Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 4/24/2007
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 completed at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday,
April 24.
Top bird this week is PAINTED BUNTING* in MD.
Other birds of interest include WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RED-NECKED GREBE,
herons, GOLDEN EAGLE, AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER and RUFF, EURASIAN
COLLARED-DOVE, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, terns, COMMON RAVEN, RED-HEADED
NUTHATCH, warblers, sparrows, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and RED CROSSBILL.
A PAINTED BUNTING was seen and heard singing outside the Prince
George's County Administration Building in Upper Marlboro on April 20.
It was in the hollies in the courtyard on the Courthouse side of the
building but then flew over to the evergreen hedgerow by the Library.
In spite of several attempts since then it has not been relocated.
A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was again seen on Piney Run Reservoir, Carroll
Co, MD with reports from April 17 and 18.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was still present the evening of April 17 on
Triadelphia Reservoir, Montgomery Co, MD. On April 21 there was a
single RED-NECKED GREBE at Piney Run Park and three at Liberty Lake,
both in Carroll Co, MD.
AMERICAN BITTERNS were reported from several locations last week
including a report from Glen Falls/North Liberty Lake, Carroll Co, MD
on April 17 and Blue Mash, Montgomery Co, MD on April 21.
BLACK-CROWNED and YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were also reported in
several locations throughout the area last week.
There were reports of several mature and immature GOLDEN EAGLES in
Highland Co, VA on April 20 and April 21.
KING RAILS were seen and heard at the Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William
Co, VA on April 21 and VIRGINIA RAILS were reported from several
locations throughout the area. SORAS continued to be seen at Hughes
Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD with reports from April 17 and 23; there was
also a report of a SORA on April 21 from the Occoquan Bay NWR. A
COMMON MOORHEN was reported April 19 and 21 at Piney Run Lake, Carroll
Co, MD. A COMMON MOORHEN was also found at the Dutch Gap Conservation
Area, Chesterfield Co, VA on April 20. And on April 21 there was one
in the marsh along Charlie Rd in the Occoquan Bay NWR and another at
Lilypons, Frederick Co, MD on the 21st and 22nd.
An AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER and a RUFF were found, along with numerous
other shorebirds, in a flooded field at the intersection of Lewistown
Rd and Covey's Landing Rd in the northeast corner of Talbot Co, MD on
April 21.
A GULL-BILLED TERN was resting, probably as a result of last week's
huge storm, along Hwy 13 near Eastville, Northampton Co, VA the
morning of April 17. A COMMON TERN was seen April 21 over Quantico
Creek, Prince William Co, VA.
On April 22 a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was found on Lapidum Rd. in
Harford Co, MD. It was on a wire between Foley and Morrison Rds and
flew off into the River Hills community.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD
on April 22.
A COMMON RAVEN was observed on April 17 near the intersection of Rte
97 and 650 in Montgomery Co, MD.
After a winter with almost no RED-HEADED NUTHATCH sightings there were
two last week, one on April 21 along Line Rd, Caroline Co, MD, and
another on April 22 in a yard in Bowie, Prince George's Co, MD.
There was an increase in warbler sightings last week with over 20
warbler species reported. Most of the sightings occurred at locations
where they are usually seen in large numbers during migration such as
Monticello Park in Alexandria, VA, Leesylvania SP, Prince William Co,
VA, Little Bennett Regional Park, along the C&O Canal in Montgomery
Co, MD, and the Dismal Swamp in southeastern VA. Warblers were also
spotted in some pretty unusual spots such as a singing YELLOW WARBLER
in the courtyard between the DC Police HQ and the DC Superior
Courthouse on April 18. The sightings included PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS
at several locations including Riley's Lock in Montgomery Co, MD and
the Monocacy Aqueduct, both on the C&O Canal, as well as Huntley
Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA.
A SWAINSON'S WARBLER was found along the Jericho Ditch in the Great
Dismal Swamp on April 20 south of the parking lot and about 40 yards
north of the picnic table.
Two VESPER SPARROWS were seen April 19 in Oregon Ridge Park in
Baltimore Co, MD. Two were also found April 21 at the Occoquan Bay
NWR. On April 20 a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was found at the Compass
Pointe Golf Course in Anne Arundel Co, MD in the tall grass off of
Water Oak Point Rd. A FOX SPARROW was seen April 21 along Shearman's
Mill Trail, Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, VA.
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS continued to be found in wet, swampy areas around the
region with reports from Lake Artemisia, Prince George's Co, MD on
April 19 and from Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on April 22.
On April 21 there were four female and three male RED CROSSBILLS at a
feeder at the Bear Mountain Farm and Wilderness Retreat in Highland
Co, VA.
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 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@AudubonNaturalist.org. 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 the record committee.
Date: 4/24/2007
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 completed at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday,
April 24.
Top bird this week is PAINTED BUNTING* in MD.
Other birds of interest include WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RED-NECKED GREBE,
herons, GOLDEN EAGLE, AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER and RUFF, EURASIAN
COLLARED-DOVE, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, terns, COMMON RAVEN, RED-HEADED
NUTHATCH, warblers, sparrows, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and RED CROSSBILL.
A PAINTED BUNTING was seen and heard singing outside the Prince
George's County Administration Building in Upper Marlboro on April 20.
It was in the hollies in the courtyard on the Courthouse side of the
building but then flew over to the evergreen hedgerow by the Library.
In spite of several attempts since then it has not been relocated.
A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was again seen on Piney Run Reservoir, Carroll
Co, MD with reports from April 17 and 18.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was still present the evening of April 17 on
Triadelphia Reservoir, Montgomery Co, MD. On April 21 there was a
single RED-NECKED GREBE at Piney Run Park and three at Liberty Lake,
both in Carroll Co, MD.
AMERICAN BITTERNS were reported from several locations last week
including a report from Glen Falls/North Liberty Lake, Carroll Co, MD
on April 17 and Blue Mash, Montgomery Co, MD on April 21.
BLACK-CROWNED and YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were also reported in
several locations throughout the area last week.
There were reports of several mature and immature GOLDEN EAGLES in
Highland Co, VA on April 20 and April 21.
KING RAILS were seen and heard at the Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William
Co, VA on April 21 and VIRGINIA RAILS were reported from several
locations throughout the area. SORAS continued to be seen at Hughes
Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD with reports from April 17 and 23; there was
also a report of a SORA on April 21 from the Occoquan Bay NWR. A
COMMON MOORHEN was reported April 19 and 21 at Piney Run Lake, Carroll
Co, MD. A COMMON MOORHEN was also found at the Dutch Gap Conservation
Area, Chesterfield Co, VA on April 20. And on April 21 there was one
in the marsh along Charlie Rd in the Occoquan Bay NWR and another at
Lilypons, Frederick Co, MD on the 21st and 22nd.
An AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER and a RUFF were found, along with numerous
other shorebirds, in a flooded field at the intersection of Lewistown
Rd and Covey's Landing Rd in the northeast corner of Talbot Co, MD on
April 21.
A GULL-BILLED TERN was resting, probably as a result of last week's
huge storm, along Hwy 13 near Eastville, Northampton Co, VA the
morning of April 17. A COMMON TERN was seen April 21 over Quantico
Creek, Prince William Co, VA.
On April 22 a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was found on Lapidum Rd. in
Harford Co, MD. It was on a wire between Foley and Morrison Rds and
flew off into the River Hills community.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD
on April 22.
A COMMON RAVEN was observed on April 17 near the intersection of Rte
97 and 650 in Montgomery Co, MD.
After a winter with almost no RED-HEADED NUTHATCH sightings there were
two last week, one on April 21 along Line Rd, Caroline Co, MD, and
another on April 22 in a yard in Bowie, Prince George's Co, MD.
There was an increase in warbler sightings last week with over 20
warbler species reported. Most of the sightings occurred at locations
where they are usually seen in large numbers during migration such as
Monticello Park in Alexandria, VA, Leesylvania SP, Prince William Co,
VA, Little Bennett Regional Park, along the C&O Canal in Montgomery
Co, MD, and the Dismal Swamp in southeastern VA. Warblers were also
spotted in some pretty unusual spots such as a singing YELLOW WARBLER
in the courtyard between the DC Police HQ and the DC Superior
Courthouse on April 18. The sightings included PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS
at several locations including Riley's Lock in Montgomery Co, MD and
the Monocacy Aqueduct, both on the C&O Canal, as well as Huntley
Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA.
A SWAINSON'S WARBLER was found along the Jericho Ditch in the Great
Dismal Swamp on April 20 south of the parking lot and about 40 yards
north of the picnic table.
Two VESPER SPARROWS were seen April 19 in Oregon Ridge Park in
Baltimore Co, MD. Two were also found April 21 at the Occoquan Bay
NWR. On April 20 a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was found at the Compass
Pointe Golf Course in Anne Arundel Co, MD in the tall grass off of
Water Oak Point Rd. A FOX SPARROW was seen April 21 along Shearman's
Mill Trail, Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, VA.
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS continued to be found in wet, swampy areas around the
region with reports from Lake Artemisia, Prince George's Co, MD on
April 19 and from Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on April 22.
On April 21 there were four female and three male RED CROSSBILLS at a
feeder at the Bear Mountain Farm and Wilderness Retreat in Highland
Co, VA.
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 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@AudubonNaturalist.org. 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 the record committee.