Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 5/9/2006
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email): voice@AudubonNaturalist.org
(deadline): midnight Mondays
Compiler: Lydia Schindler
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle (scordle@capaccess.org)
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 prepared Tuesday, May 9, at 8 pm.
Top birds this week are TRUMPETER SWAN in MD, ANHINGA and MISSISSIPPI
KITE in VA, RUFF in MD, BEWICK'S WREN in VA, SEDGE WREN in DC, VA, and
MD, and CLAY-COLORED SPARROW in VA.
Other birds of interest include NORTHERN BOBWHITE, BROWN PELICAN,
AMERICAN BITTERN, herons, COMMON MOORHEN, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK,
shorebirds, BLACK TERN, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, WILLOW
and LEAST FLYCATCHERS, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, COMMON RAVEN, RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH, MARSH WREN, GRAY-CHEEKED and SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, AMERICAN
PIPIT, warblers, sparrows, DICKCISSEL, BOBOLINK, WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILL, and PINE SISKIN.
TRUMPETER SWANS, both banded, were found at two sites in Maryland. On
May 2, one was still present at Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro,
Prince George's Co. On May 4, a different bird showed up in St. Mary's
Co, at the head of Indian Creek, near Benedict.
An ANHINGA was reported May 4 in Arlington, VA, circling over the
Ballston Metro stop.
On May 6, a MISSISSIPPI KITE was hawking insects over the wetlands at
Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA.
The female RUFF at Pickering Creek Nature Center, Talbot Co, MD, was
seen again around 4 pm on May 6.
A BEWICK'S WREN was discovered May 7 along Cockpit Point Rd, Prince
William Co, VA; it was at the bottom of the hill near a small pond on
the left.
A SEDGE WREN was an exceptional find in DC on May 5, when it gave
excellent, all-around looks to birders at the maintenance yard in Rock
Creek Park, NW DC. That same day a SEDGE WREN was seen at along Haul
Rd at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co. And a SEDGE WREN kicked up from the
grasses at Pickering Creek, along the mowed trail between the parking
lot and the viewing platform.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was discovered May 6 at Sky Meadows SP,
Fauquier Co, VA; it was seen from the Bridle Trail parking lot.
NORTHERN BOBWHITE was heard in the meadow at Riverbend Park, Fairfax
Co, on May 4. BOBWHITES were also in evidence at Occoquan Bay NWR,
Prince William Co, on May 6 and 7.
Four BROWN PELICANS were found at Hooper's Island, Dorchester Co, MD,
May 6.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen at close range as it flew by the end of
the boardwalk at Dyke Marsh on May 7.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was found May 6 at the north end of Veterans Park,
Prince William Co. A TRICOLORED HERON and a GLOSSY IBIS were present
May 6 at Elliot Island, Dorchester Co.
Another YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON nest was reported from Folly Lick
Stream Park, Fairfax Co, on May 2.
The hawk watch at Fort Smallwood, Anne Arundel Co, MD, tallied 138
migrating SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS on May 3.
COMMON MOORHEN was again seen at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD, on
May 2 and 9. A COMMON MOORHEN was found May 4 at Southwest Area Park,
Baltimore; it was in the large pond on the right side of the road.
On May 5, a PIPING PLOVER showed up at Flag Ponds Park, Calvert Co,
MD; this very unusual visitor was seen just north of the nuclear power
plant. On May 5, a PIPING PLOVER was seen in the southernmost section
of Assateague Island, Worcester Co, MD; the area also held 60
WHIMBREL.
Three BLACK-NECKED STILTS discovered May 5 were a first for Pickering
Creek; at least one was still there May 7. At least 10 BLACK-NECKED
STILTS were found on Elliott Island May 6.
BLACK TERNS--2, followed by 3 more--winged up the Potomac River past
Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co, on the afternoon of May 8.
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS showed up at a variety of locales, including, in
DC, Rock Creek Park May 3 and 7; Ft Bayard Park May 6; and the back
section of Kenilworth Park May 6. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS were also noted
in Fairfax Co, at Difficult Run SVP May 6 and Lake Accotink Park May
7. One was found at Patuxent Research Refuge/North Tract, Anne Arundel
Co.
COMMON NIGHTHAWKS arrived back in the Tyson's Corner area of Fairfax
Co, on May 5; the birds favor skies over the illuminated buildings on
Gallows Rd at Boone Blvd
near Leesburg Pike.
WILLOW FLYCATCHERS were sighted at the north pond at Occoquan Bay NWR,
Prince William Co, on May 6, and at Blue Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery
Co, May 7. A LEAST FLYCATCHER was reported from a yard in Rockville,
Montgomery Co, on May 5.
One or perhaps two LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES were again seen at Sky Meadows
SP, Fauquier Co, VA, on the east side, on May 6; fields here also
held nice variety of warblers and a BOBOLINK.
A COMMON RAVEN made an uncommon appearance in Howard Co, MD, on May 6,
when one flew over Marriottsville Rd.
A few RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES linger; reports came May 6 from Soldiers
Delight NA, Baltimore Co, and Patterson Park, Baltimore, as well as a
yard in Bethesda, Montgomery Co, on May 9.
A MARSH WREN was spotted at Lilypons Water Gardens, Frederick Co, MD,
May 9.
A GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was seen May 7 at Seneca Creek SP, Montgomery
Co; it was in the "Oriole" picnic area. SWAINSON'S THRUSH appeared at
Middle Patuxent EA, Howard Co, on May 3, Leesylvania SP, Prince
William Co, May 6, and a yard in Darnestown, Montgomery Co, May 7.
Two AMERICAN PIPITS were found May 6 at the pond at the soccerplex in
Germantown, Montgomery Co. An AMERICAN PIPIT was seen near sunset May
6 at Huntley Meadows. Some 20 AMERICAN PIPITS were found May 3 at
Selby Landing, on the Prince George's side of Jug Bay.
Warbler highlights this week included GOLDEN-WINGED at Rock Creek Park
May 4, Upton Hill Park in Arlington May 6, and in DC on the northwest
side of the Capitol May 7. A BREWSTER'S WARBLER was found at Rock
Creek May 7. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER visited Upper Watts Branch Park,
Rockville, May 2, while a yard in Beltsville, Prince George's Co, drew
both GOLDEN-WINGED and ORANGE-CROWNED May 2.
CERULEAN WARBLERS were again found along the C&O Canal in Montgomery
Co: above Pennyfield Lock, in the woods between the second impoundment
and the power line cut, and near MP 27, downstream from Sycamore
Landing Rd. Seven CERULEANS were reported from Susquehanna SP, Harford
Co, MD, on May 7, and an estimated 25 to 30 CERULEANS flooded the
trillium-blanketed hills at the Thompson WMA in western Fauquier Co on
May 5.
A MOURNING WARBLER was up and singing in a yard in Kent Co, MD, May 5.
There were also a sprinkling of CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKBURNIAN,
WILSON'S, and CANADA WARBLERS.
The annual VSO meeting, which took place last weekend in far
southwestern VA at the Breaks Interstate Park, Buchanan Co, tallied 29
species of warbler, including SWAINSON'S WARBLER as well as
GOLDEN-WINGED and CERULEAN.
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were seen at several locations: May 5, 6, and 7 at
Rock Creek Park; May 6 at Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore Co; and, in
Fairfax Co on May 6, Difficult Run SVP; Sully Woods off Pleasant
Valley Rd; and Bull Run RP.
A DICKCISSEL was spotted May 5 in the District; it was in the polo
fields just north of the FDR Memorial. These fields also held 8
sparrow species, including GRASSHOPPER and WHITE-CROWNED.
BOBOLINKS delighted birders at a variety of locations--a yard in
Queenstown, Queen Anne's Co, MD; a neighborhood in Hampstead, Carroll
Co, MD; the Ft Smallwood hawk watch; Patuxent/North Tract, at the
beginning of Lake Allen; the intersection of Montevideo and Sugarland
Rds, Montgomery Co. Two to three dozen BOBOLINKS visited Lake
Artemesia in Greenbelt, Prince George's Co, on May 5. But it is the
upper Northern Neck of VA that takes the prize: on May 7, at least 400
BOBOLINKS were cavorting in a wheat field at Muse Farm, near
Leedstown, Westmoreland Co.
A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL visited a niger feeder in Spotsylvania, VA,
on May 5.
A PINE SISKIN visited a feeder in Bethesda, Montgomery Co, on May 5.
On May 2, a PINE SISKIN flew over the Taft Bridge on Connecticut Ave,
NW DC, amid a flock of goldfinches.
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 of 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@AudubonNaturalist.org. But no big photo files, please. You may
also report by calling 301-652-1088 and selecting 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 either the MD/DC Records Committee
(www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html) or the VA Records Committee
(www.virginiabirds.org)
Date: 5/9/2006
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email): voice@AudubonNaturalist.org
(deadline): midnight Mondays
Compiler: Lydia Schindler
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle (scordle@capaccess.org)
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 prepared Tuesday, May 9, at 8 pm.
Top birds this week are TRUMPETER SWAN in MD, ANHINGA and MISSISSIPPI
KITE in VA, RUFF in MD, BEWICK'S WREN in VA, SEDGE WREN in DC, VA, and
MD, and CLAY-COLORED SPARROW in VA.
Other birds of interest include NORTHERN BOBWHITE, BROWN PELICAN,
AMERICAN BITTERN, herons, COMMON MOORHEN, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK,
shorebirds, BLACK TERN, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, WILLOW
and LEAST FLYCATCHERS, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, COMMON RAVEN, RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH, MARSH WREN, GRAY-CHEEKED and SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, AMERICAN
PIPIT, warblers, sparrows, DICKCISSEL, BOBOLINK, WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILL, and PINE SISKIN.
TRUMPETER SWANS, both banded, were found at two sites in Maryland. On
May 2, one was still present at Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro,
Prince George's Co. On May 4, a different bird showed up in St. Mary's
Co, at the head of Indian Creek, near Benedict.
An ANHINGA was reported May 4 in Arlington, VA, circling over the
Ballston Metro stop.
On May 6, a MISSISSIPPI KITE was hawking insects over the wetlands at
Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA.
The female RUFF at Pickering Creek Nature Center, Talbot Co, MD, was
seen again around 4 pm on May 6.
A BEWICK'S WREN was discovered May 7 along Cockpit Point Rd, Prince
William Co, VA; it was at the bottom of the hill near a small pond on
the left.
A SEDGE WREN was an exceptional find in DC on May 5, when it gave
excellent, all-around looks to birders at the maintenance yard in Rock
Creek Park, NW DC. That same day a SEDGE WREN was seen at along Haul
Rd at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co. And a SEDGE WREN kicked up from the
grasses at Pickering Creek, along the mowed trail between the parking
lot and the viewing platform.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was discovered May 6 at Sky Meadows SP,
Fauquier Co, VA; it was seen from the Bridle Trail parking lot.
NORTHERN BOBWHITE was heard in the meadow at Riverbend Park, Fairfax
Co, on May 4. BOBWHITES were also in evidence at Occoquan Bay NWR,
Prince William Co, on May 6 and 7.
Four BROWN PELICANS were found at Hooper's Island, Dorchester Co, MD,
May 6.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen at close range as it flew by the end of
the boardwalk at Dyke Marsh on May 7.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was found May 6 at the north end of Veterans Park,
Prince William Co. A TRICOLORED HERON and a GLOSSY IBIS were present
May 6 at Elliot Island, Dorchester Co.
Another YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON nest was reported from Folly Lick
Stream Park, Fairfax Co, on May 2.
The hawk watch at Fort Smallwood, Anne Arundel Co, MD, tallied 138
migrating SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS on May 3.
COMMON MOORHEN was again seen at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD, on
May 2 and 9. A COMMON MOORHEN was found May 4 at Southwest Area Park,
Baltimore; it was in the large pond on the right side of the road.
On May 5, a PIPING PLOVER showed up at Flag Ponds Park, Calvert Co,
MD; this very unusual visitor was seen just north of the nuclear power
plant. On May 5, a PIPING PLOVER was seen in the southernmost section
of Assateague Island, Worcester Co, MD; the area also held 60
WHIMBREL.
Three BLACK-NECKED STILTS discovered May 5 were a first for Pickering
Creek; at least one was still there May 7. At least 10 BLACK-NECKED
STILTS were found on Elliott Island May 6.
BLACK TERNS--2, followed by 3 more--winged up the Potomac River past
Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co, on the afternoon of May 8.
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS showed up at a variety of locales, including, in
DC, Rock Creek Park May 3 and 7; Ft Bayard Park May 6; and the back
section of Kenilworth Park May 6. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS were also noted
in Fairfax Co, at Difficult Run SVP May 6 and Lake Accotink Park May
7. One was found at Patuxent Research Refuge/North Tract, Anne Arundel
Co.
COMMON NIGHTHAWKS arrived back in the Tyson's Corner area of Fairfax
Co, on May 5; the birds favor skies over the illuminated buildings on
Gallows Rd at Boone Blvd
near Leesburg Pike.
WILLOW FLYCATCHERS were sighted at the north pond at Occoquan Bay NWR,
Prince William Co, on May 6, and at Blue Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery
Co, May 7. A LEAST FLYCATCHER was reported from a yard in Rockville,
Montgomery Co, on May 5.
One or perhaps two LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES were again seen at Sky Meadows
SP, Fauquier Co, VA, on the east side, on May 6; fields here also
held nice variety of warblers and a BOBOLINK.
A COMMON RAVEN made an uncommon appearance in Howard Co, MD, on May 6,
when one flew over Marriottsville Rd.
A few RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES linger; reports came May 6 from Soldiers
Delight NA, Baltimore Co, and Patterson Park, Baltimore, as well as a
yard in Bethesda, Montgomery Co, on May 9.
A MARSH WREN was spotted at Lilypons Water Gardens, Frederick Co, MD,
May 9.
A GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was seen May 7 at Seneca Creek SP, Montgomery
Co; it was in the "Oriole" picnic area. SWAINSON'S THRUSH appeared at
Middle Patuxent EA, Howard Co, on May 3, Leesylvania SP, Prince
William Co, May 6, and a yard in Darnestown, Montgomery Co, May 7.
Two AMERICAN PIPITS were found May 6 at the pond at the soccerplex in
Germantown, Montgomery Co. An AMERICAN PIPIT was seen near sunset May
6 at Huntley Meadows. Some 20 AMERICAN PIPITS were found May 3 at
Selby Landing, on the Prince George's side of Jug Bay.
Warbler highlights this week included GOLDEN-WINGED at Rock Creek Park
May 4, Upton Hill Park in Arlington May 6, and in DC on the northwest
side of the Capitol May 7. A BREWSTER'S WARBLER was found at Rock
Creek May 7. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER visited Upper Watts Branch Park,
Rockville, May 2, while a yard in Beltsville, Prince George's Co, drew
both GOLDEN-WINGED and ORANGE-CROWNED May 2.
CERULEAN WARBLERS were again found along the C&O Canal in Montgomery
Co: above Pennyfield Lock, in the woods between the second impoundment
and the power line cut, and near MP 27, downstream from Sycamore
Landing Rd. Seven CERULEANS were reported from Susquehanna SP, Harford
Co, MD, on May 7, and an estimated 25 to 30 CERULEANS flooded the
trillium-blanketed hills at the Thompson WMA in western Fauquier Co on
May 5.
A MOURNING WARBLER was up and singing in a yard in Kent Co, MD, May 5.
There were also a sprinkling of CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKBURNIAN,
WILSON'S, and CANADA WARBLERS.
The annual VSO meeting, which took place last weekend in far
southwestern VA at the Breaks Interstate Park, Buchanan Co, tallied 29
species of warbler, including SWAINSON'S WARBLER as well as
GOLDEN-WINGED and CERULEAN.
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were seen at several locations: May 5, 6, and 7 at
Rock Creek Park; May 6 at Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore Co; and, in
Fairfax Co on May 6, Difficult Run SVP; Sully Woods off Pleasant
Valley Rd; and Bull Run RP.
A DICKCISSEL was spotted May 5 in the District; it was in the polo
fields just north of the FDR Memorial. These fields also held 8
sparrow species, including GRASSHOPPER and WHITE-CROWNED.
BOBOLINKS delighted birders at a variety of locations--a yard in
Queenstown, Queen Anne's Co, MD; a neighborhood in Hampstead, Carroll
Co, MD; the Ft Smallwood hawk watch; Patuxent/North Tract, at the
beginning of Lake Allen; the intersection of Montevideo and Sugarland
Rds, Montgomery Co. Two to three dozen BOBOLINKS visited Lake
Artemesia in Greenbelt, Prince George's Co, on May 5. But it is the
upper Northern Neck of VA that takes the prize: on May 7, at least 400
BOBOLINKS were cavorting in a wheat field at Muse Farm, near
Leedstown, Westmoreland Co.
A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL visited a niger feeder in Spotsylvania, VA,
on May 5.
A PINE SISKIN visited a feeder in Bethesda, Montgomery Co, on May 5.
On May 2, a PINE SISKIN flew over the Taft Bridge on Connecticut Ave,
NW DC, amid a flock of goldfinches.
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 of 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@AudubonNaturalist.org. But no big photo files, please. You may
also report by calling 301-652-1088 and selecting 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 either the MD/DC Records Committee
(www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html) or the VA Records Committee
(www.virginiabirds.org)