FYI - this report is for sightings from April 27 through the morning of May 4
and was compiled by Helen Patton & transcribed by Steve Cordle
Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 5/4/2010
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email): 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 $40; Family $50; Nature Steward $75; Audubon
Advocate $150). 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 was completed Tuesday, May 4, at 4:20
PM.
Top birds this week are WHITE-FACED IBIS in MD and VA; MISSISSIPPI
KITE in MD, HUDSONIAN GODWIT in VA; RUFF in MD, and BLACK RAIL in MD.
Other birds of interest include RUFFED GROUSE, NORTHERN GANNETT,
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, AMERICAN BITTERN, night-herons, SHARP-SHINNED
HAWK, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, rails, SANDHILL CRANE, BLACK-NECKED STILT,
shorebirds, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOW, WHIP-POOR-WILL,
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, vireos, swallows, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, warblers,
tanagers, sparrows, DICKCISSEL, BOBOLINK and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
A WHITE-FACED IBIS was picked out of a group of 121 GLOSSY IBIS on
Timmons Road, Snow Hill, Worcester Co, MD on April 28. A WHITE-FACED
IBIS was located along the Wildlife Loop at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack
Co, VA on May 1.
A MISSISSIPPI KITE flew over Governor's Bridge Natural Area, Prince
George's Co, MD on May 2. Another MISSISSIPPI KITE was noted near
General's Highway Corridor Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 3.
A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was found at Hog Island, Northampton Co, VA on May
2. The RUFF continues at the Timmons Road pond, Worcester Co, MD with
a report from May 3.
A BLACK RAIL was vocalizing in a marsh in southern Dorchester Co, MD
on April 29. BLACK RAILS were calling on Elliott Island Road,
Dorchester Co, MD on May 2.
A RUFFED GROUSE was heard drumming at Thompson WMA, Fauquier Co, VA on
May 2.
Two NORTHERN GANNETS overflew the University Research Farm, Salisbury,
Wicomico Co, MD on April 29.
An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN showed at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD
on April 28. An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was observed from the Belle
Haven Park. A photo shows the bird in flight over the river near the
Wilson Bridge which puts it into Prince George's Co, MD waters.
AMERICAN BITTERNS were reported from several places, most notably at
Swan Harbor Farm Park, Harford Co, MD.
A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON showed at the Germantown Soccerplex,
Montgomery Co, MD on April 27. YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS are nesting
again off Sligo Creek Parkway, Montgomery Co, MD with a sighting on
April 27. A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen at Lake Accotink,
Fairfax Co, VA, on April 29. A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was sighted
at Lake Elkhorn, Howard Co, MD on May 2.
The Fort Smallwood Park Hawk Watch, Anne Arundel Co, MD, reported 638
SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS on April 27 and 567 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS on April
28. A SANDHILL CRANE plus 287 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were tallied at the
Cromwell Valley Park Hawk Watch, Baltimore Co, MD on April 27.
A VIRGINIA RAIL was heard in Albemarle Co, VA on April 28. A VIRGINIA
RAIL was spotted at Swan Harbor Farm Park, Harford Co, MD on April 28.
A VIRGINIA RAIL was found at the Seneca Creek State Park wetlands
between Riffle Ford Rd and Great Seneca Highway, Montgomery Co, MD on
April 29. On April 30, the rail number had increased to two. A
VIRGINIA RAIL was at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on May 1. Four
VIRGINIA RAILS were at Truitt's Landing, Worcester Co, MD on May 4.
A pair of SANDHILL CRANES have been hanging around a neighborhood in
Luray, Page Co, VA with a sighting on May 2.
Two BLACK-NECKED STILTS were seen from Game Reserve Road, Deal Island
WMA, Somerset Co, MD on May 2.
An UPLAND SANDPIPER was re-found at Kenilworth Park, DC on April 27.
Several sandpiper species, including PECTORAL and SEMI-PALMATED
SANDPIPERS were reported from a flooded field on Rte 66, south of
Cavetown, Washington Co, MD on April 27. The WILSON'S PHALAROPE
reported last week on the west side of Rte 113 north of Snow Hill,
Worcester Co, MD continued to be seen with a report on April 27. A
WHIMBREL and a WILSON'S PHALAROPE were among the many shorebirds at
Craney Island, Portsmouth, VA on April 30. A WILSON'S PHALAROPE was
seen on Rumbly Point Road, Somerset Co, MD on May 2. A WILSON'S
PHALAROPE was found at Blackwater NWR on May 3.
Goatsucker arrivals have included COMMON NIGHTHAWKS in various
locations; CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOWS at several sites and a WHIP-POOR-WILL
on Windy Hill Road, Talbot Co, MD on May 2.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER put in an appearance at Rock Creek Park, DC on
May 1. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was noted in Little Bennett Regional
Park, Montgomery Co, MD and another was at Jug Bay Natural Area,
Prince George's Co, MD, both on May 2. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was in
the Oak Grove area, Caroline Co, MD on May 3. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
flew over a yard in Woodbine, Carroll Co, MD on May 4.
Vireo reports are widespread and included a PHILADELPHIA VIREO at
Cox's Chapel, VA on April 30; another PHILADELPHIA VIREO from Rte. 617
in Amherst Co, VA on May 2.
Swallow sightings include numerous reports of PURPLE MARTINS, TREE,
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED, BANK and BARN SWALLOWS.
A SWAINSON'S THRUSH was seen at Milford Mill Park, Baltimore Co, MD on
April 29. Another SWAINSON'S THRUSH was at the Loch Raven Watershed,
Baltimore Co, MD on April 30.
Warblers are showing beautiful breeding colors. Arrivals continue to
appear in our region and include most of the common species.
SUMMER AND SCARLET TANAGERS have been brightening the woods throughout
the region.
Sparrow reports have included VESPER SPARROWS at Patuxent River Park
Aquasco Farm Area, Prince George's Co, MD, on April 27. A CLAY-COLORED
SPARROW came to a yard in Fredericksburg, VA on April 28. A SEASIDE
SPARROW was noted on Maple Dam Road, Blackwater NWR on April 29.
A DICKCISSEL was singing off Tanyard Road, Prince George's Co, MD on
May 3.
BOBOLINKS are migrating through the area with reports from various
sites.
A single RUSTY BLACKBIRD was sighted at the Fran Uhler Natural Area,
Prince George's Co, MD on May 1.
Numerous other colorful arrivals are in our region.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey,
VA-Bird, and DE-Birds list servers.
The Audubon Sanctuary Shop (301-652-3606,
http://www.audubonnaturalist.org/default.asp?page=511) 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 and select menu
option 2. Please post reports before midnight Monday, identify the
county as well as state, and include your name and a Tuesday morning
contact, either e-mail or phone.
Thank you for calling, and GOOD BIRDING.
*Of interest to the records committee