Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 5/30/2006
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: Joe Coleman
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 30, at 9:30
pm.
Top birds this week are WESTERN GREBE in Delaware, frigatebird in VA,
MISSISSIPPI KITE in VA, and WESTERN KINGBIRD in MD.
Other birds of interest include ANHINGA, AMERICAN and LEAST BITTERN,
VIRGINIA RAIL, COMMON MOORHEN, shorebirds, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO,
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW, WHIP-POOR-WILL, OLIVE-SIDED, YELLOW-BELLIED, and
ALDER FLYCATCHERS, BICKNELL'S THRUSH, warblers, NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED
and LINCOLN'S SPARROW, BOBOLINK, and RED CROSSBILLS.
A WESTERN GREBE has been observed for the last three days at Battery
Park in the Delaware River at the end of Delaware St in New Castle,
DE.
On May 26, a male frigatebird, presumably a Magnificent, but not
positively identified to species, was seen on a lamppost on the
southbound lanes of Rte 13 on Fisherman Island, Northampton Co, VA on
May 26. It was not relocated later.
MISSISSIPPI KITES were seen again in the Waynewood neighborhood of
eastern Fairfax Co, VA, with reports from May 24 and 26. On May 27 a
pair of MISSISSIPPI KITES near Branchville in Southampton Co, VA
appeared to be using the same nest as last year.
The WESTERN KINGBIRD at Ft. McHenry National Monument, Baltimore, MD
was seen again on May 25. A possible WESTERN KINGBIRD was reported at
Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on May 29.
There were a couple of reports of ANHINGAS in southeastern Virginia
over the weekend, with one found May 27 at Bellyache Swamp (on Rte 661
between Rte 652 and Rte 653), another on the 28th in Virginia Beach
north of the bridge on Nanney's Creek Rd just west of the intersection
with Mill Landing Rd (near C6 on pg 35 of the DeLorme Atlas), and two
were seen the same day at Stumpy Lake in VA Beach.
A LEAST BITTERN was spotted on May 25 at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, MD.
A LEAST BITTERN and a COMMON MOORHEN were seen at Hughes Hollow,
Montgomery Co, MD on May 24. An AMERICAN and a LEAST BITTERN along
with a COMMON MOORHEN were seen there on May 28.
VIRGINIA RAILS were reported from Dyer Rd in Caroline Co, MD on May 24
and from the Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project, Loudoun Co,
VA on May 28 and May 29.
Two COMMON MOORHENS were found May 26 at the Little Patuxent Oxbow
Lake Nature Preserve, Anne Arundel Co, MD.
The shorebird migration continued this week with the greatest activity
in Delaware. Two WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were present at Huntley
Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on May 27. There were many WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPERS at Port Mahon and Taylor's Gut, DE, on May 28. Also at Port
Mahon Road, DE on the 28th were as many as 150 RED KNOTS. About a
1,000 RED KNOTS were seen in the Mispillon Lighthouse, DE, area the
same day. A STILT SANDPIPER and a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER were seen at
Great Oak Pond near Melitota, Kent Co, MD on May 27.
A RUFF was found at Taylor's Gut, DE on May 28.
A WILSON'S PHALAROPE was seen at the PPG ponds in Cumberland, Allegany
Co, MD, on May 23 along with several other shorebirds including a
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was seen on May 28 at
the far end of Shearness Pond, Bombay Hook NWR, DE.
A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was seen May 28 in the picnic area at the Great
Falls NP, Fairfax Co, VA.
A CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW and 3 or 4 WHIP-POOR-WILLS were heard early on
the morning of May 28, on Breckinridge Rd by Prince William Forest NP,
Prince William Co, VA. WHIP-POOR-WILLS were also reported on May 24
from County End Rd and Dead End Rd in Caroline Co, MD.
An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen at Monticello Park, Alexandria, VA
on May 24. One was also seen at Mt. Nebo WMA, Garrett Co, MD on May
27. Another OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen at the Blandy Experimental
Farm, Clarke Co, VA on May 29. Another OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was also
reported from Garrett Co, MD over the weekend.
A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was reported from Lake Roland, Baltimore
Co, MD on May 23. Another was singing at Fort C. F. Smith Park,
Arlington Co, VA on May 27. And on May 29, one was also reported from
Little Bennett Regional Park, Montgomery Co, MD.
ALDER FLYCATCHERS were reported from several locations, including one
May 24 and May 26, along River Rd, between Hughes Rd and Sycamore
Landing Rd, Montgomery Co, MD. Another was reported the same day from
Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA and still another at the Raymond Pool Tower
at Bombay Hook NWR, DE on May 28. There was also one on May 28 in
Lynchburg, VA and from Finzel Swamp, Garrett Co, MD.
A BICKNELL'S THRUSH was heard at Rock Creek Park on May 27.
While warbler sightings decreased some during the past week, 32
species were observed during the week. The highlights included a
GOLDEN-WINGED at the Rock Creek Park Maintenance Yard on May 23 and
several reports of MOURNING WARBLERS. The MOURNING WARBLER sightings
included one on May 23 at the Rock Creek Park Maintenance Yard,
another the same day at the National Arboretum, NE DC, one at
Violette's Lock, C&O Canal National Historical Park, Montgomery Co, MD
on May 24, and one at Monticello Park the same day.
Locations with double-digit warbler species included Little Bennett
Regional Park, Fort McHenry, Lake Roland, Monticello Park, Leesylvania
SP, Prince William Co, VA, Rock Creek Park, and Prince William Forest
Park, Prince William Co, VA.
Two NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS were reported from Swan Harbor,
Harford Co, MD on May 26.
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were again seen at several locations last week,
including the Rock Creek Park Maintenance Yard and North Point SP,
Baltimore Co, MD.
Male and female BOBOLINKS, some of them possibly nesting, were
reported from several locations last week. They were seen on Ebenezer
Church Rd in western Loudoun Co, VA throughout the week and from
Harrison Rd in northern Fauquier Co, VA on May 24 and May 28. On May
26 a female BOBOLINK was seen at Fort C. F. Smith Park.
Two RED CROSSBILLS, a male and a female, were seen at a feeder at Bear
Mountain Farm, Highland Co, VA on May 28.
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
Date: 5/30/2006
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: Joe Coleman
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 30, at 9:30
pm.
Top birds this week are WESTERN GREBE in Delaware, frigatebird in VA,
MISSISSIPPI KITE in VA, and WESTERN KINGBIRD in MD.
Other birds of interest include ANHINGA, AMERICAN and LEAST BITTERN,
VIRGINIA RAIL, COMMON MOORHEN, shorebirds, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO,
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW, WHIP-POOR-WILL, OLIVE-SIDED, YELLOW-BELLIED, and
ALDER FLYCATCHERS, BICKNELL'S THRUSH, warblers, NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED
and LINCOLN'S SPARROW, BOBOLINK, and RED CROSSBILLS.
A WESTERN GREBE has been observed for the last three days at Battery
Park in the Delaware River at the end of Delaware St in New Castle,
DE.
On May 26, a male frigatebird, presumably a Magnificent, but not
positively identified to species, was seen on a lamppost on the
southbound lanes of Rte 13 on Fisherman Island, Northampton Co, VA on
May 26. It was not relocated later.
MISSISSIPPI KITES were seen again in the Waynewood neighborhood of
eastern Fairfax Co, VA, with reports from May 24 and 26. On May 27 a
pair of MISSISSIPPI KITES near Branchville in Southampton Co, VA
appeared to be using the same nest as last year.
The WESTERN KINGBIRD at Ft. McHenry National Monument, Baltimore, MD
was seen again on May 25. A possible WESTERN KINGBIRD was reported at
Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on May 29.
There were a couple of reports of ANHINGAS in southeastern Virginia
over the weekend, with one found May 27 at Bellyache Swamp (on Rte 661
between Rte 652 and Rte 653), another on the 28th in Virginia Beach
north of the bridge on Nanney's Creek Rd just west of the intersection
with Mill Landing Rd (near C6 on pg 35 of the DeLorme Atlas), and two
were seen the same day at Stumpy Lake in VA Beach.
A LEAST BITTERN was spotted on May 25 at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, MD.
A LEAST BITTERN and a COMMON MOORHEN were seen at Hughes Hollow,
Montgomery Co, MD on May 24. An AMERICAN and a LEAST BITTERN along
with a COMMON MOORHEN were seen there on May 28.
VIRGINIA RAILS were reported from Dyer Rd in Caroline Co, MD on May 24
and from the Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project, Loudoun Co,
VA on May 28 and May 29.
Two COMMON MOORHENS were found May 26 at the Little Patuxent Oxbow
Lake Nature Preserve, Anne Arundel Co, MD.
The shorebird migration continued this week with the greatest activity
in Delaware. Two WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were present at Huntley
Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on May 27. There were many WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPERS at Port Mahon and Taylor's Gut, DE, on May 28. Also at Port
Mahon Road, DE on the 28th were as many as 150 RED KNOTS. About a
1,000 RED KNOTS were seen in the Mispillon Lighthouse, DE, area the
same day. A STILT SANDPIPER and a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER were seen at
Great Oak Pond near Melitota, Kent Co, MD on May 27.
A RUFF was found at Taylor's Gut, DE on May 28.
A WILSON'S PHALAROPE was seen at the PPG ponds in Cumberland, Allegany
Co, MD, on May 23 along with several other shorebirds including a
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was seen on May 28 at
the far end of Shearness Pond, Bombay Hook NWR, DE.
A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was seen May 28 in the picnic area at the Great
Falls NP, Fairfax Co, VA.
A CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW and 3 or 4 WHIP-POOR-WILLS were heard early on
the morning of May 28, on Breckinridge Rd by Prince William Forest NP,
Prince William Co, VA. WHIP-POOR-WILLS were also reported on May 24
from County End Rd and Dead End Rd in Caroline Co, MD.
An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen at Monticello Park, Alexandria, VA
on May 24. One was also seen at Mt. Nebo WMA, Garrett Co, MD on May
27. Another OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen at the Blandy Experimental
Farm, Clarke Co, VA on May 29. Another OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was also
reported from Garrett Co, MD over the weekend.
A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was reported from Lake Roland, Baltimore
Co, MD on May 23. Another was singing at Fort C. F. Smith Park,
Arlington Co, VA on May 27. And on May 29, one was also reported from
Little Bennett Regional Park, Montgomery Co, MD.
ALDER FLYCATCHERS were reported from several locations, including one
May 24 and May 26, along River Rd, between Hughes Rd and Sycamore
Landing Rd, Montgomery Co, MD. Another was reported the same day from
Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA and still another at the Raymond Pool Tower
at Bombay Hook NWR, DE on May 28. There was also one on May 28 in
Lynchburg, VA and from Finzel Swamp, Garrett Co, MD.
A BICKNELL'S THRUSH was heard at Rock Creek Park on May 27.
While warbler sightings decreased some during the past week, 32
species were observed during the week. The highlights included a
GOLDEN-WINGED at the Rock Creek Park Maintenance Yard on May 23 and
several reports of MOURNING WARBLERS. The MOURNING WARBLER sightings
included one on May 23 at the Rock Creek Park Maintenance Yard,
another the same day at the National Arboretum, NE DC, one at
Violette's Lock, C&O Canal National Historical Park, Montgomery Co, MD
on May 24, and one at Monticello Park the same day.
Locations with double-digit warbler species included Little Bennett
Regional Park, Fort McHenry, Lake Roland, Monticello Park, Leesylvania
SP, Prince William Co, VA, Rock Creek Park, and Prince William Forest
Park, Prince William Co, VA.
Two NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS were reported from Swan Harbor,
Harford Co, MD on May 26.
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were again seen at several locations last week,
including the Rock Creek Park Maintenance Yard and North Point SP,
Baltimore Co, MD.
Male and female BOBOLINKS, some of them possibly nesting, were
reported from several locations last week. They were seen on Ebenezer
Church Rd in western Loudoun Co, VA throughout the week and from
Harrison Rd in northern Fauquier Co, VA on May 24 and May 28. On May
26 a female BOBOLINK was seen at Fort C. F. Smith Park.
Two RED CROSSBILLS, a male and a female, were seen at a feeder at Bear
Mountain Farm, Highland Co, VA on May 28.
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