FYI Joe Coleman near Bluemont, Loudoun Co, VA
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 11/27/2007
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: Andy Martin
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 27, at
6 p.m.
Top bird this week is CAVE SWALLOW* in DE, MD and VA.
Two CAVE SWALLOWS were seen from the lookout at the Harvey's Knob
Hawkwatch, Roanoke, VA on Nov 23. Three or four CAVE SWALLOWS passed
by the Cape Henlopen SP Hawkwatch, DE on Nov 24. A CAVE SWALLOW was
also seen in the "no fee" area of North Point SP, Baltimore Co, MD on
Nov 24.
Other birds of interest include geese, TUNDRA SWAN, ducks,
RED-THROATED LOON, NORTHERN GANNET, pelicans, AMERICAN BITTERN, hawks,
GOLDEN EAGLE, falcons, rails, SANDHILL CRANE, LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL, SHORT-EARED OWL, SELASPHORUS hummingbird, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER,
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, COMMON RAVEN, AMERICAN PIPIT, GRAY CATBIRD,
sparrows, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, and
finches.
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was observed at Little Meadows Lake,
Garrett Co, MD on Nov 25.
SNOW GEESE were reported from Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore Co and
from Piney Run Reservoir in Carroll Co, MD on Nov 21. A single SNOW
GOOSE and two CACKLING GEESE were seen at Burkittsville Pond on Rte
17, Frederick Co, MD on Nov 25. Cackling Geese were also reported
from: North Beach, Calvert Co, MD on Nov 24; Herrington Harbor, Anne
Arundel on Nov 24; Back Creek (also marked as White Swan Lake), Cecil
Co, MD on Nov 24; and Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on Nov 23
Migrating TUNDRA SWANS passed through the area this past week
including flocks flying over Washington, DC on Nov 23 and 24.
Three COMMON EIDER flew south past the beach at Chincoteague, VA on
Nov 26.
A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was reported from Liberty Lake,
Baltimore/Carroll Cos, MD on Nov 23. A BLACK SCOTER was seen at
Triadelphia Reservoir, Montgomery Co, MD on Nov 24.
A RED-THROATED LOON was reported from Lilypons, Frederick Co, MD on
Nov 21 and 22. Two RED-THROATED LOONS were seen from the Rte 121
bridge on Little Seneca Lake, Montgomery Co, MD on Nov 24.
Twelve (mostly adult) NORTHERN GANNETS were seen out in the middle of
the Chesapeake Bay between Calvert Cliffs (Calvert Co, MD) and Taylors
Island (Dorchester Co, MD) on Nov 21. A NORTHERN GANNET and a ROYAL
TERN were seen from Patuxent River NAS, St. Mary's Co, MD on Nov 24.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD
on Nov 25. Four BROWN PELICANS were observed at Point Lookout SP, St.
Mary's Co on Nov 24.
Two AMERICAN BITTERNS were found at Fowlers Beach, Sussex Co, DE on
Nov 23.
A "light-phase" ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was observed Nov 23 at Fowler's
Beach, DE. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was also seen in Highland Co, VA on Nov
23. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK continues this week at Blackwater NWR,
Dorchester Co in the vicinity of Cedar Creek Rd.
An adult GOLDEN EAGLE and a sub-adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK were seen at
the Turkey Point Hawkwatch, Cecil Co, MD on Nov 22. A single GOLDEN
EAGLE and four NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were seen from the Snicker's Gap
Hawkwatch, Clarke Co, VA on Nov 23. Two additional NORTHERN GOSHAWKS
passed by Snicker's Gap on Nov 25 and another goshawk was seen from
the Cape Henlopen SP Hawkwatch, Sussex Co, DE on Nov 24.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK, MERLIN, and PEREGRINE FALCON were all seen either
"in" or from a yard in Glen Burnie, MD on Nov 23.
Single MERLINS were noted at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center
(CBEC) in Queen Anne's Co, MD on Nov 22; Loch Raven Reservoir in
Baltimore Co, MD on Nov 23; and Hains Point, DC on Nov 24. PEREGRINE
FALCONS was seen Nov 24 at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA and
near the recycling center at the Brown's Station Landfill in Upper
Marlboro, PG Co, MD on Nov 25.
A KING RAIL was observed at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA on
Nov 25. A VIRGINIA RAIL was found at Lilypons, Frederick Co, MD on Nov
24.
A SANDHILL CRANE flew over Black Hill RP, Montgomery Co, MD on Nov 24.
A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was reported from Sandy Point SP, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on Nov 21. Another LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at
Point Lookout SP, St. Mary's Co, MD on Nov 24.
Two SHORT-EARED OWLS were observed from the parking area for the boat
ramp at the end of Port Mahon Rd in Kent County, DE on Nov 23. A
SHORT-EARED OWL was seen near dusk at Richardson's Marsh (Rumbly
Point), Somerset Co, MD on Nov 24.
A SELASPHORUS hummingbird, present since Oct 14, continues to visit a
feeder on private property in Dinwiddie Co, VA.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen at Hughes Hollow and Violette's Lock
in Montgomery Co, MD on Nov 22. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was observed
at Huntley Meadows, Fairfax Co, VA on Nov 24.
An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was found on private property near Jug Bay
in PG Co, MD on Nov 22. This bird was searched for the next day but
not relocated.
COMMON RAVENS were reported from Centreville, VA on Nov 23; Columbia,
Howard Co, MD on Nov 24; and near Colesville, Montgomery Co, MD on Nov
26.
The Polo grounds on Hughes Rd in Western Montgomery Co, hosted twenty
AMERICAN PIPITS on Nov 21. Four AMERICAN PIPITS were seen at
Kenilworth Park in DC on Nov 24.
A GRAY CATBIRD was seen at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental
Stewardship in northwestern Loudoun Co, VA on Nov 24.
AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS sightings continue to increase throughout the
area, including one seen at Kenilworth Park, DC on Nov 24.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was netted on Nov 21 at the Kiptopeke Banding
Station in VA. A LARK SPARROW reported from behind the Blackwater NWR
Visitor Center, Dorchester Co on Nov 18, continues as of Nov 25. Many
birders reported "first of the season" FOX SPARROWS this week.
Two LAPLAND LONGSPUR were seen feeding in the plowed field in the
company of several hundred Horned Larks off Cartanza Rd, Kent Co, DE
on Nov 23.
SNOW BUNTINGS were reported this week from Sandy Point SP, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on Nov 21; Fowler's Beach, DE on Nov 22; the beach at
Fishing Point on the Patuxent River NAS, St Mary's Co, MD on Nov 23;
and Chincoteague, VA on Nov 23.
A first year female BALTIMORE ORIOLE was seen bathing near the boat
launch by the Visitor Center at Riverbend Park, Fairfax Co, VA on Nov
21. Another late BALTIMORE ORIOLE was seen Nov 24 in the vicinity of
Noland's Ferry, Frederick Co, MD.
A RED CROSSBILL was seen near the lookout at the Harvey's Knob
Hawkwatch, Roanoke, VA on Nov 23. Another RED CROSSBILL was observed
Nov 25 in Washington Co, MD.
There continued to be numerous reports of PURPLE FINCHES and PINE
SISKINS throughout the region this past week.
Two COMMON REDPOLLS were seen just north of the hawkwatch at Cape
Henlopen SP, DE near the junction of Queens Rd and Cape Henlopen Dr on
Nov 24.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey,
DE-Bird, VA-Bird list servers and the MD and VA eBird Rare Bird
Gadgets (Google).
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.
