> -----Original Message-----
> From: [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 10:11 PM
> To:
> Subject: DC Area, 12/14/04
>
>
> Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
> Date: 12/14/04
> Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
> Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
> Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
> (email):
> (deadline): midnight Mondays
> Compiler: Lydia Schindler
> Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
> Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
> Transcriber: Steve Cordle ()
>
> Please consider joining ANS, especially if you are a regular
> user of the Voice (Individual $30; Family $40; Nature Steward
> $60; Audubon Advocate $100). 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 tape was made Tuesday, Dec 14, at 5 p.m.
>
> Top birds this week are *CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD and *RUFOUS
> HUMMINGBIRD in MD; BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD in VA; and *CAVE
> SWALLOW in both MD and VA.
>
> Other birds of interest include EARED GREBE, seabirds, GREAT
> CORMORANT, waterfowl including HARLEQUIN DUCK and
> WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, raptors, VIRGINIA RAIL, SANDHILL CRANE,
> gulls, SHORT-EARED OWL, HORNED LARK, AMERICAN PIPIT,
> YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW,
> LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, PURPLE FINCH, and PINE SISKIN.
>
> A female *RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD continues at a yard in Baltimore
> Co, just north of the city line, as of December 14. (To make
> an appointment to see this bird, contact )
>
> A *CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD continues to visit feeders at a yard
> near Bowie in Prince George's Co, MD. The most recent report
> comes from Dec 11. (For directions, contact )
>
> A BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD has been a regular at yard in
> Cape Charles, Northampton Co, but this morning (Dec 14) it
> failed for the first time to show up. (The feeders can be
> observed from the porch at 9 Randolph Ave; from Rte 13, turn
> at the stoplight onto Rte 184 and proceed to the last block.)
>
> CAVE SWALLOWS continue to dominate the news. In Worcester Co,
> MD, a single CAVE SWALLOW was glimpsed at Assateague Island
> National Seashore, and CAVE SWALLOWS were seen at Eagles Nest
> Campground, south of Ocean City, both sightings on Dec 11. On
> Dec 12, 8 to 12 CAVE SWALLOWS were found at three locations
> in Worcester Co: in the vicinity of the bridge leading to
> Assateague Island; the South Point boat ramp; and at the
> Ocean City Inlet.
>
> Also on Dec 11, a CAVE SWALLOW became species # 282 to be
> recorded Hart-Miller Island, in the Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore
> Co. Hart-Miller also continues to host a EURASIAN WIGEON.
>
> Two, perhaps more, CAVE SWALLOWS were found at the Craney
> Island landfill in Portsmouth, VA, on Dec 11. On Dec 12, 10
> or 12 CAVE SWALLOWS were still in evidence in the vicinity of
> the Eastern Shore of VA NWR in Northampton Co, VA, more
> specifically around Latimer Siding Rd.
>
> The EARED GREBE on Little Seneca Lake, Black Hill RP,
> Montgomery Co, was spotted several times this week--late in
> the afternoon Dec 8 and 10, and again mid-day Dec 12. It is
> best seen in the cove alongside Rte 121, south of the bridge.
>
> The Dec 11 pelagic out of Lewes, DE, was hindered by
> mechanical problems, but nonetheless got to see MANX
> SHEARWATER, RED PHALAROPE, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, RAZORBILL,
> and PUFFIN.
>
> Near dusk on Dec 10, the flocks of geese coming in to Little
> Seneca Lake included 6 and possibly 9 RICHARDSON'S CACKLING GEESE.
>
> Both a ROSS'S GOOSE and a CACKLING GOOSE were picked out of
> an immense flock of geese near Oak Grove, DE, on Dec 12.
>
> Some 500 TUNDRA SWANS were among the thousands of waterfowl
> sheltering at Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co, MD, on Dec 8.
>
> On Dec 12, the Ocean City Inlet held 2 COMMON EIDERS and,
> later, a female KING EIDER, as well as GREAT CORMORANT.
>
> The HARLEQUIN DUCK at Wades Point Inn in Talbot Co, MD, was
> still present Dec 13. [From Easton, take Rte 33 west through
> St Michaels to Wades Point Rd. The Inn is the large white
> house at the end of road, beside the bay. Park in designated
> spots and go to the main building
> to let the (very gracious) management know you are there.]
>
> On Dec 12, a pair of HARLEQUIN DUCKS was present on Island #
> 1 of the Chesapeake Baby Bridge/Tunnel, Northampton Co, while
> a single HARLEQUIN was on Island # 4.
>
> A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was a highly unusual visitor at the
> Triadelphia Reservoir, on the Montgomery/Howard Co line. The
> bird was discovered Dec 12 and found again Dec 13, both times
> in the Greenbridge Rd area in Montgomery Co.
>
> On Dec 9, Hains Point, in West Potomac Park, SW DC, held BALD
> EAGLE, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, MERLIN, and PEREGRINE FALCON. On
> Dec 12, a MERLIN was spotted at Cameron Station in Alexandria, VA.
>
> Two GOLDEN EAGLES were spotted Dec 12 at Blackwater NWR,
> Dorchester Co, MD, one, a near adult, soaring over Key
> Wallace Dr and another over Greenbridge Rd.
>
> Three, perhaps six, SHORT-EARED OWLS began flying over the
> marshes along Rumbly Point Rd, Somerset Co, MD, in bright
> afternoon light on Dec 12. That night, 9 or 10 VIRGINIA RAILS
> could be heard at Irish
> Grove, the MOS Sanctuary on Rumbly Point Rd.
>
> The juvenile SANDHILL CRANE in Montgomery Co was most
> recently reported Dec 12. As before, it was in fields on the
> east side of West Willard Rd, just north of the Poolesville
> Public Golf Course.
>
> A first-winter ICELAND GULL showed up Dec 14 at Schoolhouse
> Pond, Upper Marlboro, Prince George's Co.
>
> One GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, one LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and
> one LAUGHING GULL were all unusual visitors at Little Seneca
> Lake on Dec 10.
>
> Two GLAUCOUS GULLS were found at the Beulah landfill in
> Dorchester Co, MD, Dec 11. The next day a first-year GLAUCOUS
> GULL was seen not far away, in Choptank, Caroline Co. An
> adult winter GLAUCOUS GULL was found Dec 12 at Conowingo Dam,
> on the Harford/Cecil Co line, MD.
>
> On Dec 14, a brightly-plumaged YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT appeared
> in a small garden just northeast of downtown Baltimore.
>
> AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were one of 9 sparrow species found
> Dec 11 during the regular monthly walk at Banshee Reeks
> Nature Preserve, Loudoun Co, VA. On Dec 12, AMERICAN TREE
> SPARROW was also seen at Occoquan Bay NWR, and at the Julie
> Metz wetlands bank, both in Prince William Co, VA.
>
> A LAPLAND LONGSPUR and several HORNED LARKS were seen Dec 12
> on the grounds of the polo club on Hughes Rd in northwestern
> Montgomery Co.
>
> A flock of 10 or so SNOW BUNTINGS whizzed along the beach
> next to the Ocean City Inlet Dec 12. On Dec 11, some 4 dozen
> SNOW BUNTINGS visited Hart-Miller Island.
>
> PURPLE FINCHES are back at area feeders, with reports from
> the Visitor Center at Mason Neck NWR and a yard in
> Springfield, both in Fairfax Co, VA, and from Alexandria, VA.
> In MD, PURPLE FINCHES have been spotted at Eastern Neck NWR,
> as well as yards in Darnestown, Montgomery Co, and in Bowie,
> where they were in the company of a PINE SISKIN.
>
> Those of you lucky enough to host a winter hummingbird are
> asked to contact hummingbird bander Mary Gustafson at
> Mary is working to document winter
> hummingbirds in the east.
>
> Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOSPREY,
> VA-Bird, and Delaware Birds list servers.
>
> Claudia Wilds's book, Finding Birds in the National Capital
> Area, is an excellent source of directions to many birding
> sites. And the ANS Bookstore is an excellent source for this
> and many other nature-related titles: 301-652-3606.
>
> To report bird sightings, e-mail your report to
> You may also report by calling
> 301-652-1088 and selecting menu option 2. Please post e-mail
> reports before midnight Monday, identify the county and
> state, and include your name and a Tuesday morning phone number.
>
> Thank you for calling, and GOOD BIRDING.
>
> * Of interest to the MD/DC Records Committee. For more
> information, visit www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html.
> |