The Voice for 18 May 99
BlkVulture@aol.com
Tue, 18 May 1999 14:56:47 EDT
Subj: [BIRDEAST] DC Area, 5/18/99
Date: 99-05-18 14:47:27 EDT
From: scordle@CAPACCESS.ORG (Steve Cordle)
Sender: BIRDEAST@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU (National Birding Hotline Cooperative
(East))
Reply-to: scordle@CAPACCESS.ORG
To: BIRDEAST@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 5/18/99
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(fax): 301-951-7179
(email): voice@capaccess.org
(deadline): midnight mondays
Compiler: Jane Hill
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle (scordle@capaccess.org)
!!Check www.sitesbysteve.com/nvbc/vguide.txt for guidelines
on reporting your sightings!!
This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the
Audubon Naturalist Society. This tape was made Tuesday, May
18, at 1:30 pm. Please consider joining ANS, especially if
you are a regular user of the Voice (Indiv.$30; Family $40;
Nature Steward $60; Audubon Advocate $100). The membership
number is above, the address is 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy
Chase, MD 20815, and the website is
http://www.AudubonNaturalist.org.
Top birds this week are: MISSISSIPPI KITE in VA;
MOURNING WARBLER in DC; WHITE-FACED IBIS and OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHER in MD; and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE in DE.
Other birds of interest include: COMMON LOON, LEAST
BITTERN, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, BLACK-NECKED STILT,
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, sandpipers,
WILSON'S PHALAROPE, BLACK TERN, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO,
nightjars, WILLOW and LEAST FLYCATCHERs, SEDGE WREN,
thrushes, vireos, warblers, BLUE and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKs,
sparrows, DICKCISSEL, BOBOLINK, orioles, and tanagers.
An adult WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen again southeast of
Snow Hill, Worcester Co, MD [DeLorme Pg 27, B4], 11-12 a.m.,
Fri, May 14. Directions: From Snow Hill, take MD Rt 12
south, and after crossing US Rt 113, go 1.8 miles and turn
left (east) on Cherrix Rd. After 1.3 miles, bear right on
Truitts Landing Rd (unmarked). After 1 mile, continue onto a
dirt road, which will lead through woods into a marsh. Look
for the bird in a flock of Glossy Ibises.
An adult MISSISSIPPI KITE was spotted flying over
Huntley Meadows Pk, Fairfax Co, VA, the morning of May 16.
It was seen again the following day, between about 7:30 and
9:00 a.m. Directions: From the parking lot, take the trail
into the woods, then bear left at the fork. The bird was in
the arm of the marsh that you will come to, on your right.
Both a RED-NECKED and a WILSON'S PHALAROPE were spotted
along DE Rt 16, Prime Hook NWR, the morning of May 16. Both
birds were in breeding plumage. Directions: After crossing
the small bridge on Rt 16, continue around the sharp curve to
the left. The WILSON'S PHALAROPE was in the large pool on the
right, at the gravel pull-off. The RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was
in the marsh on the opposite side of the road. Four WILSON'S
PHALAROPEs were on the back side of Raymond Pool, Bombay Hook
NWR, DE, on May 15; they were seen from the base of the
central tower in Little Creek Wildlife Area. Three WILSON'S
PHALAROPEs and three BLACK TERNs were reported from the third
dike at Craney Island, Portsmouth, VA, on May 17.
An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was spotted on snags in the
parking lot at Violette's Lock, C&O Canal, Montgomery Co, MD,
about 8 a.m., May 12. The same day, a WILLOW FLYCATCHER was
seen at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD; it was at the back
of the second impoundment on the right. A LEAST FLYCATCHER
was frequenting the vicinity of the W&OD Trail and Glencarlyn
Pk, Arlington, VA, on May 14. Two LEAST FLYCATCHERs and a
single WILLOW FLYCATCHER were noted at Huntley Meadows Pk,
VA, on May 16.
A male MOURNING WARBLER was spotted at the upper end of
Glencarlyn Pk, Arlington, VA, on May 17. The same day, a
male MOURNING WARBLER was reported, second-hand, at a water
feature in a yard in Wheaton, Montgomery Co, MD. A male
MOURNING WARBLER was also spotted on Roosevelt Island, where
the footbridge reaches the island, at about 6:30 a.m. on May
11. Sixteen other warbler species were also seen at
Roosevelt Island that day.
Thrushes were also well represented at Roosevelt Island,
and at many other area locations, this past week. High counts
at Roosevelt Island were two GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHes on May 14
and 16, and seven VEERYs and 18 SWAINSON'S THRUSHes on May
16. In DC, a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was seen at the War
Memorial, south of the reflecting pool, on May 17. A total
of 28 SWAINSON'S THRUSHes were noted along the W&OD Trail and
in Glencarlyn Pk, VA, on May 14.
In addition to thrushes, Roosevelt Island hosted SCARLET
TANAGER and both BALTIMORE and ORCHARD ORIOLEs during the
week. Four WARBLING VIREOs were noted there on May 16.
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was spotted in woods near Finis
Pool, Bombay Hook NWR, DE, on May 15. Other vireos reported
in our area this week included WHITE-EYED, RED-EYED, and
YELLOW-THROATED.
A BLACK-NECKED STILT was frequenting Allen's Fresh,
Charles Co, MD, on May 15 and 16. A LEAST BITTERN was seen
at Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA, on May 16.
A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was heard singing on private
property across River Road from the KPC Buddhist Temple,
Poolesville, Montgomery Co, MD, on May 11. Another BLACK-
BILLED CUCKOO was seen in Ashton, also in Montgomery Co, on
May 14.
Shorebird sightings included a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, along the wildlife drive,
Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD, on May 16; and 14 AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVERs flying over fields 5 miles east of US Rt 301,
off MD Rt 300, Queen Anne's Co, MD, on May 13. Small numbers
of a variety of shorebirds, including SEMIPALMATED PLOVER;
LESSER YELLOWLEGS; and SOLITARY, SPOTTED, LEAST, and PECTORAL
SANDPIPERs were frequenting Huntley Meadows Pk, VA, during
the week.
COMMON NIGHTHAWKs were seen widely in evening skies.
Reports included up to 20 birds spotted flying around the
U.S. Capitol building, DC, on May 14. Other nightjar reports
included a WHIP-POOR-WILL heard along Mt Ephraim Rd, near
Sugarloaf Mtn, Frederick Co, MD, the morning of May 12, and
WHIP-POOR-WILLs heard throughout the week in a backyard in
Waldorf, Charles Co, MD. Rounding out the nightjar reports
was a CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW, noted along Old Marshall Hall Rd,
Accokeek, Prince George's Co, MD, on May 12.
Up to five DICKCISSELs and numerous BOBOLINKs were
observed in the vicinity of the intersection of Lilypons and
Oland Rds, southern Frederick Co, MD, on May 16. Also there
that day were a VESPER SPARROW and four GRASSHOPPER SPARROWs.
More than 60 BOBOLINKs were observed at the NIH Animal Ctr,
Poolesville, Montgomery Co, MD, on May 11. An immature male
BLUE GROSBEAK and a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW were noted along
Triadelphia Lake Rd, near Sunshine, eastern Montgomery Co,
MD, on May 15 and 16. BOBOLINKs were also seen at this spot,
on May 16, and in Ashton, MD, on May 15.
A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was seen on the border of "sparrow
swamp", along the W&OD Trail, Arlington, VA, on May 17. A
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and a VESPER SPARROW were noted in the
Lucketts area, Loudoun Co, VA, on May 15; the GRASSHOPPER
SPARROW was along Rt 656 (Hibler Rd), and the VESPER SPARROW
along Rt 661, near the equestrian center. Other sparrow
reports this week included a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW on private
property across River Road from the KPC Buddhist Temple,
Poolesville, MD, on May 12.
A SEDGE WREN was heard singing in a marsh opposite
Pickering Beach, Little Creek Wildlife Area, DE, on May 15.
Ten SUMMER TANAGERs were noted at and near a nature
preserve along Bear Swamp Rd at Wango Rd, behind the
Salisbury, MD, airport, on May 16. Another SUMMER TANAGER was
noted on private property across River Rd from the Buddhist
Temple, Poolesville, MD, on May 12.
Two ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKs were frequenting a feeder in
Springfield, VA, during the week.
A total of 32 warbler species were reported this week.
Highlights included a WILSON'S WARBLER at the War Memorial,
south of the reflecting pool, DC, on May 17; and a
CONNECTICUT WARBLER at the entrance to Dickerson Regional
Park, Dickerson, Montgomery Co, MD, on May 11. Sixteen
warbler species were noted between Violette's and Pennyfield
Locks, C&O Canal, Montgomery Co, MD, on May 15.
Small numbers of COMMON LOONs and wintering ducks were
still being reported. Sightings included a RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER at Seneca Creek St Pk, Montgomery Co, MD, on May
12.
*Of interest to the Maryland/DC Avian Records Committee.
See Species Review List, at
www.mdbirds.org/mddcrc/rcreview.html.
Submit documentation to: mddcrc@mdbirds.org.
There will be a walk at ANS' Webb Sanctuary, Clifton,
VA, on Thurs, May 20; call the leader, Cliff Fairweather of
Clifton, at 703-803-8400 (o), for more information.
There will be a 2-hour walk for beginning birders on
Sat, May 22; meet at Cleveland Park Metro, DC, at 9 a.m.
The trip to DE coastal areas that also was scheduled for
Sat, May 22, has been cancelled.
There will be a reservations-only walk at Little Bennett
Regional Park, MD, on Sun, May 23; call the leader, Dick
Cleveland of Gaithersburg, at 301-926-7109, to secure your
place.
There will be a walk at Hughes Hollow/Sycamore Landing,
MD, on Wed, May 26; call the leader, Mike Bowen of Bethesda,
at 301-530-5764, for more information.
There will be a reservations-only walk at Nolan's
Ferry/Lily Pons, MD, on Sat, May 29; call the leader, Ann
Mitchell of Rohrersville, MD, at 301-432-2021, to reserve
your spot.
There will be a walk at Chinquapin Park, VA, on Sat, May
29; call the leader, Ginny McNair of Fairlington, at 703-820-
8376 (o), for more information.
An upcoming pelagic in our region will depart Lewes, DE,
for MD and DE waters on Sat, June 19; call FONT, at 1-800-
362-0869, for information and reservations.
To report bird sightings, you can email your report to
voice@capaccess.org, or fax it to ANS at 301-951-7179. You
may also report by calling 301-652-1088 and selecting menu
option #2. Please post email reports before midnight Monday,
and be sure to include your name and a Tuesday morning phone
number. Thank you for calling, and GOOD BIRDING.
____________________________________________________________________
Todd Day
BlkVulture@aol.com
Jeffersonton, VA