FYI - this report is for sightings from 9/16 through 9/22
Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 9/23/2008
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: Lou DeMouy
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, September 23,
at 8:00 a.m.
Top birds this week are MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD* and BROAD-WINGED
HAWK.
Other birds of interest include NORTHERN GOSHAWK, shorebirds,
flycatchers, WESTERN KINGBIRD, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, COMMON RAVEN,
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH,
CONNECTICUT WARBLER, SUMMER TANAGER, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, and
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.
A MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD* flew from west to east across Hagerstown,
Washington, Co., MD at the end of the day on Sep 19.
Raptor migration is active. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was reported above Cub
Creek Road in Nelson Co, VA on Sep 22. BROAD-WINGED HAWKS hit very
high levels during the week at many areas in our region: 668 at
Washington Monument State Park, Washington Co, MD on Sep 20; 2,186 at
Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore Co, MD on Sep 18; 1,889 at Snickers
Gap at the Clarke Co and Loudon Co line, in VA on Sep 18; 4,856 at
Rockfish Gap near Waynesboro, Augusta Co, VA on Sep 18; 1,166 at
Harvey's Knob near Roanoke, Augusta Co, VA on Sep 18, and another
1,889 at the Ashland Nature Center in New Castle Co, Wilmington, DE on
Sep 18.
Shorebirds showed in various locations. An AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was
seen on Old Gunners Road at Deal Island Wildlife Management Area in
Somerset Co, MD on Sep 19 and at Chincoteague NWR in Accomack Co, VA
on Sep 21, a STILT SANDPIPER was at the North Beach marsh in Calvert
Co, MD on Sep16, and 22 STILT SANDPIPERS were at the Chesapeake Bay
Environmental Center (formerly known as Horsehead Wetlands), Queen
Anne's Co, MD on Sep 22.
Chincoteague NWR birders reported BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, MARBLED
GODWIT, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, and BUFF-BREASTED
SANDPIPER among many sightings on Sep 20.
A visit to Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD on Sep 22 showed about
20 species of shorebirds, including a PIPING PLOVER, BAIRD'S
SANDPIPER, and BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. Five AMERICAN BITTERNS also
were present at Hart-Miller.
Migrant flycatchers continue in good variety and numbers across the
region. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, MD
on Sep 17 and 19 and another was at Chinn Ridge in Prince William Co,
VA on Sep 19. Two LEAST FLYCATCHERS were seen at the Rock Creek Park
maintenance yard on Sep 20 and another LEAST FLYCATCHER showed at
Morgan Run Natural Environmental Area in Carroll Co. MD on Sep 22. A
YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was seen in Cabin John, Montgomery Co, MD on
Sep 16 and in the Rock Creek Park maintenance yard in Washington, DC
on Sep 19.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD was seen at the Ft. McHenry wetland, Baltimore, MD
on Sep 16.
PHILADELPHIA VIREOS were found at Black Walnut Point on Tilghman
Island in Talbot Co, MD on Sep 18, at Dans Rock, Allegany Co, MD on
Sep 18, near Clara Barton Parkway and Chain Bridge in Washington, DC
on Sep 20, Kiptopeke State Park, Northampton Co VA on Sep 20, Dans
Rock, Allegany Co MD on Sep 18 and 21, and Rock Creek Park,
Washington, DC on September 21 and 22.
COMMON RAVEN reports came from Glenwood in Howard Co MD on Sep 16,
Finzel Swamp in Garrett Co MD on Sep 17, and Cromwell Valley Park,
Baltimore Co, MD on Sep 21.
A GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was seen at Kiptopeke State Park, Northampton Co
Va on Sep 18, Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD on Sep 19, and at Rock
Creek Park, Washington, DC on Sep 20.
Warbler migration numbers and diversity jumped as fall warblers
appeared in many areas. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was reported at the
American Chestnut Land Trust, Calvert Co, MD on Sep 19 and another at
Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on Sep 21. A late-departing NORTHERN
WATERTHRUSH was seen at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on Sep
20. CONNECTICUT WARBLERS were reported in a number of locations
including Pickering Creek Audubon Center, Talbot Co, MD on Sep 16,
Rock Creek Park maintenance yard, Washington, DC on Sep 20 and 21,
Indian Creek Wildlife Management Area, Charles Co, MD on Sep 21, and
Terrapin Park, Queen Anne's Co, MD on Sep 21
A SUMMER TANAGER was reported at the Rock Creek Park maintenance yard,
Washington, DC on Sep 17 and at Compton Mountain, Buchanan Co, VA on
Sep 21.
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were observed in many places including Lake
Artemesia, Prince George's Co, MD on Sep 16, Cromwell Valley State
Park, Baltimore Co, MD on Sep 16, Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on
Sep 17 and 21, and the Rock Creek Park maintenance yard, Washington,
DC on Sep 19, 21 and 22.
A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was seen at Huntley Meadows, Fairfax, Co, VA on
Sep 22. Three WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS appeared at Morgan Run Natural
Environment Area, Carroll Co, MD on Sep 22.
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.
