FYI this report is for sightings from 10/7 through 10/13
Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 10/14/2008
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email): voice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(deadline): midnight Mondays
Compiler: Joe Coleman
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the
Central Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle (scordle@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)
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, October 14, at
10:00 a.m.
Top birds this week are WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL* in WV, GREAT WHITE
HERON* in VA, CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD* in MD, and HARRIS' SPARROW* in DE.
Other birds of interest include CACKLING GOOSE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK,
GOLDEN EAGLE, KING RAIL, shorebirds, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL,
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, COMMON RAVEN, SEDGE WREN,
thrushes including BICKNELL'S, warblers including ORANGE-CROWNED,
CONNECTICUT, and MOURNING, both VESPER and LINCOLN'S SPARROW,
DICKCISSEL, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and PINE SISKIN.
The WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL in a pond at the Huntfield subdivision south
of Charles Town, Jefferson Co, WV continues. Because it appeared in
the wake of Hurricane Hanna, some area birders believe that it blew in
naturally while others believe it is an escapee. It can be found by
taking Rte 340 south at Charles Town from the interchange of US 340,
Rt. 9, and Rt. 51, go about 3.3 miles to Augustine Avenue where you
need to take a sharp right. The Huntfield subdivision is just ahead
on the left. Take the second left onto Prospect Hills Blvd. At the
circle/obelisk, go right onto Butler Street. At the next circle, go
3/4 of the way around circle, taking the first right (Colston Road).
The pond will be on your right a little ways ahead.
While unsuccessfully searching for the Brown Booby that was recently
reported there, a GREAT WHITE HERON*, a white morph of the GREAT BLUE
HERON, was found Oct 11 at Claytor Lake, Pulaski Co, southwestern VA.
Last October a CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD at North Beach, Calvert Co, MD,
was the first state record for this species. On Oct 9 of this year a
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD was again seen feeding on Blue & Black Sage and
Pineapple Sage in the same yard. While it hasn't been seen again, it
was at 9119 Bay Avenue, North Beach, MD, 20714; there is a lot of free
parking available in the gravel lot accessed from 5th Street between
Bay & Chesapeake which is a short walk to the yard.
A HARRIS' SPARROW* found on Oct 11 at Brandywine SP, Wilmington, DE
was still there on Oct 13. It was found shortly after the entrance
booth along a wall on the road that goes to the right to a farm house.
The HARRIS' SPARROW* is one of several different sparrows in the same
area.
A CACKLING GOOSE was found at Piney Run Park, Carroll Co, MD, on Oct
10.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, a species not seen every year at the hawkwatch,
was observed as it flew over the Kiptopeke St Pk Hawkwatch,
Northampton Co, VA on Oct 13.
A GOLDEN EAGLE was reported from the Snicker's Gap Hawk Watch, Clarke
Co, VA on Oct 11. A GOLDEN EAGLE was observed Oct 12 from the
Rockfish Gap Hawkwatch, Waynesboro, VA.
A KING RAIL was feeding just below the culvert along the wildlife
drive at the Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA, on Oct 12. On
Oct 13 two KING RAILS were found in the marsh along the wildlife
trail.
The Oct 11 trip to Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD found a number
of shorebirds and gulls including one AVOCET, one WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPER, and an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. A WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPER continues to linger at Leonard's Pond, Rockingham Co, VA,
with a report from Oct 13.
An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was found at the maintenance yard, Rock Creek
Park, NW DC on both Oct 12 and 13.
A first cycle LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was found at the pier at
Herrington Harbor, Anne Arundel Co, MD on Oct 10.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was found Oct 7 along Grassdale Road near
Remington, Fauquier Co, VA.
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen Oct 9 in a yard in Baltimore, MD, near
Leakin Park.
A COMMON RAVEN was well seen and heard Oct 11 at Leesylvania SP,
Prince William Co, VA. And on Oct 12, four COMMON RAVENS were seen
and heard flying over Rockville, Montgomery Co, MD on Oct 12.
A SEDGE WREN was found on Oct 12 at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William
Co, VA, along the Bayview Road near the intersection with the wildlife
drive. Two SEDGE WRENS were found Oct 13 in the tall grass at
Kenilworth Park, NE DC.
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES were among the different species of thrushes
found moving through the area this past week. On Oct 7 a
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was found at Little Bennett Regional Park,
Montgomery Co, MD and another at the maintenance yard, Rock Creek
Park, NW DC. A GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was found Oct 12 at the Blue Ridge
Center for Environmental Stewardship in northwestern Loudoun Co, VA.
Five thrush species including a BICKNELL'S and a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH
were the highlights at the Kiptopeke SP banding station, Accomack Co,
VA on Oct 7.
Warbler migration continued, though at a slower pace, throughout the
area with a fair number of different species reported from a number of
different locations.
Two ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were found Oct 7 at the Green Farm
Conservation Park, Montgomery Co, MD. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was
sighted Oct 11 at Fort Smallwood Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD.
On Oct 7 the third CONNECTICUT WARBLER of the season was banded at the
Kiptopeke SP banding station. And on Oct 11 another CONNECTICUT
WARBLER was banded there. On Oct 10 a hatch-year CONNECTICUT WARBLER
was found along Lower Pindell Road, Lothian, Anne Arundel Co, MD.
On Oct 11 a MOURNING WARBLER was found at the Elkhorn Garden Plots, on
the side which borders Oakland Mills Rd, Columbia, Howard Co, MD.
Sparrows popped up all over the place this past week. On Oct 7 a
VESPER SPARROW was found at Flint Hill School, Oakton, VA. The same
day a VESPER SAPRROW and two LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were found at Cromwell
Valley Park, Baltimore Co, MD. Three LINCOLN'S SPARROWS and a
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW were found at Huntley Meadows Pk, Fairfax Co, VA
on the 7th. On the 11th two LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were found at the
Elkhorn Garden Plots in Columbia. Three LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, a
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, a few WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, and all seven
woodpecker species were the highlights of a ten-sparrow day on Oct 12
at Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, VA on the east side of the park. A
LINCOLN'S SPARROW and two WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were found at Layhill
Park, Montgomery Co, MD on Oct 13. DARK-EYED JUNCOS were also seen in
several locations.
The best bird on an Oct 11 walk at George Washington's Boyhood Home,
Ferry Farm in Stafford Co, VA was a DICKCISSEL. Another DICKCISSEL
was found the same day at the Spray Fields, near North Branch,
Allegany Co, MD.
A dozen RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were found on Oct 12 at the Occoquan NWR and
one was found there on Oct 13.
On Oct 13 a PINE SISKIN was found at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William
Co, VA, and another was at the maintenance yard, Rock Creek Park, NW
DC.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey,
VA-Bird, and DE-bird list servers.
Finding Birds in the National Capital Area by Claudia Wilds is an
excellent source for directions to many birding sites. The ANS
Bookstore (301-652-3606 or
www.audubonnaturalist.org/cgi-bin/mesh/store) is an excellent source
for this 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.
