FYI Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 7/31/2007
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: Joe Coleman
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle (scordle@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)
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This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon
Naturalist Society. This report was completed on Tuesday, July 31, at
2:30 p.m.
Top bird this week is ANHINGA in VA.
Birds of interest this past week include ducks, COMMON LOON, AMERICAN
WHITE PELICAN, LEAST BITTERN, herons, CATTLE EGRET, WHITE IBIS,
BROAD-WINGED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, shorebirds, including UPLAND
SANDPIPER, GULL-BILLED TERN, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE,
SEDGE WREN, SUMMER TANAGER, sparrows, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL, and
BOBOLINK.
A lone ANHINGA was visible from the Noland Trail in Mariner's Museum
Park in Newport News, VA on July 25. It has not been reported since
then.
Two female COMMON MERGANSERS were seen in the river from Susquehanna
River State Park, Harford Co, MD on July 28. Also on July 28, LESSER
SCAUP were seen off the Occoquan Bay NWR, Woodbridge, Prince William
Co, VA.
On the same day, a WILD TURKEY and NORTHERN BOBWHITES were reported
from Occoquan NWR. A WILD TURKEY with 4 very young birds was seen on
July 28 at the entrance to the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental
Stewardship in northwestern Loudoun Co, VA.
A COMMON LOON was seen at Assateague Island National Seashore,
Worcester Co, MD on July 25.
Ten AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester
Co, MD, on July 29.
LEAST BITTERNS were found at Merkle WMA, Prince George's Co, MD on
July 27 and in the marsh across from the entrance to Leesylvania SP,
Prince William Co, VA on July 28.
The two immature LITTLE BLUE HERONS found at the Merkle WMA last week
were seen again on July 27 and 29.
The CATTLE EGRET reported at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD last
week was seen again on July 26 and 27.
An immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at its usual roosting spot
at Schoolhouse Pond in Upper Marlboro, Prince George's Co, MD, on July
29.
Juvenile WHITE IBIS continue to show up in places they are not
normally seen. The WHITE IBIS, reported from Merkle WMA last week, was
still there on July 27 and 29. Two were also seen flying over the Hog
Island WMA in Surry Co, VA on June 24. One was seen on July 29 and 31
in eastern Henrico Co, VA at Crewes Pond/Channel.
A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was again seen at the Blue Ridge Center for
Environmental Stewardship in northwestern Loudoun County, VA, this
time on July 28.
An immature GOLDEN EAGLE and several immature BALD EAGLES were seen
feeding on a sheep carcass in the Blue Grass Valley of Highland Co, VA
on July 24.
An UPLAND SANDPIPER was found at Salisbury Airport on Fooks Rd,
Wicomico Co, MD on July 28.
Shorebirds were seen at a number of local impoundments, lakes and
ponds taking advantage of the "low water" conditions as well as at
their usual locations. They were seen at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA:
Paper Mill Flats, Baltimore Co, MD; Hughes Hollow, Elliott Island Rd,
where 6 BLACK-NECKED STILTS were seen on July 29; and at Craney
Island, Portsmouth, VA, where a STILT SANDPIPER was seen on July 25.
STILT SANDPIPERS were also seen at Vaughn North, Worcester Co, MD, on
July 28.
GULL-BILLED TERNS were spotted at Craney Island on July 25 and at
Taylor's Landing, Worcester Co, MD on July 28.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen at Hughes Hollow on July 28.
An adult LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was found July 28 in far northwestern
Frederick Co, VA along Sleepy Creek Rd.
A SEDGE WREN was observed on Elliott Island Rd, Dorchester Co, MD by
the first Fishing Bay sign on July 29.
A SUMMER TANAGER was still singing at Soldier's Delight Natural Area,
Baltimore Co, MD on July 24.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were reported from several locations with the
most interesting being the Occoquan Bay NWR.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and a BLUE GROSBEAK were found on the Blue
Mash Nature Trail, Zion Rd section, in Montgomery Co, MD on July 31.
A DICKCISSEL was seen on the Wilna Tract, Rappahannock River Valley
NWR on July 26.
A BOBOLINK flew over the ash pond area of Cockpit Point Rd, Prince
William Co, VA on July 28.
See Life Paulagics is running a pelagic trip on Saturday, August 11
out of Lewes, DE. It will be going to both Delaware and Maryland
waters. They are also running a special overnight trip leaving
Thursday, August 23. For more information on either of these trips,
contact them at 215-234-6805 or see their web site at paulagics.com.
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.
