FYI - this report is for sightings from Sept. 29 through Oct 5 and was compiled
by Joe Coleman & transcribed by Steve Cordle
Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 10/6/09
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email): voice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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 6, at
10:30 am.
Top birds this week are SWAINSON'S HAWK and LAZULI BUNTING* in VA.
Other birds of interest include COMMON SHELLDUCK, EARED GREBE, WHITE
IBIS, GOLDEN EAGLE, rails, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, PHILADELPHIA
VIREO, COMMON RAVEN, SEDGE WREN, thrushes, warblers, SUMMER TANAGER,
and sparrows including LARK.
A juvenile light morph SWAINSON'S HAWK flew by the Kiptopeke St Park
Hawkwatch in Northampton Co, VA on Oct 5.
A possible LAZULI BUNTING* was reported on Oct 4 from a private
residence on the northern edges of Kilmarnock, Lancaster Co, VA on the
lower Northern Neck.
A COMMON SHELDUCK, probably an escapee, was seen this past week at
Prime Hook NWR, DE along the beach road.
An EARED GREBE was seen in McCune's Pond near Fishersville in Augusta
Co, VA on both Oct 2nd and 3rd.
An immature WHITE IBIS was seen Oct 1 in the southwest corner of Swan
Cove Pool, Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA.
For the most part the action at area hawkwatches was subdued this past
week. A GOLDEN EAGLE did fly by the Seaside Hawkwatch, Northampton Co,
VA, on September 29.
Three different species of rails, KING, VIRGINIA, and SORA, were seen
at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on Oct 4.
A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was seen at Brandon Woods Park, Anne Arundel
Co, MD on Oct 1.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continued to pop up throughout the region with
reports from several back yards and hawkwatches as well as a family
with two adults and four juveniles who put on quite a show at Huntley
Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on Oct 3 and 4.
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO continues to be seen at Cromwell Valley Park,
Baltimore Co, MD, with reports from Sept 30 and Oct 2. Another
PHILADELPHIA VIREO was found at Fort Bayard Park, NW DC on Oct 1. Two
PHILADELPHIA VIREOS were found Oct 4 at the Middle Patuxent
Environmental Area, Howard Co, MD. A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen at
the Harvey's Knob Hawkwatch, Roanoke, VA on Oct 5.
COMMON RAVENS continue to be observed in areas where they were once
uncommon. This past week one was calling in Great Falls, Fairfax Co,
VA on Sept 30, another was found Oct 1 at Claude Moore Park in eastern
Loudoun Co, VA, and one was found near Gretna, Pittsylvania Co, VA on
Oct 3.
A SEDGE WREN was found Oct 1 on Bell's Lane in Staunton, VA. WINTER
WRENS seemly popped up in a number of different locations.
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES were reported from several locations this past
week. A BICKNELL'S THRUSH was heard Oct 3 at Mattaponi Creek, Prince
George's Co, MD.
Good numbers of warblers continued to be found this past week. The
highlights included an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER at Brookside Gardens,
Montgomery Co, MD on Sept 30 and a CONNECTICUT WARBLER that was banded
at the Kiptopeke SP banding station Oct 5.
A SUMMER TANAGER was found at Brookside Gardens on Sept 30.
A LARK SPARROW was found along the Marsh Trail at Chincoteague NWR on
Oct 1. Another LARK SPARROW was found Oct 4 in the vicinity of Fort
Miles at Cape Henlopen SP, DE; it was in a mixed flock of sparrows
between Battery 519 and the top of the dune. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
was seen in the same area earlier in the week.
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were seen in a variety of locations including Mt.
Pleasant, Howard Co, MD on Oct 2. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was seen at
Wheaton Regional Park, Montgomery Co, MD on Oct 1. Single LINCOLN'S
SPARROWS were found Oct 2 at Pickering Creek Audubon Center, Talbot
Co, MD and Hashawha Environmental Center, Carroll Co, MD. On Oct 3
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were found at Pickering Creek and at Martin's Point
Farm, both in Talbot Co, MD.
A juvenile WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was found Oct 3 at Occoquan Bay NWR,
Prince William Co, VA.
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
