FYI - this report is for sightings from May 27 through June 2 and was compiled
by Helen Patton & transcribed by Steve Cordle.
Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 6/3/2014
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments, questions:
voice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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 May 20 and
was completed on Tuesday, June 3 at 8:45 am.
Birds of interest this week include waterfowl, RED-NECKED GREBE, SOOTY
SHEARWATER, WILSON'S STORM PETREL, NORTHERN GANNETT, ANHINGA, LEAST
BITTERN, MISSISSIPPI KITE, PURPLE GALLINULE, SANDHILL CRANE,
shorebirds, terns, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, flycatchers,
warblers and DICKCISSEL.
BIRDS OF INTEREST
A few lingering waterfowl were noted this week including three LESSER
SCAUP, two RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and a RUDDY DUCK at Masonville
Cove, Baltimore, MD on June 1; an AMERICAN WIGEON on Hart-Miller
Island, Baltimore Co, MD on June 2; NORTHERN SHOVELER, GREEN-WINGED
TEAL, CANVASBACK, RING-NECKED DUCK and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE at Swan
Creek dredge containment facility, Anne Arundel Co, MD during the week
and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD on
May 28. Another RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was on the Wildlife Loop at
Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA on May 30.
RED-NECKED GREBES were spotted at Lapidum, Harford Co, MD on May 29
and at Verizon ponds in Ashburn, Loudoun Co, VA on May 31.
Two SOOTY SHEARWATERS were seen moving close to the shore at
Assateague NS, Worcester Co, MD, on May 30. On the same day, another
SOOTY SHEARWATER, four WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS and a NORTHERN GANNETT
were seen from the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD.
An ANHINGA was soaring over a yard in Jarrettsville, Harford Co, MD on
June 1.
A LEAST BITTERN was seen and heard at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA on
May 31.
A MISSISSIPPI KITE was noted at Fort Smallwood, Anne Arundel Co, MD on
May 27. A MISSISSIPPI KITE has returned to a nesting site near the
intersection of Gaines and Jackson streets in Burke, Fairfax Co, VA
seen on May 29 and June 1. A MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen from Lake
Braddock, Fairfax Co, VA on June 1.
A PURPLE GALLINUE was seen on the South River Greenway trail in
Waynesboro, Augusta Co, VA on May 29 and 31 and June 2.
The SANDHILL CRANES, reported last week, were seen again at the nature
preserve on Demott Rd, Broadlands, Loudoun Co, VA on May 27 and 29.
The weekly shorebird/gull survey at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA
on May 30 recorded 18,792 individual shorebirds of 18 species. The
most numerous species were 14, 649 SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS followed
by DUNLIN (1,119) SANDERLING (618) and DOWITCHER (608). A WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPER was at the Willow Road ponds, Frederick Co, MD on May 27 and
28 and another WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was at the Swan Creek dredge
containment facility, Anne Arundel, Co, MD on May 30. Eighteen RED
KNOTS were at Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD on May 30.
A LEAST TERN was flying around the new impoundment at Swan Harbor
Farm, Harford Co, MD on May 30. A BLACK TERN was on the C&O Canal,
Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD on June 2.
A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was seen at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA on May 27
and 31 and June 1.
A COMMON NIGHTHAWK was at Southwest Area Park, Baltimore, MD seen on
May 30.
Migrating flycatchers included an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER at several
locations during the week, including one in a yard in Ellicott City,
Howard Co, MD on May 27; Patuxent Research Refuge Central Tract,
Prince George's Co, MD on May 28 and the C&O canal, Pennyfield Lock,
Montgomery Co, MD on May 31. A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was in
Carroll Park, Baltimore, MD on May 27, 28 and 29. An ALDER FLYCATCHER
was at the Prettyboy Reservoir CCC trail on May 31. Five ALDER
FLYCATCHERS was at Finzel Swamp, Allegany Co, MD on June 1. A WILLOW
FLYCATCHER was at Southwest Area Park, Baltimore, MD on May 30.
Although the warbler migration has slowed, there were still some
interesting sightings. A trip to the Middle Patuxent Environmental
Area, Howard Co, MD on May 29, found six species of warbler including
KENTUCKY and CANADA WARBLERS. Visits to Carroll Park, Baltimore, MD
noted NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH and WILSON'S WARBLER on May 29.
BLACKBURNIAN and MAGNOLIA WARBLERS delighted a trip to the community
of Amberly in Annapolis, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 31. Occoquan Bay
NWR, Prince William Co, VA, recorded seven warbler species including
PROTHONOTARY and BLACKPOLL WARBLERS on May 31. A visit to the
Prettyboy Reservoir, Baltimore Co, MD on May 31 noted ten warbler
species including MOURNING and HOODED WARBLERS. A CHESTNUT-SIDED
WARBLER surprised a birder in Bristol, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 31.
A singing male PROTHONOTARY WARBLER at Big Run SP, Garrett Co, MD on
June 1 was noted as the Garrett Big Year Bird 179. New Germany SP,
Garrett Co, MD hosted 20+ BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS and 15+ MAGNOLIA
WARBLERS on June 1. GOLDEN-WINGED and BREWSTER'S WARBLERS were seen
near Old Legislative Road, Allegany Co, MD on June 2. A NORTHERN
WATERTHRUSH and a CANADA WARBLER were at Difficult Run Stream Valley
Park, Fairfax Co, VA on June 2.
Three singing DICKCISSELS were at the Patton Turf Farm, Montgomery Co,
MD on June 1. A male DICKCISSEL was at the entrance to Western
Regional Park, Howard Co, MD on June 2.
***
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://www.audubonnaturalist.org/index.php/support-ans/shop), is an
excellent source for guidebooks and many other nature-related titles.
To report bird sightings, e-mail your report to
voice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or call 301-652-1088. Please post reports
before midnight Monday, identify the county as well as the state, and
include your name and a Tuesday morning contact, either e-mail or
phone.
Thank you for your interest, and enjoy the birds.
