FYI Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 11/6/2007
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: John Bjerke
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 6, at
9:00 a.m.
Top birds this week are RED PHALAROPE in MD and WESTERN KINGBIRD in
VA.
Other birds of interest include GREATER WHITE-FRONTED, ROSS'S and
CACKLING GEESE, COMMON EIDER, RUFFED GROUSE, RED-THROATED LOON,
NORTHERN GOSHAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVER, AMERICAN AVOCET, PARASITIC JAEGER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, SHORT-EARED OWL, CHIMNEY SWIFT,
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE,
BLUE-HEADED VIREO, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH,
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, SNOW BUNTING, PURPLE FINCH
and PINE SISKIN.
A winter plumaged RED PHALAROPE discovered at Blackwater NWR,
Dorchester Co, MD on Oct 30 was seen daily through Nov 4. The bird has
been seen in the canal near pool 5c near the end of the wildlife drive
and also in the cove from the small parking lot on Rt 335 near the
junction with the wildlife drive.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD was reported from Halle Smith Drive on Chincoteague
Island, Accomack Co, VA on Nov 4.
Juvenile GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen at Bombay Hook NWR,
Kent Co, DE on Nov 4 and Chincoteague NWR, on Nov 4. ROSS'S GEESE were
found at Great Oak Pond, Kent Co, DE on Nov 2, Assateague St Park,
Worcester Co, MD on Nov 3, and Chincoteague NWR, on Nov 4. CACKLING
GEESE were found at Great Oak Pond on Nov 2, Chincoteague NWR, and
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Washington, DC on Nov 3.
A female COMMON EIDER was seen Nov 4 at the inlet at Ocean City,
Worcester Co, MD.
Three RUFFED GROUSE were drumming on the North Ridge Trail, Sky
Meadows St Park, Fauquier Co, VA on Nov 4.
A RED-THROATED LOON was in the Potomac River at Hains Point,
Washington, DC on Nov 4.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen in Arlington, VA on Oct 31 and another was
at Jug Bay, Prince Georges Co, MD on Nov 5. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was
reported on the causeway leading to Chincoteague Island on Nov 3.
Reports of GOLDEN EAGLES included three at Washington Monument St
Park, Washington Co, MD on Oct 31 and one at Chincoteague NWR.
Five AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen at Blackwater NWR on Nov 3. Three
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were found in the Rt 309 ponds, Queen Annes
Co, MD on Nov 4.
A seawatch at Ocean City, MD on Nov 2 produced two PARASITIC JAEGERS,
and two jaegers and three large shearwaters of undetermined species.
Four LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were found at Chincoteague NWR.
Banding stations are reporting record numbers of NORTHERN SAW-WHET
OWLS. A station in western Rockingham Co, VA has banded nearly 150 in
the past week. A SHORT-EARED OWL was seen from Shorter's Wharf Road,
Dorchester Co, MD on Nov 4.
A lingering CHIMNEY SWIFT was flying about Easton, Talbot Co, MD on
Nov 4.
One definite and one probable female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD are visiting
feeders in Amherst Co, VA. Although western hummers are notable in our
area this time of year, it is also possible to see very late
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS such as the one in Laurel, Prince Georges
Co, MD on Nov 1.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE continues to be seen at Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier
Co, VA, generally near the fishing pond.
There were several reports of BLUE-HEADED VIREOS this week including
Layhill Park, Montgomery Co, MD on Oct 31, Kiptopeke, Northhampton Co,
VA on Oct 31, Centennial Park, Howard Co, MD on Nov 1, Taylor's
Island, Dorchester Co, MD on Nov 3, and Teddy Roosevelt Island,
Washington, DC on Nov 5.
A BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE was at the Visitor Center feeders at Black
Hill Regional Park, Montgomery Co, MD on Oct 30.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES seem to be everywhere; highest reported count
was 18 on the Woodland Trail at Chincoteague NWR.
Warbler reports diminished greatly. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen
on the bayside of the north end of Assateague Island on Nov 4.
A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was found in the wetlands section of James River
Park, Richmond, VA on Nov 5.
SNOW BUNTINGS have returned to Cape Henlopen St Park, Sussex Co, DE.
There were numerous reports of PURPLE FINCHES and PINE SISKINS from
virtually every corner of the area. Sightings close to the Washington
metro area included a PINE SISKIN at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co,
VA on Nov 3 and six PURPLE FINCHES at Pennyfield Lock, C and O Canal,
Montgomery Co, MD on Nov 4.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey,
Delaware, 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.
