Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 3/26/2019
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/central and southern DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments and questions: voice@xxxxxxxxxxx
Compiler: Gerry Hawkins
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
Atlantic States (independent of NAS)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle
Please consider joining ANS, especially if you are a regular user of
the Voice of the Naturalist (Individual $50; Family $65; Nature
Steward $100; Audubon Advocate $200). 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 https://www.anshome.org.
This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon
Naturalist Society. This report covers the week starting Tuesday,
March 19 and was completed on Tuesday, March 26 at 8:00 a.m.
Information on noteworthy birds is presented below in taxonomic order,
as set forth in the American Ornithological Society Checklist for
North and Middle American Birds, as revised through the 59th
Supplement (June 2018). This report does not provide information about
likely escaped or released birds (e.g. various parrots and parakeets),
non-established feral birds (e.g., Muscovy Duck) and introduced game
birds (e.g., Ring-necked Pheasant).
The top birds this week were BAR-TAILED GODWIT* and WESTERN TANAGER in
VA.
Other birds of interest this week included GREATER WHITE-FRONTED and
CACKLING GEESE, MUTE and TRUMPETER SWANS, EURASIAN WIGEON, GREATER
SCAUP, COMMON EIDER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, BLACK SCOTER, LONG-TAILED DUCK,
RED-NECKED GREBE, KING RAIL, SANDHILL CRANE, AMERICAN AVOCET, PECTORAL
SANDPIPER, WILSON'S SNIPE, BLACK-HEADED, LITTLE, ICELAND and GLAUCOUS
GULLS, CASPIAN TERN, RAZORBILL, RED-THROATED LOON, NORTHERN GANNET,
GREAT CORMORANT, ANHINGA, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, AMERICAN BITTERN,
LITTLE BLUE HERON, TRICOLORED HERON, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, WHITE
and GLOSSY IBIS, RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER, LOGGERHEAD and NORTHERN
SHRIKES, PURPLE MARTIN, SEDGE and MARSH WRENS, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER,
EVENING GROSBEAK, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, AMERICAN TREE,
VESPER and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, LOUISIANA
WATERTHRUSH, BLACK-AND-WHITE, ORANGE-CROWNED and NASHVILLE WARBLERS,
PAINTED BUNTING and DICKCISSEL.
TOP BIRDS
After an eight day absence of reports, on March 24 a wintering
BAR-TAILED GODWIT*, a rare visitor from Eurasia, was relocated among
WILLETS on the beach and mud flats near the Toms Cove Visitors Center
at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA.
ON March 25 a female WESTERN TANAGER was photographed while perched on
an iron fence at the Clark Yard-Windsor Point in Norfolk, VA.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
Early arriving Neotropic migrants, the ongoing departure of migratory
waterfowl and blooming cherry blossoms were among the seasonal
indications of the formal arrival of spring during the week.
A single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, one of the few seen in the
reporting area this year, was found in a small flock of CANADA GEESE
at the Ironshire Station Road Pond in Worcester Co, MD on March 24. A
CACKLING GOOSE was spotted among the CANADA GEESE at Swan Harbor Farm
Park in Harford Co, MD on March 22-25 and photographed in flight at
the Pickering Creek Audubon Center in Talbot Co, MD on March 25.
Area MUTE SWANS included a single individual at the West Ocean City
Pond in Worcester Co, MD on March 21, 22 and 24. TRUMPETER SWANS were
seen at several locations in Maryland during the week, including a
continuing tagged individual (T87) at Alter Pond along Soil
Conservation Road in Prince George's Co on March 19; a single
individual in flight over Tenthouse Court in Anne Arundel Co on March
19; a single individual along Wildlife Drive at Blackwater NWR in
Dorchester Co on March 23; two individuals at the Home Depot back
ponds in Edgewood, Harford Co on March 24 and 25; and two individuals
at the Piney Orchard Nature Preserve in Anne Arundel Co on March 23. A
small number of banded and unbanded TRUMPETER SWANS reported during
the week at several locations in Fauquier Co, VA and at a location in
nearby Upperville in Loudoun Co, VA may or may not be associated with
the resident population at Airlie in Fauquier Co.
Noteworthy ducks during the week included a continuing EURASIAN WIGEON
at Haynes Pond in Gloucester Co, VA that was most recently seen on
March 25. COMMON EIDER was relatively common during the week, with
five individuals seen at the Indian River Inlet in Sussex Co, DE on
March 23 and 24, a high of 12 individuals counted at the Ocean City
Inlet in Worcester Co, MD on March 23, 24 and 25 and 1-2 continuing
individuals observed off Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA on March 22 and
24. A female HARLEQUIN DUCK was spotted at the Ocean City Inlet in
Worcester Co, MD on March 19, 23 and 25, which is the only
representative of this species reported in the reporting area during
the week. A continuing GREATER SCAUP was last seen at Matoaka Lake in
Williamsburg, VA on March 19, as were continuing female BLACK SCOTERS
at Violette's Lock on the C&O Canal in Montgomery Co, MD and a pond at
12 Stones Road in Harford Co, MD.Single LONG-TAILED DUCKS also were
seen at several inland locations during the week, including at Hains
Point in Washington, DC on March 19 and 25; Georgetown Reservoir in
Washington, DC on March 25; Gunners Lake in Montgomery Co, MD on March
25; and Franklin Farm pond in Herndon, Fairfax Co, VA on March 23, 24
and 25. In addition, on March 25 24 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were
photographed at Rocky Gap SP in Allegany Co, MD and two were found at
Broadford Lake in Garrett Co, MD.
A high of seven continuing RED-NECKED GREBES were present at Broadford
Lake in Garrett Co, MD through March 25, and two continuing RED-NECKED
GREBES were spotted in the Susquehanna River from Lapidum and nearby
Susquehanna SP in Harford Co, MD on March 19, 20 and 25. Also in
Maryland, a RED-NECKED GREBE was spotted at Fort Smallwood Parkin
Anne Arundel Co on March 20; Ocean City Inlet in Worcester Co on March
24; and Piney Run Park in Carroll Co on March 24. In Virginia a
RED-NECKED GREBE was photographed at the pond by Dulles Airport in
Loudoun Co on March 23, and a continuing RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at
the Rivanna Reservoir from several proximate locations in Albemarle Co
on March 19-22.
Encounters with as many as five KING RAILS continue to be a highlight
of visits to Occoquan Bay NWR in Prince William Co, VA. At least one
calling KING RAIL was recorded at Swan Farm Harbor Park in Harford Co,
MD on March 24 and 25.
On March 25 two SANDHILL CRANES were photographed in corn stubble
along 1-699 Foxtown Road in Garrett Co, MD.
A high of 230 and 200 wintering AMERICAN AVOCETS were reported during
the week at Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co, DE and Prime Hook NWR-Broadkill
Marsh, Sussex Co, DE, respectively. On March 22 110 AMERICAN AVOCETS
were counted at the Craney Island Disposal Area (restricted; no public
access) in Portsmouth, VA, the other principal wintering location for
this species in the reporting area. Migratory shorebirds included
WILSON'S SNIPE at many locations, with a high of 86 individuals
counted at Oxbow Lake in Anne Arundel Co, MD on March 25, and an early
PECTORAL SANDPIPER reported by several birders at Tanyard Marsh in
Caroline Co, MD on March 24.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL and a LITTLE GULL were observed from riverside
locations at Port Deposit in Cecil Co, MD and across the river at
Lapidum or nearby in Harford Co, MD on March 19, 20, 23 and 24, and
March 25 in the case of the BLACK-HEADED GULL. On March 19 and 20 a
BLACK-HEADED GULL also was spotted at Back River-Diamond Point Road in
Baltimore Co, MD, another good location for this species in the
spring. A continuing BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen at Wolfe Neck WTP
(restricted access) in Sussex Co, DE on March 19. A continuing ICELAND
GULL (Kumlien's) was photographed at Ocean View Beach Park in Norfolk,
VA on March 19 and Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA on March 20 and 24. On
March 24 a young GLAUCOUS GULL was found at the Indian River Inlet in
Sussex Co, DE.
An early CASPIAN TERN was seen as far north as the Belmont Bay Marina
in Prince William Co, VA on March 25.
On March 23 a continuing RAZORBILL was photographed near the pier at
Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA, and on March 19 a distant RAZORBILL* was
spotted in flight off Ocean View Beach Park in Norfolk, VA.
Inland RED-THROATED LOONS included a continuing individual at Hains
Point in Washington, DC on March 19; two continuing individuals at a
pond along 12 Stones Road in Harford Co, MD on March 19; 1-2
continuing individuals at Violette's Lock on the C & O Canal in
Montgomery Co, MD on March 19-22; and one continuing individual at the
National Colonial Farm in Prince George's Co, MD on March 20. A COMMON
LOON at the Georgetown Reservoir on March 23, 24 and 25 provided DC
birders with the first opportunity to add this species to their year
lists.
One of the more amazing migratory spectacles during the week was the
continued large northward movement of NORTHERN GANNETS, with numbers
in the thousands at several sea watch locations in the reporting area,
including a high of 5,000 individuals reported at the Ocean City Inlet
in Worcester Co, MD on March 21.
The only GREAT CORMORANTS reported during the week were two
individuals in Sussex Co, DE waters from the Lewes-Cape May ferry on
March 23; a high of ten individuals at the lighthouse across from the
Kent Point Marina in Queen Anne's Co, MD on March 23 and 25; and one
individual at the Ocean City Inlet in Worcester Co, MD on March 24.
An ANHINGA was seen at the Carson Safety Rest Area in Prince George
Co, VA on March 22, 24 and 25.
A large number of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS continue to winter at
Blackwater NWR in Dorchester Co, MD, with 125 and 75 individuals
reported along Wildlife Drive on March 20 and 23, respectively. A
single continuing AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was seen at Hog Island WMA in
Surry Co, VA on March 20, 22 and 23.
A high of four AMERICAN BITTERNS were heard uttering this species'
diagnostic pumping vocalization at the Little Creek Wildlife Area in
Kent Co, DE on March 19-22. During the week an AMERICAN BITTERN also
was encountered at Mullins Park in Harford Co, MD on March 23; Island
Creek Circle in Talbot Co, MD on March 24; Big Water Farm (private) in
Queen Anne's Co, MD on March 24; and Bles Park in Loudoun Co, VA on
March 24 and 25.
In addition to a single SNOWY EGRET in each of Calvert and Talbot
Counties, Maryland on May 25, noteworthy herons and egrets included a
LITTLE BLUE HERON found at the Princess Anne WMA-Whitehurst Tract in
Virginia Beach, VA on March 24, and a TRICOLORED HERON spotted at
Assateague I. NS-Bayside Peninsula in Worcester Co, MD on March 20 and
Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA on March 24. A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON
was spotted among the BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS at Baker Park in
Frederick Co, MD on March 20, 22 and 25.
On March 23 an estimated 100 WHITE IBIS were photographed in flight
along Riley Roberts Road at Deal Island WMA in Somerset Co, MD. A
single GLOSSY IBIS was reported at Tanyard Marsh in Caroline Co, MD on
March 24.
During the week the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries
announced that a pair of RED-COCKADED WOODPECKERS has moved into Big
Woods WMA in Sussex Co, VA, which is the first documented occurrence
of this species at this location and a major landmark in the DGIF's
efforts to protect this federally endangered species in Virginia. Both
banded birds originated from The Nature Conservancy's Piney Grove
Preserve, which borders Big Woods WMA.
On March 25 a banded LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen again along
Cartersville Road in Cumberland Co, VA. On March 19 a NORTHERN SHRIKE
was photographed by a private pond near the curve in Peat Moss Road in
Garrett Co, MD, and on March 24 a NORTHERN SHRIKE was well
photographed and banded at the Chester River Field Research Station in
Chestertown, Kent Co, MD, which was only the fourth time this species
has been banded there.
Early swallows included a single PURPLE MARTIN as far north as Oxbow
Lake in Anne Arundel Co, MD on March 22.
A wintering SEDGE WREN at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center
(Horsehead) in Queen Anne's Co, MD was seen most recently on March 19.
A wintering MARSH WREN at Rattlesnake Spring at Blandy Experimental
Farm/State Arboretum of Virginia in Clarke Co, VA was seen most
recently on March 25.
In addition to early migrants as far north as Patuxent Research
Refuge-North Tract in Anne Arundel Co, MD, a likely wintering
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen again at Ancarrow's Landing in
Richmond, VA on March 23.
On March 19 a continuing EVENING GROSBEAK was seen at feeders at 18108
Vernon Estates Drive SE in Allegany Co, MD and a private location in
Howard Co, MD. In Virginia, several continuing EVENING GROSBEAKS
visited feeders at a private location near Union Springs Hollow Lake
in Dayton, Rockingham Co on March 20, 23 and 24 and at 44 Longview
Drive in Bath Co on March 21.
On March 20 a LAPLAND LONGSPUR and a SNOW BUNTING were spotted among
the HORNED LARKS in a field along Savannah Road a short distance north
of the intersection with Silver Leaf Lane in Kent Co, DE, which were
the only reports of either species in the reporting area during the
week.
Sightings of AMERICAN TREE SPARROW during the week outside of Garrett
Co, MD included continuing individuals at Blandy Experimental
Farm/State Arboretum of Virginia in Clarke Co, VA on March 19 and
Occoquan Bay NWR in Prince William Co, VA on March 25, and two
individuals at Pennyfield Lock on the C & O Canal in Montgomery Co, MD
on March 19 and 23. Noteworthy sparrows during the week also included
a VESPER SPARROW photographed near a large pond along Route 761 in
Campbell Co, VA on March 20, and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW photographed at
CCBC Catonsville in Baltimore Co, MD on March 22 and 24 and the
Princess Anne WMA-Whitehurst Tract in Virginia Beach, VA on March 24.
A continuing EASTERN MEADOWLARK was seen at Kenilworth Park in
Washington, DC on March 23 and 25.
A continuing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen at the Chesapeake Bay
Environmental Center (Horsehead) in Queen Anne's Co, MD on March 19
and Cromwell Valley Park in Baltimore Co, MD on March 19 and 25. A
continuing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in
Washington, DC was seen most recently on March 24. Sightings of
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER in Virginia during the week included two
individuals at Hog Island WMA in Surry Co on March 23 and single
individuals at the 85th Street beach in Virginia Beach on March 19,
Princess Anne WMA-Whitehurst Tract in Virginia Beach on March 24 and
Route 40 near the crossing with the Nottoway River in Sussex Co on
March 25.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER that has been seen infrequently at Great
Neck Estates in Virginia Beach, VA since January was seen again on
March 22. A continuing NASHVILLE WARBLER was seen at the Clark
Yard-Windsor Point in Norfolk, VA on March 24. Early arriving
migratory warblers included a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH as far north as
Great Falls NP in Fairfax Co, VA on March 24.
A continuing male PAINTED BUNTING was most recently seen visiting
private feeders near Summer Walk Pond in Hanover Co, VA on March 20
and at a private, undisclosed location in Jefferson Co, WV on March
24.
A continuing DICKCISSEL was last seen visiting a feeder at 4855
Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC on March 19.
***
This week's report was based on reports on the DE, MD, VA and WV list
servers, eBird records, various birding pages on Facebook and
submissions to ANS.
The Audubon Sanctuary Shop (301-652-3606,
https://anshome.org/naturalist-shop)is an excellent source for
guidebooks and many other nature-related titles.
To report bird sightings, e-mail your report to voice@xxxxxxxxxxx.
Please post reports before midnight Monday, identify the county as
well as the state, and include your name and a Tuesday morning
contact, e-mail or phone.
Thank you for your interest, and enjoy the birds.
*Of interest to the applicable state records committee
