FYI Joe Coleman
near Bluemont, Loudoun Co
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 12/11/2007
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)
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, December 11, at
9 p.m.
Top birds this week are Pelagic birds in DE and MD, BLACK-CHINNED and
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS in VA and CAVE SWALLOW* in MD.
Other birds of interest include HARLEQUIN DUCK, NORTHERN GOSHAWK,
GOLDEN EAGLE, MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON, ICELAND GULL, possible
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL*, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE*, SHORT-EARED OWL,
LOGGERHEAD and NORTHERN SHRIKES, AMERICAN PIPIT, NASHVILLE WARBLER,
sparrows, SNOW BUNTING, RED CROSSBILL, COMMON REDPOLL and EVENING
GROSBEAK.
Highlights from a pelagic trip out of Lewes, DE on December 8 into
Maryland and Delaware waters included NORTHERN FULMAR, MANX
SHEARWATER, GREATER SHEARWATER, DOVEKIE, ATLANTIC PUFFIN, LITTLE GULL,
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, POMARINE JAEGER and RED PHALAROPE.
A female BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD and a female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
were banded in separate yards in the Lynchburg, Amherst Co, VA area on
December 10.
A CAVE SWALLOW was viewed on Messick Road in Deal Island, Somerset Co,
MD on December 9.
A female HARLEQUIN DUCK was spotted at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester
Co, MD on December 9. Two HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen on Island 1 of the
CBBT, Northampton Co, VA on December 10.
An adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK was sighted on the side of Piney Run in
Garrett Co, MD on December 6. A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen at Blackwater
NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on December 8.
Three MERLINS were observed at the golf course at Haines Point, DC on
December 9. A PEREGRINE FALCON was spotted on Beaverdam Road, Prince
George's Co, MD on December 6.
A first winter ICELAND GULL was seen at Schoolhouse Pond, Prince
George's Co, MD on December 5, 6 and 7. Several interesting gulls were
seen in Anacostia River Park, DC on December 8. Awaiting further
review, but one tentative identification is a possible YELLOW-LEGGED
GULL*.
.
A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE* was found at South Point, Worcester Co, MD
on December 9.
SHORT-EARED OWLS were observed along Cedar Creek Rd, Dorchester Co, MD
on December 8.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was spotted on Rte. 15 near Banshee Reeks Nature
Preserve, Loudoun Co, VA on December 8. The LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
continues at Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, VA with a report from
December 8. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at Piney Reservoir, Garrett Co,
MD on December 6.
AMERICAN PIPITS numbering in the hundreds were seen near the
intersection of Rte 68 and 56 and on Dam #5 Road in Washington Co, MD
on December 6.
A lingering NASHVILLE WARBLER seen at the Weyanoke Sanctuary in
Norfolk, VA on December 5.
Two AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS along with at least five FOX SPARROWS were
noted at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, Loudoun Co, VA on December 8.
Two more AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen at Sky Meadows SP, Loudoun
Co, VA and seven more were at Blandy Experimental Farm, Clarke Co, VA
and one more was seen at North Point SP, Baltimore Co, MD on the same
day. More FOX SPARROWS were seen throughout the region during the
week. Two WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS plus five PINE SISKINS visited a
feeder in Pocomoke City, Worcester Co, MD on December 4. An immature
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen in a yard in Woodbine, Carroll Co, MD
on December 6. Another WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen at a feeder in
Reisterstown, Baltimore Co, MD on December 7.
Sightings of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES
continued to be reported from the region during the week.
A SNOW BUNTING was spotted near Aldie, Loudoun Co, VA on December
5. Another SNOW BUNTING was observed on Handy Point Road north of
Great Oak Landing pond, Kent Co, MD on December 6. Six SNOW BUNTINGS
were seen at Point Lookout SP, St. Mary's Co, MD and another was noted
on Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD on December 8.
Three fly-by RED CROSSBILLS were reported from Bayside, Assateague
Island NS parking lot, Worcester Co, MD on December 10.
A COMMON REDPOLL flew into a window in Limeton, Warren Co, VA on
December 10. The bird was only stunned and subsequently revived.
An EVENING GROSBEAK was seen at the Blandy Experimental Farm, Clarke
Co, VA on December 8. About eight EVENING GROSBEAKS were
briefly seen in downtown Blue Grass, Highland Co, VA with a report
from December 10.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey,
DE-Bird, 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 records committee.
