FYI - this report is for sightings from Nov 5 through Nov 11 and was compiled
by John Bjerke & transcribed by Steve Cordle.
Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 11/12/2013
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments, questions:voice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Compiler: John Bjerke
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 was completed Tuesday, Nov 12, at 8:30
AM.
Top birds this week are GRAY KINGBIRD* in DE, WESTERN TANAGER* in VA,
and LE CONTE'S SPARROW* in MD.
Birds of interest this week are waterfowl, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN,
WHITE IBIS, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, SANDHILL CRANE, BAR-TAILED
GODWIT*, PARASITIC JAEGER, LITTLE GULL, BLACK-HEADED GULL, SHORT-EARED
OWL, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, CAVE SWALLOW, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER,
sparrows, and DICKCISSEL.
A well photographed GRAY KINGBIRD* was seen on Thirteen Curves Rd and
Cods Rd, Sussex Co, DE on Nov 6. The WESTERN TANAGER* that has visited
a feeder in Williamsburg, VA each winter since January 2009 returned
this week on Nov 10. A LE CONTE'S SPARROW* was found at the 7.25 km
marker on the north end of Assateague Is, Worcester Co, MD on Nov 9
and 10.
The annual Worcester Co, MD Rarities Roundup was conducted on Nov 9.
In addition to the LE CONTE'S SPARROW, birders delighted in flocks of
AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS (Georges Island Landing and Assateague Island)
and WHITE IBIS (Georges Island Landing), a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
(Bayside Campground, Loop A), and many other finds. Many of these
birds were seen again on Nov 10 and 11.
Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were found on the wildlife drive at
Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on Nov 9 and 10. A ROSS'S GOOSE was
seen at Kershner's Pond, Frederick Co, MD on Nov 11. Another ROSS'S
GOOSE was spotted at Gap Run Road Pond, Fauquier Co, VA on Nov 6.
There were several reports of TUNDRA SWAN along the Potomac River and
in Chesapeake Bay.
A EURASIAN WIGEON was at Snow Goose Pool, Chincoteague NWR, Accomack
Co, VA on Nov 9. A EURASIAN WIGEON was found at Magothy Bay Natural
Area, Northampton Co, VA on Nov 9 and 10. A COMMON EIDER was seen in
the Ocean City, MD inlet on Nov 9, 10 and 11 and a young male COMMON
EIDER was spotted from the Cape Henlopen SP Hawk Watch, Sussex Co, DE
on Nov 5. Three HARLEQUIN DUCKS were in the Ocean City inlet on Nov 7,
9 and 11.
At least 16 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen along the wildlife drive
at Blackwater NWR on Nov 10.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew over the Big Meadows area of Shenandoah NP, VA
on Nov 5. GOLDEN EAGLES continued to be seen throughout the week
including 5 at Town Hill Overlook, Allegany Co, MD on Nov 5 and one
there on Nov 6; one over Rt 404 on the Queen Anne's and Talbot Co, MD
line on Nov 6; one in Silver Spring, Montgomery Co, MD on Nov 6; three
on Nov 6 and two on Nov 8 at the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, Waynesboro,
VA; one on Nov 8 and one on Nov 10 at the Cape Henlopen SP Hawk Watch;
one on Nov 6 at the Irvine Nature Center, Baltimore, MD; and one on
Nov 9 at Stockton Park, Worcester Co, MD.
Three SANDHILL CRANES were seen at DeCoursey Bridge, Dorchester Co, MD
on Nov 10.
The BAR-TAILED GODWIT* was seen again on Nov 9 and 11 at Chincoteague
NWR, VA. A PARASITIC JAEGER was seen Nov 10 at the Ocean City inlet,
Worcester Co, MD. A juvenile LITTLE GULL was spotted at Devil's Ditch,
Townsend, Northampton Co, VA on Nov 8. The BLACK-HEADED GULL has
returned to the Hunt Valley Mall, Baltimore Co, MD and was found
throughout the week.
A SHORT-EARED OWL was found on the north end of Assateague Island, MD
on Nov 9, 10, and 11.
An adult male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD continued at a feeder in Forest Hill,
Harford Co, MD with latest report from Nov 10. A probable RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD was seen at a feeder in Reisterstown, MD on Nov 4 and 5.
Two CAVE SWALLOWS flew along the beach in Norfolk, VA on Nov 9. A CAVE
SWALLOW was seen at Point Lookout SP, St Mary's Co, MD on Nov 11 and
another was found that day in North Beach, Calvert Co, MD.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS appeared in several spots in Worcester Co., MD
on Nov 9 and 10 and near the Carroll Park Golf Course along Gwynns
Falls, Baltimore Co, MD on Nov 5.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW and a VESPER SPARROW were seen Nov 5 on
Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD; a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was also
there. Another CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was in a yard in Sussex Co, DE on
Nov 6 and 8. Both NELSON'S and VESPER SPARROWS turned up at a number
of locations throughout the week. Two LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were found at
Lois Y Green Conservation Park, Montgomery Co, MD on Nov 9, one was in
Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on Nov 10 and one was at the
Hughes Hollow section of McKee Beshers WMA, Montgomery Co, MD on Nov
10.
A DICKCISSEL visited a feeder in Cecil Co, MD on Nov 10 and 11. A
DICKCISSEL was seen at Point Lookout SP in the Jacob's Farm area on
Nov 11.
This week's reports have been gleaned from the DE, MD, VA, and WV list
servers via the ABA Internet links and from 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. 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.
We wish you GOOD BIRDING.
*Of interest to the records committee
