Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 11/10/09
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email):
voice@...
Compiler: Lou DeMouy
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the
Central Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle (
scordle@...)
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, Nov. 10, at
8:30 am.
Top birds this week are GREAT WHITE HERON* in DE, ANHINGA* in VA, and
WESTERN TANAGER* in VA.
Other birds of interest include RED-THROATED LOON, HORNED GREBE,
NORTHERN GANNET, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, TUNDRA SWAN, EURASIAN
WIGEON and other waterfowl, RUFFED GROUSE, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, GOLDEN
EAGLE, AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, PIPING PLOVER, HUDSONIAN GODWIT,
FRANKLIN'S GULL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, SEDGE WREN,
AMERICAN PIPIT, sparrows, RUSTY BLACKBIRD and BALTIMORE ORIOLE.
The GREAT WHITE HERON*, a white morph of the GREAT BLUE HERON,
previously reported on Nov 1 was observed again on Nov 3 and 7. It
has been on a small pond in Bethany Beach, DE located on Fred Hudson
Rd south of Indian River Inlet, 0.1 miles before the intersection with
Cedar Neck Rd.
An ANHINGA* was reported at Cavalier WMA in southern Chesapeake, VA on
Nov 8. Note that the WMA is open to non-hunters only on Sundays until
Nov 30.
A WESTERN TANAGER* was reported at the end of Shirley Plantation Rd
(SR608), Charles City Co, VA on Nov 8. Elsewhere, a late SUMMER
TANAGER was spotted on Nov 3 at Weyanoke Sanctuary, Norfolk, VA and a
late SCARLET TANAGER was reported at Abbott's Mill Nature Center,
Sussex Co, DE on Nov 3.
A RED-THROATED LOON showed at Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co, MD on Nov 8.
Three HORNED GREBES were at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA on
Nov 8.
NORTHERN GANNET reports have included at least 60 in the sky offshore
at Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD on Nov 7 and another 50 at Shady
Side, Anne Arundel Co, MD on Nov 7.
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was found at the Chestertown wastewater
treatment plant, Kent Co, MD on Nov 8. At least seven ROSS'S GEESE
were among an estimated 10,000 SNOW GEESE at Chincoteague NWR, VA on
Nov 7. Three CACKLING GEESE were at Cranberry Reservoir, Carroll Co,
MD on Nov 5. Reports of BRANT have come from many locations including
80 at Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD on Nov 7.
TUNDRA SWAN sightings included 73 flying over Oxford, Talbot Co, MD on
Nov 3 and five TUNDRA SWANS at Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co, MD on Nov 8.
Waterfowl of all types continue to grow in number. A EURASIAN WIGEON
was reported on Nov 7 at the West Ocean City Pond off of Golf Course
Rd, Worcester Co, MD. A COMMON EIDER was at the Ocean City Inlet,
Worcester Co, MD on Nov 7. Scoter reports included a SURF SCOTER at
Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co, MD on Nov 8, a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER at
Perryville Community Park, Cecil Co, MD on Nov 8 and 9, and a female
BLACK SCOTER at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA on Nov 8.
A RUFFED GROUSE was seen on the road at Dan's Rock, Allegany Co, MD on
Nov 7.
Two NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were reported from the Ashland Nature Center
Hawk Watch, New Castle Co, DE on Nov 4. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was
reported at the Harvey's Knob Hawk Watch, Botetourt Co, VA on Nov 7.
GOLDEN EAGLE sightings have occurred at many hawk watches including
five at Kiptopeke Hawk Watch, Northampton Co, VA on Nov 5. Elsewhere,
a single subadult GOLDEN EAGLE was reported flying over the National
Arboretum, Washington, DC, on Nov 7
An AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was at Kiptopeke SP, Northampton Co, VA on
Nov 7. A PIPING PLOVER was on the beach at Assateague Island SP, MD on
Nov 7.
The two HUDSONIAN GODWITS spotted previously at Blackwater NWR,
Dorchester Co, MD were seen again on November 3 but have not been
reported since that day. A MARBLED GODWIT was found at the Eagle's
Nest Campground, Worcester Co, MD on Nov 7. A PURPLE SANDPIPER was at
the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co, MD on Nov 7.
An adult FRANKLIN'S GULL was found on Schoolhouse Pond, Upper
Marlboro, Prince George's Co, MD on Nov 4, 5, and 6 amidst LAUGHING
GULLS, HERRING GULLS, and RING-BILLED GULLS. A BONAPARTE'S GULL was
seen at Assateague Island SP, Worcester Co, MD on Nov 7. Three LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS were on the beach at Chincoteague NWR, VA on Nov 8.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was in the western section of Stuarts Draft Park,
Augusta Co, VA on Nov 6.
A BLUE-HEADED VIREO was in the vicinity of Vessey Orchards Rd,
Somerset Co, MD on Nov 8.
A SEDGE WREN was found along the towpath just north of Violette's
Lock, Montgomery Co, MD on Nov 4. At least six SEDGE WRENS were at
Irish Grove, near Rumbly Point, Somerset Co, MD on Nov 6.
About 200 AMERICAN PIPITS were in a field on Keymar Rd north of Good
Intent Rd, Frederick Co, MD on Nov 7.
Sparrow reports are widespread. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found
Bayside, on the west side of the campground loop, Assateague Island
SP, Worcester Co, MD on Nov 7. A NELSON'S SPARROW and four SALTMARSH
SPARROWS were reported along Rumbly Point Road, Somerset Co, MD on Nov
7. A NELSON'S SPARROW was at Sands Road Park in Anne Arundel Co, MD on
Nov 9. A SALTMARSH SPARROW was reported at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA
on Nov 4. Seven FOX SPARROWS were seen in a field along Study Rd,
Westminster, Carroll Co, MD on Nov 5. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was at the
corner of Florence RD and Shaffersville RD, Howard Co, MD on Nov 8.
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS have been reported from various locations
across the region.
A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was seen among HORNED LARKS on Sixes Bridge Rd,
east of Keysville Rd, Carroll Co, MD on Nov 7.
RUSTY BLACKBIRD reports have come from many locations but usually in
small numbers. However, on Nov 9 there was a report of 145 RUSTY
BLACKBIRDS in the impoundment and swamp areas at McKee-Beshers WMA,
Montgomery Co, MD.
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was found in the vicinity of the hawk watch at Cape
Henlopen SP, Sussex Co, DE on Nov 4. Two BALTIMORE ORIOLES were
reported Bayside, Assateague Island SP, Worcester Co, MD on Nov 7.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey,
VA-Bird, and DE-Birds list servers.
The Audubon Sanctuary Shop (301-652-3606,
http://www.audubonnaturalist.org/default.asp?page=511) is an excellent
source for guidebooks and many other nature-related titles.
To report bird sightings, e-mail your report to
voice@... 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
For Birdeast archives, and to join, leave, or change address, see:
http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdeast.html
