FYI - this report is for sightings from Jan 13 through Jan 19 and was
compiled by Joe Coleman & transcribed by Steve Cordle.
Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 1/20/2015
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/central and southern 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, Jan
13 and was completed on Tuesday, Jan 20 at 12:30 p.m.
The top birds this week were PACIFIC LOON* in VA, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE* in MD,
SNOWY OWL in DE, MD, and VA, and WESTERN TANAGER* in Virginia and in
Maryland and Virginia.
Other birds of interest this past week included GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE,
ROSS'S GOOSE, TRUMPETER SWAN, EURASIAN WIGEON, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, HARLEQUIN
DUCK, LONG-TAILED DUCK, RED-NECKED GREBE, BROWN PELICAN, GOLDEN EAGLE,
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, NORTHERN RED-TAILED HAWK, COMMON GALLINULE, SANDHILL
CRANE, DOVEKIE, RAZORBILL, BLACK-HEADED GULL, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE,
SHORT-EARED OWL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, SEDGE WREN, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, warblers,
VESPER SPARROW, SUMMER TANAGER, and COMMON REDPOLL.
TOP BIRDS
The PACIFIC LOON* which has been a winter visitor to the Kerr Reservoir in
Mecklenburg Co, VA for years, has returned with a sighting from Palmer Point
on Jan 18.
A BARROW'S GOLDENEYE* has returned for the 4th year to the Elm's
Environmental Education Center, St. Mary's Co, MD, with a sighting on Jan
15.
SNOWY OWL sightings increased this past week with one again being seen
throughout the week at Ronald Reagan National Airport from nearby Gravelly
Point Park in Arlington, VA. On Jan 14 one was flying over Big Water Farm,
Queen Anne's Co, MD. One was also seen at Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD on
the 13th, 14th, & 15th. A SNOWY OWL continues along Port Mahon Road in Kent
Co, DE, with the latest sighting on Jan 19. The SNOWY OWL that was seen and
photographed in mid-Dec in a backyard in the Woodbridge area of VA close to
Rippon Middle School and about a ½ mile from Featherstone NWR, has returned
to that area & was again photographed on the 19th.
The male WESTERN TANAGER* continued to be seen at a residence in Settlers'
Mill, James City Co, VA, with the most recent report from the 19th.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen at a number of different locations
throughout the week. There was one on the 15th along Levin Dashiell Rd,
Wicomico Co, MD, as well as the continuing bird seen throughout the week at
Dyke Marsh, Hunting Creek Bridge, and off the Belle Haven picnic grounds,
Fairfax Co, VA. The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at Black Hill RP, Montgomery
Co, MD, also continued to be seen throughout the week. A GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen Jan 16 at Centennial Lake, Howard Co, MD. One
was at Willow Lake, Rockbridge Co, VA on the 13th & 14th; another was seen
the 15th along Harrison Rd, Fauquier Co, VA, and two were at the nearby
Belvoir Pond on the 19th; another was at Drummond's Field/Mainland Farm,
James City Co, VA, on the 15th & 16th; and still more at C. M. Crockett
Park, Fauquier Co, VA, on the 17th & 19th. Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE
were also seen Jan 19 at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA. The two
continuing GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at the Cumberland Terminus, Allegany
Co were seen throughout the week. Four were seen Jan 18 & 19 at the InVista
Ponds (Old DuPont Ponds) in Waynesboro, VA.
The flock of ROSS'S GEESE in Augusta Co, VA, continued to be seen throughout
the week in the same area: in the Old Fishersville Quarry off of Exit 91 in
Fishersville, a short distance north in a pond along Long Meadow Rd, Rte
608, and on the north end of Fishersville, just across the road from
Kiddsville Rd, Rte 796. A SNOW GOOSE was at Black Hill RP the 15th. One was
also seen at Dyke Marsh on the 14th while a CACKLING GOOSE was seen the 14th
through the 16th at the next door Belle Haven picnic grounds, Fairfax Co,
VA, and at the nearby Hunting Creek Bridge on the 15th. There was also a
CACKLING GOOSE on the 14th & 16th at Burke Lake Park, Fairfax, VA.
The tagged TRUMPETER SWAN (M78) continues at Black Hill RP, with the latest
sighting on Jan 19. The continuing TRUMPETER SWAN, also tagged (L55), at the
Cumberland Terminus was seen throughout the week. And the two, possibly
hybrids or escapees, continue at Lake Artemesia, Prince George's Co, MD,
with sightings Jan 14, 18, & 19.
The EURASIAN WIGEONS reported last week in MD were seen again this week with
reports of one between the dams at Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore Co
through Jan 17 and along Bayberry Drive on the Assateague National Seashore,
Worcester Co on Jan 13, and up to two males at the Castaways Campground in
Worcester Co on Jan 13. The male EURASIAN WIGEON at Pleasure House Point in
Virginia Beach, VA was seen again on Jan 13-16 as was the one at the Pohick
Bay RP, Fairfax Co on Jan 16.
The BLUE-WINGED TEAL at Schoolhouse Pond, Prince George's Co, MD, was seen
throughout the week with the most recent report from Jan 18. The HARLEQUIN
DUCK continues at the Indian River Inlet, Sussex Co, DE, with the latest
report from Jan 19. Six HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen Jan
18 at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD. LONG-TAILED DUCKS turned up at
several inland locations this past week including the Washington Channel, SW
DC; Sandy River Reservoir, Prince Edward Co, VA; Shannondale Lake, Jefferson
Co, WV; Burke Lake, Fairfax Co, VA; Hains Point, SW DC; Little Seneca Lake,
Montgomery Co, MD; and the Occoquan Marina, Prince William Co, VA.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen Jan 14 at the Swan Creek Wetland/Cox Creek
Dredged Material Containment Facility (DMCF), Anne Arundel Co, MD. A
RED-NECKED GREBE was seen Jan 16 at Swift Creek Reservoir, Chesterfield Co,
VA.
A BROWN PELICAN was seen Jan 13 at Beverly-Triton Beach, Anne Arundel Co,
MD; another was seen the 18th at Franklin Manor, Anne Arundel Co.
On Jan 16 a GOLDEN EAGLE was seen in Worcester Co, MD. It was first seen
from Campbelltown Rd perched northwest of a pond; a little later the same
bird was seen flying over Fooks Rd towards Peerless Rd. A juvenile GOLDEN
EAGLE was seen Jan 17 from Wimer Mountain Rd in Highland Co, VA. Two
NORTHERN RED-TAILED HAWKS, a dark form of the RED-TAILED HAWK, and possibly
the same bird, were reported in DE; one on the 15th in the Delaware Seashore
SP, Sussex Co, and the other on the 17th along Primehook Rd. Two NORTHERN
RED-TAILED HAWKS were seen Jan 18 along Russell Rd, Garrett Co, MD. A
previously-reported ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in Rockbridge Co, VA, was relocated on
the 17th and 18th; it was west of Brownsburg along New Providence Rd between
Hayes Creek Rd and Pisgah Rd.
A COMMON GALLINULE was seen Jan 15 at the Johnson Rd Pond, Wicomico Co, MD.
A flock of SANDHILL CRANES continues to be seen in fields along Bradshaw
Road in Kingsville, Baltimore Co, MD, with the most recent report from Jan
19.
A DOVEKIE found the 17th on the sand near the Back Bay NWR Visitor Center,
Virginia Beach, VA took several observers by surprise; another DOVEKIE
appeared to be stranded on the sand a little north of the parking lot at the
Assateague Island National Seashore, Worcester Co, MD on the 18th. One was
also seen the 18th at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD. A RAZORBILL
was seen Jan 18 from Island #1, South Thimble of the Chesapeake Bay
Bridge/Tunnel islands, VA.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen the 13th & 15th at the Wolfe Neck Waste
Treatment Plant, Sussex, DE. The BLACK-HEADED GULL turned up on the 16th at
the Hunt Valley Towne Centre, Baltimore, MD. A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen along
Prime Hook Beach Rd on the 15th.
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES continue along Sandpiper Road and other locations in
Virginia Beach, VA.
Two SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen on the 17th & three on the 19th along
Rectortown Rd about a ¼ mile west of Rectortown, Fauquier Co, VA. One was
also seen at Poplar Island on the 14th. Two SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen the
17th and 19th at their traditional site on Bullfrog Rd, east of Baumgardner
Rd (park off the road and do not block driveways), Carroll Co, MD. A
SHORT-EARED OWL was seen Jan 18 flying in a large fallow field at Stull Rd,
north of Frederick, MD.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen Jan 19 at the same location it has been seen on
and off, a field bounded by Natural Chimneys and Badger Rds, between Mt.
Solon and Badger Rd, Augusta Co, VA. NOTE: there are no good places along
this road to park for extended observation.
Lowland COMMON RAVENS were seen and heard at several locations this past
week.
The SEDGE WREN at Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co, MD, was heard again on Jan 17.
LAPLAND LONGSPURS continue to be seen with HORNED LARKS and AMERICAN PIPITS
at the Woodward Turf Farm along Norman's Ford Road in Fauquier Co, VA,
throughout the week with 15 reported on Jan 19.
Out-of-season warblers, including COMMON YELLOWTHROATS and PALM WARBLERS,
continued to pop up at a number of locations. A NASHVILLE WARBLER was seen
at the Belle Haven picnic grounds next to Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA
throughout the week. Another NASHVILLE as well as a PALM WARBLER were found
Jan 17 at City Point, Hopewell, VA.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS continued to be seen at the FDR Memorial in
Washington, DC with sightings on Jan 13 & 16 and throughout the week at the
Tidal Basin, SW DC. The YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT continued in a residential yard
in Charlottesville, VA.
A VESPER SPARROW was photographed Jan 17 at White Marsh Park, Queen Anne's
Co, MD.
A SUMMER TANAGER which is visiting various feeders at the Beacon Place
apartments (916 Beacon Square Court, 20878), Kentlands, Montgomery Co, MD,
was first seen on the 14th, photographed on the 18th, and was still being
seen on the 19th.
A female PAINTED BUNTING turned up at a private residence in Chesapeake Co,
VA on the 14th.
The COMMON REDPOLL at Black Hill RP, Montgomery Co, MD, is still visiting
the feeders at the visitors' center with the most recent report from Jan 19.
Five COMMON REDPOLLS were found at the Indian River Inlet, DE on the 15th;
they first landed on rocks and then flew to the nearby pines. Three COMMON
REDPOLLS were seen Jan 18 in Sunset Park, Ocean City, 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@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.
