FYI - this report is for sightings from 9/23 through 9/29
Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 9/30/2008
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, September 30,
at 3:00 p.m.
Top birds this week are WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL in WV and SABINE'S GULL
in MD.
Other birds of interest include SNOW GOOSE, GREAT CORMORANT, NORTHERN
GOSHAWK, KING RAIL, shorebirds, SANDWICH TERN, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO,
CHIMNEY SWIFT, woodpeckers, flycatchers including YELLOW-BELLIED,
PHILADELPHIA VIREO, thrushes including BICKNELL'S, warblers including
CONNECTICUT, and LINCOLN'S SPARROW.
A WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL has been present since mid-Sept in a pond at
the Huntfield subdivision south of Charles Town, Jefferson Co, WV.
Because it appeared in the wake of Hurricane Hanna, some area birders
believe that it blew in naturally and 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.
On Sept 26 a possible SABINE GULL was found in the Ocean City Inlet,
Worcester Co, MD.
Eight SNOW GEESE were seen flying over Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore
Co, MD, on Sept 23 and 17 were reported Sept 26 from Scott's Landing,
Worcester, Co, MD as the flock at Bombay Hook NWR, DE, continues to
grow.
A GREAT CORMORANT was observed at Black Walnut Point before a trip to
Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD, on Sept 23.
An immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK was reported from the Rockfish Gap Hawk
Watch, near Waynesboro, VA, on Sept 28.
Four KING RAILS were among the 73 bird species found on a Sept 27
birding trip to the Occoquan Bay NWR, Woodbridge, Prince William Co,
VA.
Two AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were found on a trip to Poplar Island,
Talbot Co, MD, on Sept. 23 along with two AMERICAN AVOCETS and four
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS. An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and two MARBLED
GODWITS were a few of the many shorebirds seen at Chincoteague NWR,
Accomack Co, VA, on the same day. On Sept 27 an immature AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVER was found along Chelsea Rd, Harford Co, MD.
A flock of SANDWICH TERNS, six of whom were banded, was found on the
beaches south of the town harbor in Cape Charles, Accomack Co, VA, on
Sept 26.
A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was found Sept 24 at Blue Mash, Montgomery Co,
MD.
CHIMNEY SWIFTS continue to be found in large numbers descending into
chimneys at dusk and exiting from them at dawn. On Sept 24 over 150
were observed leaving the chimney at East Silver Spring Elementary
School, Montgomery Co, MD. The evening of Sept 27 between 300 and 400
swifts were seen descending into a chimney at the Fairfax Co Juvenile
District Court building in Fairfax City, VA.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were reported from a variety of locations this
past week with 10 reported from the boardwalk at Calvert Cliffs SP,
Calvert Co, MD on Sept 28 and an amazing 32 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS
were reported from the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch near Waynesboro, VA on
Sept 29.
There were also several reports of YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS returning
to the area this past week.
There was a report of a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER at Greenbury Point,
Anne Arundel Co, MD on Sept 24. A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was also
found at Mason Neck SP, Fairfax Co, VA on Sept 28. An ALDER FLYCATCHER
was observed from the Conowingo Dam, Harford Co, MD on Sept 27.
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen near Grosvenor in Rock Creek Park, NW DC
on Sept. 23. Another was reported from Terrapin Park, Kent Island,
Queen Anne's Co, MD, on Sept 24. On Sept 26, a PHILADELPHIA VIREO was
the highlight of several visitors to a yard on Compton Mountain in
Buchanan County, VA. And on Sept 27 one was seen in Rock Creek Park in
picnic area 17/18.
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES were among the different species of thrushes
found moving through the area this past week. One was found at the
Middle Patuxent Environmental Area, Howard Co on Sept 26 and another
at the Mason Neck SP on Sept 28. Two GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES were
reported from the Governor's Bridge Natural Area & Canoe Launch,
Prince George's Co, MD on Sept 29.
A BICKNELL'S THRUSH was the highlight of the banding station at
Kiptopeke SP, Accomack Co, VA on Sept 29.
Warbler migration continued throughout the area with a wide diversity
of different species being reported from a number of different
locations.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was sighted Sept 30 at Hughes Hollow (also
known the McKee-Beshers WMA), Montgomery Co, MD, a ¼ mile past the
impoundment parking lot. A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was found Sept 23 at
Terrapin Point Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD. A hatch year CONNECTICUT
WARBLER was found Sept 28 at the Mason Neck SP, Fairfax Co, VA.
Two LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were among seven sparrow species found at
Western Regional Park, Howard Co, MD, on Sept 27.
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.
