FYI - this report is for sightings from Jan 6 through Jan 13 and was
compiled by Gerry Hawkins & transcribed by Steve Cordle.
Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 1/13/2015
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/central and southern DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments, questions: voice@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:voice@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Compiler: Gerry Hawkins
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, January 6 and was
completed on Tuesday, January 13 at 4:00 p.m.
The top birds this week were SNOWY OWL in Maryland and Delaware, RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD in Delaware, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER* in Virginia, WESTERN
TANAGER* in Virginia and COMMON REDPOLL in Maryland and Virginia.
Other birds of interest this week included GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE,
ROSS'S GOOSE, TRUMPETER SWAN, EURASIAN WIGEON, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, HARLEQUIN
DUCK, LONG-TAILED DUCK, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RED-NECKED GREBE, GOLDEN EAGLE,
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, NORTHERN RED-TAILED HAWK, SANDHILL CRANE, RED KNOT,
SPOTTED SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LITTLE GULL, ICELAND GULL,
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, SHORT-EARED OWL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, TREE SWALLOW,
SEDGE WREN, WHITE-EYED VIREO, SNOW BUNTING, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, CAPE MAY,
NASHVILLE, ORANGE-CROWNED, PALM and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS,
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, CLAY-COLORED and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS and BALTIMORE
ORIOLE.
TOP BIRDS
On January 10 a perched SNOWY OWL was observed at two locations: on
shoreline of Assateague Island from the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD,
and on dunes at The Point in Cape Henlopen SP, Sussex Co, DE.
A SNOWY OWL continues along Port Mahon Road in Kent Co, DE, with the latest
sighting on January 7.
A hatch-year female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD that was identified and banded on
November 29 continues to be seen at a residential feeder just outside the
reporting area, near the intersection of Gibson and Harker Roads in
Wilmington, New Castle Co, DE.
On January 11 an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER* was found on Water Street at City
Point in Hopewell, VA, which is the same area that this species was found
several years ago.
Since November 10 a male WESTERN TANAGER* has been seen almost daily at a
residence in Settlers' Mill, James City Co, VA.
A COMMON REDPOLL was seen with PINE SISKINS at feeders along Jefferson Drive
near Lake Monticello in Fluvanna Co, VA on January 8, 9 and 11.
After not being seen for a couple of days, a COMMON REDPOLL was again seen
at the feeders by the visitors' center at Black Hill RP, Montgomery Co, MD
on January 7-11.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
The numerous sightings of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in Virginia included
an individual at Willow Lake, Rockbridge Co on January 10, an individual at
Olympic Lake, Albemarle Co on January 10, a continuing individual at Dyke
Marsh WP, Fairfax Co, VA on January 11, two individuals at the Invista
ponds, Waynesboro on January 10, and four in flight over the King George
ponds (private) in King George Co and nearby areas in Caroline Co on January
10. In Maryland, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen again at Broadford
Lake, Garrett Co on January 6, Black Hill RP, Montgomery Co on January 11
and 13 and the Cumberland-Terminus, Allegany Co on January 13.
A ROSS'S GOOSE was spotted in thousands of SNOW GEESE along Carpenter Bridge
Road in Kent Co, DE on January 6, at the Sylvan Acres Fields, Sussex Co, DE
on January 10, at Murray's Pond in Roanoke, VA on January 7 and at Barger's
Quarry near Lexington in Rockbridge Co, VA on January 10.
On January 8-11 five species of geese - GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (high of
2), SNOW GOOSE (high of 12), ROSS'S GOOSE (high of 12), CACKLING GOOSE (high
of 12) and CANADA GOOSE - were seen at a couple of unfrozen locations in
Augusta Co, VA: in the Old Fishersville Quarry off of Exit 91 in
Fishersville, and a short distance north in a pond along Long Meadow Rd (Rt.
608) on the north end of Fishersville, just across the road from Kiddsville
Rd (Rt. 796).
A tagged TRUMPETER SWAN (M78) continues at Black Hill RP, Montgomery Co, VA,
with the latest sighting on January 13.
EURASIAN WIGEONS were seen at many locations in the reporting area. In
Delaware, a continuing male was seen again at the Assawoman Bay State
Wildlife Area in Sussex Co on January 7. In Maryland, a male EURASIAN WIGEON
was reported at the Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore Co on January 9 and
11-13 and along Bayberry Drive on the Assateague National Seashore,
Worcester Co on January 13, and up to two males were found at the Castaways
Campground in Worcester Co on January 11 and 13. In Virginia, a male
EURASIAN WIGEON was seen at Pleasure House Point in Virginia Beach on
January 9-11, Magothy Bay Natural Area Preserve, Northampton Co on January 6
and Pohick Bay RP, Fairfax Co on January 10 and 11, and two males were found
at the Craney Island Disposal Area in Portsmouth on January 8.
A BLUE-WINGED TEAL was at Schoolhouse Pond, Prince George's Co, MD on
January 9 and 13. A young male HARLEQUIN DUCK continues at the Indian River
Inlet, Sussex Co, DE, with the latest report on January 11, and several
continue a short distance south at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD. A
male LONG-TAILED DUCK was at Lake Artemesia, Prince Georges Co, VA on
January 6, and three were spotted in Sandy River Reservoir, Prince Edward
Co, VA on January 10. On January 11-13 a female/immature WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
was seen off the Lander Boat Ramp on the C&O Canal in Frederick Co, MD.
On January 11 a RED-NECKED GREBE was reported in Loch Raven Reservoir,
Baltimore Co, MD, and two were observed in surf off The Point in Cape
Henlopen SP, Sussex Co, DE.
On January 6 a GOLDEN EAGLE was observed in flight over North Beach, Calvert
Co, MD. On January 6 and 10 a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was observed near where
Gales Neck Place and Fickle Fen Road meet the East River in Matthews Co, VA,
which presumably was the same bird. This species also was seen along Port
Mahon Road, Kent Co, DE on January 9. A dark form of the RED-TAILED HAWK, or
NORTHERN RED-TAILED HAWK, was seen at several locations in southern
Delaware, including at the Indian River Inlet, Sussex Co on January 9 and at
the nearby Delaware Seashore SP on January 11, which presumably was the same
bird. A NORTHERN RED-TAILED HAWK also was reported in Pleasant Valley,
Garrett Co, MD on January 11.
SANDHILL CRANES continue to be seen in fields along Bradshaw Road in
Kingsville, Baltimore Co, MD, with a high of 21 on January 12.
A single RED KNOT is again among the shorebirds wintering at the Ocean City
Inlet, Worcester Co, MD, with sightings on January 10 and 11. Two SPOTTED
SANDPIPERS were found at Tailrace Park - Kerr Dam & Reservoir, Mecklenburg
Co, VA on January 10. Three DUNLIN continue in Hunting Creek in Alexandria,
Fairfax Co, VA, with the latest sighting on January 11. A WESTERN SANDPIPER
was found at the Castaways Campground in Worcester Co, MD on January 9.
A LITTLE GULL was seen again at the Indian River Inlet in Sussex Co, DE on
January 6. KUMLEIN'S ICELAND GULLS were reported at several locations in
Virginia, including the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel-South Thimble Island
(#1), Virginia Beach on January 8 and 9, Rudee Inlet, Virginia Beach on
January 7 and the Belmont Bay Marina, Prince William Co on January 9 and 11.
This species also was seen in the Washington Channel off Hains Point,
Washington, DC on January 11 and 13.
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES continue along Sandpiper Road and other locations in
Virginia Beach, VA.
SHORT-EARED OWLS have returned to the Lucketts area in Loudoun Co, VA, with
two being seen at dusk along Limestone School Road on January 10.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen along Flat Rock Road in Mecklenburg Co, VA on
January 10, and a continuing individual was again seen along Bergold Lane in
Kent Co, DE on January 6.
Lowland COMMON RAVENS included individuals seen and heard at the National
Arboretum, Washington, DC and Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on
January 10.
A high of 15 TREE SWALLOWS were observed perched and in flight at the Indian
River Inlet, Sussex Co, DE on January 11.
A SEDGE WREN continues at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA and at
Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co, MD, with the latest reports in each case on
January 11. A WHITE-EYED VIREO was seen again at Occoquan Bay NWR on January
6 and Sunday Park, Chesterfield Co, VA on January 10, and another individual
was found at the Bayside Development Marsh, Worcester Co, MD on January 11.
One of the two SNOW BUNTINGS enjoyed by many birders at Sandy Point SP, Anne
Arundel Co, MD in recent weeks was seen there on January 6 and 9. On January
10 two LAPLAND LONGSPURS were found in Poplar Gap Park in central Buchanan
Co, VA, which is believed to be the first time this species has been
recorded in this county. LAPLAND LONGSPURS continue to be seen with HORNED
LARKS and AMERICAN PIPITS along Norman's Ford Road in Fauquier Co, VA, with
a high of eight reported on January 10. A presumably continuing LAPLAND
LONGSPUR was among HORNED LARKS along Whitehall Neck Road in Kent Co, DE on
January 8.
CAPE MAY and NASHVILLE WARBLERS continue in vegetation at the Essex Park &
Ride in Baltimore Co, MD, with the latest reports on January 10 and 7,
respectively. A NASHVILLE WARBLER also was seen at a feeder along East
Broadway Street in Harford Co, MD on January 9. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
continues at the FDR Memorial in Washington, DC and at Indian River Inlet,
Sussex Co, DE, with the latest reports on January 13 and 11, respectively.
Two PALM WARBLERS were found along Ferry Crossing Neck Road in Talbot Co, MD
on January 10, and continuing PALM and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS were seen
again at City Point in Hopewell, VA on January 11. A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was
observed in a residential back yard in Roanoke City, VA on January 6.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT continues in a residential yard in Charlottesville,
VA.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW* and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW continue near the first
pullout on Blackburn Road in Prince William County, VA, with the latest
reports on January 13 and 9, respectively. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW also was
found along the Long Branch Trail in Takoma Park, Montgomery Co, MD on
January 6.
On January 11 a BALTIMORE ORIOLE was seen again in a residential yard along
Sharp Street in Rock Hall, Kent Co, MD.
***
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@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:voice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> . 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.
