was
at the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Anne Arundel Co, MD on November 26. A FOX
SPARROW was at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, Loudoun
Co, VA on November 28. Three FOX SPARROWS were at Kinder Farm Park, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on November 28. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was at Augustine Wildlife
Area-Ashton Tract, New Castle Co, DE on November 25.
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was at the Augustine Wildlife Area, New Castle Co, DE on
November 26. Another BALTIMORE ORIOLE was at the Bosely Wildlife
Conservancy, Harford Co, MD on November 29.
PURPLE FINCHES were seen at several sites during the week including: two at
Kincheloe Road Park, Clifton, VA on November 25; one at Blair's Valley Lake,
Washington Co, MD and another at Finzel Swamp, Allegany Co, MD both on
November 26; one at Loch Raven Reservoir, Baltimore Co, MD on November 26;
three at Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve, Stafford Co, VA on November 28;
one at Pennyfield Lock, Montgomery Co, MD on November 29.
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
