FYI - this report is for sightings from Jan 20 through Jan 27 and was
compiled by Helen Patton & transcribed by Steve Cordle.
Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 1/27/2015
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/central and southern DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments, 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, January 20 and was
completed on Tuesday, January 27 at 3:00 p.m.
The top birds this week were SNOWY OWL in DE and MD and WESTERN TANAGER* in
DE and VA.
Other birds of interest this past week included waterfowl, RED-NECKED GREBE,
GOLDEN EAGLE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, VIRGINIA RAIL, SANDHILL CRANE, DOVEKIE, ,
BLACK-HEADED GULL, SHORT-EARED OWL, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, COMMON RAVENS, MARSH
WREN, warblers, sparrows, SUMMER TANAGER, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, PAINTED BUNTING
and COMMON REDPOLL.
TOP BIRDS
A SNOWY OWL was on Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD on January 21. Four SNOWY
OWLS were at Little Creek, Kent Co, DE on January 22. Another SNOWY OWL was
at Port Mahon, Kent Co, DE on January 25.
The male WESTERN TANAGER* continued to be seen at a residence in Settlers'
Mill, James City Co, VA, on January 21 and 24. A female WESTERN TANAGER was
at Pleasure House Point, Virginia Beach, VA on January 22, 24 and 25. A
WESTERN TANAGER was at White Clay Creek SP, New Castle Co, DE on January 23.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on
January 20. More GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were at the Hunting Creek
Bridge, near the Belle Haven North Parking Area, Fairfax Co, VA on January
25. Five GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were at Willow Lake, Rockbridge Co, VA
also on January 25.
A ROSS'S GOOSE was in Lewes, Sussex Co, DE on January 25. A CACKLING GOOSE
was at Turney's Pond on Harford Creamery Road, Harford Co, MD on January 20.
The tagged TRUMPETER SWAN (M78) continues at Black Hill RP, with sighting
during the week. The continuing TRUMPETER SWAN, also tagged (L55), at the
Cumberland Terminus, Allegany Co, MD was seen on January
23 and 24. And the two, possibly hybrids or escapees, continue at Lake
Artemisia, Prince George's Co, MD, with sightings on January 20, 23 and 25.
A EURASIAN WIGEON was at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA on January 20.
The one or two EURASIAN WIGEONS reported last week between the dams at Loch
Raven Reservoir in Baltimore Co, MD were seen again this week. Another
EURASIAN WIGEON was at Pleasure House Creek, Virginia Beach, VA on January
26.
There was a waterfowl bonanza in the Potomac River, as seen from Riverbend
Park, Fairfax Co, VA on January 22, which included enormous mixed-species
rafts containing 300-500 REDHEADS plus other ducks. The HARLEQUIN DUCK
continues at the Indian River Inlet, Sussex Co, DE, with the latest report
from January 25. Six HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen January 24 at the Ocean City
Inlet, Worcester Co, MD. Four HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen from the CBBT,
Island #1, Northampton Co, VA on January 25. LONG-TAILED DUCKS were on the
Susquehanna River, seen from the Lapidum boat launch, Harford Co, MD on
January 20. Five COMMON EIDERS were at Cape Henlopen SP, Sussex Co, DE on
January 21. A trip to the CBBT, Island 1, Northampton Co, and VA on January
24 encountered a male COMMON EIDER, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, BLACK SCOTERS and
LONG-TAILED DUCKS.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was in the Washington Channel, DC on January 24 and 25.
Another RED-NECKED GREBE was at Lapidum, Harford Co, MD on January 25.
A GOLDEN EAGLE was at the Pickering Creek Audubon Center, Talbot Co, MD on
January 23. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was on Russell Road, Garrett Co, MD on
January 25.
Three VIRGINIA RAILS were in the wetlands at Swan Creek dredge containment
facility, Anne Arundel Co, MD on January 23.
Five SANDHILL CRANES continue to be seen in fields along Bradshaw Road in
Kingsville, Baltimore Co, MD, with the most recent report from January 23.
A DOVEKIE was flying north at Cape Charles Beach, Northampton Co, VA on
January 26
The BLACK-HEADED GULL turned up on January 24 at the Hunt Valley Towne
Centre, Baltimore, MD.
A SHORT-EARED OWL was noted on Stone Chapel Road, Carroll Co, MD on January
20. A SHORT-EARED OWL was working at the top of the landfill at Blue Mash
Nature Trail, Montgomery Co, MD on January 26.
A BLUE-HEADED VIREO was on the Bassett Hall Nature Trail in Williamsburg,
James City Co, VA on January 23rd.
Lowland COMMON RAVENS were seen and heard at several locations this past
week.
A MARSH WREN was in the wetlands at the Swan Creek dredge containment
facility, Anne Arundel Co, MD on January 23. Another MARSH WREN was at
Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on January 26.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was at the Indian River Inlet, Sussex Co, DE on
January 22. Another ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was at Kingman Island, DC also on
January 22. A PINE WARBLER was at Lake Elkhorn, Howard Co, MD during the
week. A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT came to a home in Charlottesville, Albemarle
Co, VA during the week.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was on Blackburn Road, Prince William Co, VA on
January 23 and 24.AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were in the two fields that border
the Willow-Grove entrance road to Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore Co, MD on
January 21. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was at the Fort McHenry NM, Baltimore Co, on
January 25.
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 seen during
the week.
About eighty RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were along Club House Road pond at the
intersection with Park Beach Drive, Aberdeen, Harford Co, MD on January 23.
A female PAINTED BUNTING turned up at a private residence in Chesapeake Co,
VA on January 22.
The COMMON REDPOLL at Black Hill RP, Montgomery Co, MD, is still visiting
the feeders at the visitors' center with reports during the week. COMMON
REDPOLLS were at seen in many venues including: three at Port Mahon Road,
Kent Co, DE on January 20; one at Bay Pointe, New Castle Co, DE on January
21 and 22; one at Sunset Park, Ocean City, Worcester Co, MD on January 23
and 24; four at the Ocean City Inlet in some seedy weeds by the boardwalk,
Worcester Co, MD on January 24; twelve to thirty-five at Cape Henlopen SP,
Sussex Co, DE on January 25; one at Lake Elkhorn, Howard Co, MD on January
26 and one at Woodmar Farm, Loudoun Co, VA on January 27.
***
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
