FYI - this report is for sightings from Dec 1 through early morning Dec 8
and was compiled by Joe Coleman & transcribed by Steve Cordle.
Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 12/08/2015
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/central and southern DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments and 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, Dec
1 and was completed on Tuesday, December 8 at 9:00 a.m.
The top birds this week were BROWN BOOBY* in MD, FRANKLIN'S GULL* in VA,
WHITE-WINGED DOVE in VA, GRAY KINGBIRD* in VA, CAVE SWALLOW* in VA, and
WESTERN TANAGER in VA.
Other birds of interest this week included waterfowl, GREAT SHEARWATER,
GREAT CORMORANT, AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, GREEN HERON, shorebirds, RED
PHALAROPE, PARASITIC JAEGER, BLACK-HEADED and ICELAND GULLS, RUBY-THROATED
HUMMINGBIRD, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, warblers,
sparrows, SUMMER TANAGER, DICKCISSEL, and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD.
TOP BIRDS
The adult female BROWN BOOBY* continued near two large cargo ships on Locust
Point in Baltimore Harbor, with a sighting on Dec 3.
A first winter FRANKLIN'S GULL* was found at the Hurlock Wastewater
Treatment Plant, Dorchester Co, MD on Dec 7; it was first seen in the NW
cell and then in the SW cell. If you try for this bird you MUST check in at
the office; and note that the plant is ONLY open from 6:30 A.M. until 2:30
P.M. WEEKDAYS.
Two WHITE-WINGED DOVES were found Dec 4 at the boat launch at the Eastern
Shore of VA NWR, Northampton Co, VA and were seen there again on Dec 6.
The continuing GRAY KINGBIRD* in Northampton Co, VA was seen as recently as
Dec 5 but hasn't been reported since then; it was reported at Yaros Farms
and in the vicinity of 27765-28072 Arlington Rd, Cape Charles, VA.
Ten CAVE SWALLOWS* were seen at the Craney Island Disposal Area, Portsmouth,
VA on Dec 3.
The WESTERN TANAGER* continues to visit a yard in James City, VA with a
sighting as recently as Dec 8.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
Three ROSS'S GEESE were found Dec 7 along Island Creek Rd a little west of
Trappe, Talbot Co, MD.
In MD, the longstanding tagged TRUMPETER SWAN continues at Lake Churchill in
Montgomery Co, with a sighting on Dec 5.
A male EURASIAN WIGEON was at Craney Island Disposal Area, Portsmouth, VA on
Dec 3; the same day there was one at Bear Swamp, Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co,
DE. A EURASIAN WIGEON continued to be seen at the Chincoteague NWR, Accomack
Co., VA with the most recent report from Dec 6. The continuing EURASIAN
WIGEON was seen again Dec 8 at the point at Loch Raven Reservoir, Baltimore
Co, MD. A HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen Dec 4 and 5 at Indian River Inlet, Sussex
Co, DE. A male and female HARLEQUIN DUCK were found on Island #2 of the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel islands, Northampton Co, VA on Dec 4. Among the
nice variety of waterfowl found on Lake Frederick, Frederick Co, VA earlier
in the week were an immature SURF SCOTER, a LONG-TAILED DUCK, and 2 COMMON
GOLDENEYES on Dec 1; a 2nd SURF SCOTER joined them on the 2nd. Three SURF
SCOTERS were seen at Violette's Lock, C&O Canal, Montgomery Co, MD on Dec 1.
A female SURF SCOTER and a LONG-TAILED DUCK were seen Dec 2 at Rocky Gap SP,
Allegany Co, MD. SURF SCOTERS were seen Dec 2 from Hains Point, SW DC; a
LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen from there on Dec 1. A SURF SCOTER was seen Dec 5
at Lake Rooty, Henrico, VA. A BLACK SCOTER was seen Dec 1 and 2 on the west
side (SR 605) of the Sandy River Reservoir, Prince Edward Co, VA. A
LONG-TAILED DUCK was in the pond at Martin Luther King Jr Recreational Park,
Montgomery Co, MD on Dec 3 and 4.
GREAT SHEARWATERS were among the birds seen on a pelagic trip out of
Virginia Beach, VA on Dec 5.
As many as 10 GREAT CORMORMANTS were seen throughout the week at Bloody
Point Bar Lighthouse, Queen Anne's Co, MD. A few GREAT CORMORANTS were found
Dec 4 on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel islands.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS continue to be found at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester
Co., MD with 80 there on Dec 5.
A late GREEN HERON was found Dec 5 at the Maydale Conservation Park,
Colesville, Montgomery Co, MD.
RED PHALAROPES and a PARASITIC JAEGER were also found on the pelagic trip
out of Virginia Beach, VA on Dec 5.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL continued at the Loch Raven Reservoir Paper Mill Flats,
Baltimore Co., MD with sightings Dec 4, 5, and 6. A first-cycle ICELAND GULL
continued to be seen at Conowingo Dam on the Harford/Cecil county line, MD
with sightings through Dec 4.
A late RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD continues to visit a feeder in Norfolk, VA
with the latest sighting on Dec 7.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was found Dec 3 along Shepherds Mill Rd, Jefferson Co,
VA in an area where it has been previously seen.
Two LAPLAND LONGSPURS were found Dec 6 along a flock of Horned Larks along
Nicholson Rd, Rockingham Co, VA.
A SNOW BUNTING and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER were found in the restricted
area of the Swan Creek Wetlands/Cox Creek DCMF, Anne Arundel Co., MD on Dec
4. Lingering warblers showed up in several locations this past week though
the most interesting were the five species, including a NORTHERN PARULA,
which showed up on Dec 6 at Oak Grove, DE on the state line between Seaford,
DE and Federalsburg, MD. Also of interest was an OVENBIRD on the mall in NW
DC in the bushes at National Museum of Natural History on Dec 7.
AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were found at a number of locations this past week
including an incredible 24 at the Irvine Nature Center, Owings Mills, Howard
Co, MD on Dec 4. A LARK SPARROW was found Dec 5 at Fisherman Island NWR,
Northampton Co, VA.
It appears that the SUMMER TANAGER that visited a feeder in Gaithersburg,
Montgomery Co, MD, last winter has returned with a sighting and photograph
in the same yard on Dec 5.
A DICKCISSEL visited a feeder Dec 3 in Mount Crawford, Rockingham Co, VA.
A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was found Dec 5 among a flock of other blackbirds
and starlings at Grandview Nature Preserve, Hampton, VA.
Good Birding.
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
