FYI Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 11/20/2007
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)
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, November 20, at
2:30 p. m.
Top birds this week are EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE* in MD, NORTHERN SHRIKE
in MD, CAVE SWALLOW* in MD, and TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE* in VA.
Other birds of interest include geese, ducks, RED-THROATED LOON,
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GOLDEN
EAGLE, falcons, VIRGINIA RAIL, AMERICAN AVOCET and other shorebirds,
ICELAND GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, FORSTER'S TERN, SHORT-EARED
OWL, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, sparrows including LARK
and LECONTE'S, RUSTY and BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, and finches.
A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE* was reported from a back yard in Rockville,
Montgomery Co, MD on Nov 18.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was found on the south side of Mosser Rd, just west
of the intersection of Rock Lodge Dr in Garrett Co, MD on Nov 18. On
Nov 19 a NORTHERN SHRIKE was found on Sixes Rd between Sixes Bridge Rd
and Grimes Rd in northeastern Frederick Co, MD.
A CAVE SWALLOW* was seen in Havre De Grace, Harford Co, MD on Nov 15.
A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE* was seen and photographed Nov 19 perched on a
tree at the Harvey's Knob Hawkwatch, located on the Bedford-Botetourt
County line between milepost 95 and 96 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near
Roanoke, VA.
Five CACKLING GEESE were found Nov 14 at Piney Run Park, Carroll Co,
MD. A CACKLING GOOSE was found on Bell's Lane in Staunton, VA on Nov
18. TUNDRA SWANS, many flying high overhead and calling, were reported
from a number of locations this past week.
Waterfowl numbers increased throughout the area last week as five
BLACK SCOTERS were seen Nov 17 at Rocky Gap SP, Allegany Co, MD and
two SURF SCOOTERS were seen in the Washington Channel, SW DC on Nov
15.
A RED-THROATED LOON was in the Potomac River, off of Hains Point, SW
DC on Nov 15.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS continue to be reported from the Blackwater
NWR, Dorchester Co, MD with five seen there on Nov 18.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen Nov 16 at Turkey Point Hawkwatch, Cecil
Co, MD. A sub-adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen Nov 18 at Overbrook
Park, Prince George's Co, MD. The same day a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was
sighted from the Harvey's Knob Hawkwatch. And also on Nov 18, a young
NORTHERN GOSHAWK gave the watchers at Snicker's Gap Hawkwatch, Clarke
Co, VA, short but wonderful looks as it flew over. On Nov 19 a
NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen near Downsville, Washington Co, MD close to
the intersection of Rte 632 and Rte 68.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen hunting Nov 16 over the marsh on Rumbley
Pt Rd, Somerset Co, MD. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was also seen Nov 17 at
Blackwater NWR.
A sub-adult GOLDEN EAGLE was seen at the Snicker's Gap Hawkwatch on
Nov 14 and an adult was seen there on Nov 16. Another sub-adult GOLDEN
EAGLE was seen from a dock at Ferry Neck, Talbot County, MD, on Nov
18.
A MERLIN was seen in Edgewood, Harford Co, MD on Nov 14. On Nov 15
two, and possibly three, MERLINS were seen on the golf course at Hains
Point and two PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen sitting on the 14th St
Bridge. Another MERLIN was spotted at Loch Raven Reservoir, Baltimore
Co, MD on Nov 18. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen Nov 18 at the Occoquan
Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA.
Three VIRGINIA RAILS were heard calling at dusk Nov 18 along the
Rappahannock River in Leedstown, Westmoreland Co, VA.
An AMERICAN AVOCET was seen at Blackwater NWR on November 17.
Approximately 2,000 shorebirds, comprised of many different species,
were seen at the south end of Bear Swamp, Bombay Hook NWR, DE, on Nov
17.
A first year ICELAND GULL and 2 adult and 1 juvenile LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen at the Prince William landfill on Nov 17.
A rather late FORSTER'S TERN was seen in northern Fauquier Co, VA on
Nov 15.
A SHORT-EARED OWL was seen at Blackwater NWR on Nov 17.
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS continued to be captured in large numbers at
banding stations in both MD and VA as well as being spotted in a
number of other locations.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was found in Bedford Co, VA on Nov 16 between
Kelso Mill and Bedford City.
AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were reported from Lilypons, Frederick Co, MD
and the Blandy Experimental Farm, Clarke Co, VA on Nov 13. Four were
seen at the Manassas National Battlefield Park, Prince Wm Co, VA on
Nov 18.
A LARK SPARROW was seen behind the Blackwater NWR Visitor Center on
Nov 18.
On Nov 17 a birding group got great looks at a LECONTE'S SPARROW on
Island #3 of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel, Northampton Co, VA.
Two LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were captured at the banding station at the
Kiptopeke SP, Northampton Co, VA on Nov 14.
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS showed up in a number of locations.
There continued to be numerous reports of PURPLE FINCHES and PINE
SISKINS throughout the region this past week.
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 records committee.
