FYI Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 8/14/2007
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: Helen Patton
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle (scordle@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)
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Advocate $150). The membership number is 301-652-9188, option 12; the
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This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon
Naturalist Society. This report was completed on Tuesday, August 14,
at 4:30 pm.
Top bird this week is ANHINGA* in VA.
Birds of interest this past week include LEAST BITTERN, WHITE IBIS,
BROAD-WINGED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, VIRGINIA RAIL, shorebirds, AMERICAN
AVOCET, LITTLE GULL, BLACK TERN, BLACK SKIMMER, COMMON NIGHTHAWK,
SEDGE WREN, PRAIRIE and WILSON'S WARBLERS, sparrows, DICKCISSEL and
BOBOLINK.
The ANHINGA* visible from the Noland Trail in Mariner's Museum Park in
Newport News, VA was seen again on Aug 10.
Two LEAST BITTERNS were briefly seen on Elliott's Island Road,
Dorchester Co, MD, on August 13.
A trip to Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD on August 11 yielded 15
shorebird species plus a variety of other birds including LEAST
BITTERN, VIRGINIA RAIL, forty-eight AMERICAN AVOCET, LITTLE GULL,
BLACK TERN, VESPER SPARROW and BOBOLINK.
Juvenile WHITE IBIS continue to show up around the area. Three WHITE
IBIS were reported from Smith Grove Road, Dinwiddie Co, VA on August
8. Another WHITE IBIS paid a visit to a yard in Bath Co, VA on August
12 while another was spotted at Staunton River SP, Halifax Co, VA on
the same day.
Four migrating BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were spotted at Washington Monument
SP, Washington Co, MD on August 12. A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen perched in
a tree on Elliott Island Road 5.1 miles south of the intersection with
Henry's Crossroad, Dorchester Co, MD on August 11.
Shorebird migration continues apace. Eleven species were reported from
Higgins Millpond where it is crossed by Linkwood Road, east of
Cambridge, Dorchester Co, MD on August 8. UPLAND SANDPIPERS were seen
from Fooks Road across from the Salisbury, Wicomico Co, MD airport on
August 8 and at the Hughes Road Polo Grounds, Montgomery Co, MD on
August 11. Seven species, including four MARBLED GODWITS were sighted
in the ORV Zone on Assateague Island, Worcester Co, MD on August 8. A
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was noted on the Summit Hall Turf farm, seen from
the C&O Canal about 50 yards downstream from the milepost 28 marker,
Montgomery Co, MD on August 8. The count increased to two on August
11. The fourteen shorebird species seen at Poplar Island, Talbot Co,
MD on August 8, included RUDDY TURNSTONE, WESTERN and STILT SANDPIPERS
and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE,
Two BLACK TERNS were flying around the bay south of Alexandria, VA,
just before reaching Dyke Marsh, on August 9. BLACK TERNS were among
the six tern species seen at Tom's Cove, Chincoteague NWR on August
12. Another BLACK TERN was seen from a kayak in the Patuxent River at
Jug Bay, MD on August 12.
Two BLACK SKIMMERS were seen on Skimmer Island, Ocean City, Worcester
Co, MD on August 13.
Two COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were spotted at their nocturnal feeding area at
Gallows road and Boone Blvd near Rte 7 in the Tyson's Corner area of
Fairfax Co, VA on August 11.
A SEDGE WREN was observed along Cedar Creek Road in southern
Dorchester Co, MD on August 12, accompanied by SEASIDE and SALTMARSH
SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS. More SEDGE WRENS were heard on Elliott Island
Road on August 13.
A PRAIRIE WARBLER was noted along the Woods Road at Banshee Reeks,
Loudoun Co, VA on August 11 while a WILSON'S WARBLER paid a visit to a
yard in Annapolis, Anne Arundel Co, MD on August 12.
Six GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were seen from Fooks Road across from the
Salisbury airport on August 8. Another GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was noted
at Kenilworth Park, DC on the same day. Several GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS
plus a DISKCISSEL were observed on Egypt Road, Dorchester Co, MD on
August 11.
A BOBOLINK was seen at Riverbend Park, Fairfax Co, VA on August 11.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOSPREY and
VA-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 record committee.
