> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 5:39 PM
> To: 
> Subject: DC Area, 4/11/06
> 
> Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
> Date:               4/11/2006
> 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 $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 compiled Tuesday, April 
> 11, at noon.
> 
> Top birds this week are AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, ANHINGA, 
> MISSISSIPPI KITE, and SANDHILL CRANE, all in VA. 
> 
> Other birds of interest include LONG-TAILED DUCK, WILD 
> TURKEY, NORTHERN BOBWHITE, COMMON LOON, grebes, NORTHERN 
> GANNET, AMERICAN and LEAST BITTERNS, herons, GLOSSY IBIS, 
> BROAD-WINGED HAWK, TURKEY VULTURE, GOLDEN EAGLE, rails, 
> WILSON'S SNIPE, gulls, CASPIAN TERN, WHIP-POOR-WILL, 
> RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, WHITE-EYED 
> and BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, swallows, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, WOOD 
> THRUSH, BROWN THRASHER, AMERICAN PIPIT, warblers, sparrows, 
> ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, PURPLE FINCH, and 
> PINE SISKIN.
> 
> Four AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS on April 8 were a second-ever 
> record for South Holston Lake in southern Washington Co, VA.
> 
> Four ANHINGAS were spotted on the morning of April 10 as they 
> flew over the Dulles access road (Rte 267) in northern VA, 
> heading north toward Montgomery Co, MD. 
> 
> A MISSISSIPPI KITE provided wonderful looks as it soared low 
> over the Stonewall section of Appomattox Co, VA, near the 
> James river, on April 9.
> 
> On April 5, a SANDHILL CRANE circled over Middlebrook Rd, at 
> its junction with Mt Tabor Rd, in southern Augusta Co, VA.
> 
> The LONG-TAILED DUCK on the Potomac River in Montgomery Co 
> was seen again April 8, at the head of the rapids at Violette's
Lock.
> 
> A WILD TURKEY put on a full display at Huntley Meadows Park, 
> Fairfax Co, VA, on the morning of April 8; it strutted in 
> front of the maintenance building. A WILD TURKEY burst across 
> River Rd near Pennyfield Lock Rd, Montgomery Co, on April 10.
> 
> Two NORTHERN BOBWHITE were found at Irish Grove, Somerset Co, 
> MD, on April 10--as were 8 CLAPPER and 2 VIRGINIA RAILS.
> 
> COMMON LOONS were on the move this week. In the District, two 
> flew over 20th and L Sts, NW, on April 4, while another was 
> seen over Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, NE DC, on April 9. They 
> were also noted in VA at Belmont Bay April 8 and Sky Meadows 
> SP, Fauquier Co, VA, April 10, and in MD at Loch Raven 
> Reservoir, Baltimore Co, April 9, and Black Hill Regional 
> Park, Montgomery Co, April 10. Many northbound COMMON LOONS 
> were observed April 8 off Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co, VA, 
> as were NORTHERN GANNETS.
> 
> Some 15 to 20 PIED-BILLED GREBES congregated at Violette's 
> Lock on April 7. HORNED GREBES, many in breeding plumage, 
> were noted at several locations, including the Belle Haven 
> picnic area, Fairfax Co, and Black Hill as well as 
> Violette's. An EARED GREBE showed up at Violette's Lock on April
10.
> 
> An AMERICAN BITTERN was found at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince 
> William Co, VA, on April 7; it was in the wetlands along 
> Charlie Rd. On April 9, an AMERICAN BITTERN landed in grasses 
> near the tower at Huntley Meadows.  
> 
> A LEAST BITTERN was seen at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, April 7.
> 
> Beautifully plumaged GREAT and SNOWY EGRETS arrived at Jug 
> Bay, near Croom, Prince George's Co, MD, April 7. On April 9, 
> Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens featured both egrets as well as 
> WILSON'S SNIPE.
> 
> A LITTLE BLUE HERON was found at Huntley Meadows April 7, and 
> a YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON April 9. Three LITTLE BLUE 
> HERONS were present at Fort Smallwood, Anne Arundel Co, MD, 
> along with a GREAT EGRET, on April 10. A GREEN HERON was 
> reported to our south, at First Landing SP in VA Beach, on April
10.
> 
> BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were reported from Ben Brenman 
> Park, Alexandria, on April 5, and Riley's Lock on the C&O 
> Canal, Montgomery Co, April 9. 
> 
> On April 9, a GLOSSY IBIS flew over Easy Rd at Occoquan Bay NWR. 
> 
> A single BROAD-WINGED HAWK was seen April 7 at Riley's Lock, 
> and another April 9 over the old landfill in Bowie, Prince 
> George's Co, MD. The hawk watch at Fort Smallwood tallied a 
> sprinkling of BROAD-WINGED HAWKS during the week. Early in 
> the week, good numbers of accipiters passed through; a count 
> of 329 on April 7 was dominated by TURKEY VULTURES.
> 
> On April 9, a GOLDEN EAGLE was seen near Monterey, Highland 
> Co, VA; it was heading south over VA 644 near VA 643.
> 
> Irish Grove hosted CLAPPER and VIRGINIA RAILS--and just 
> possibly a BLACK RAIL--on April 8. KING RAILS were found at 
> Occoquan Bay NWR April 8 and 9, along Charlie Rd and in the 
> marsh off Easy Rd.
> 
> WILSON'S SNIPE were plentiful at Huntley Meadows and at Hughes
Hollow.
>     
> Some 700-750 BONAPARTE'S GULLS flocked over Back River, 
> Baltimore, on April 6. Violette's Lock also drew BONAPARTE'S 
> GULLS; approximately 40 were present on the afternoon of 
> April 7, and by evening their number swelled into the 
> hundreds; the next morning, though, there were none to be found.  
> 
> An immature GLAUCOUS GULL was seen April 7 at the Ocean City 
> Inlet, Worcester Co, MD.
> 
> CASPIAN TERNS appeared at Patterson Park, Baltimore, on April 
> 5; Berwyn Heights, Prince George's Co, MD, and Centennial 
> Lake, Howard Co, MD, April 8; and Mason Neck SP, Fairfax Co, April
7.
> 
> A WHIP-POOR-WILL made a first-ever appearance at a Worcester 
> Co yard on April 9. 
> 
> RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD showed up earlier than ever, on 
> April 8, at a yard in St. Mary's Co, MD. 
> 
> RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were noted at Jug Bay April 9 and Fort 
> Smallwood Park, as well as at Sky Meadows.
> 
> A WHITE-EYED VIREO was seen April 9 at Quiet Waters Park in
Annapolis.
> BLUE-HEADED VIREO appeared near Ft Bayard Park, NW DC, April 
> 6; Purcellville, VA, April 7. and, on April 9, at Great Falls 
> NP, Fairfax Co, and Sky Meadows.
> 
> PURPLE MARTINS were noted at Violette's Lock April 7, along 
> with TREE and BARN SWALLOWS. On April 6, 2 NORTHERN 
> ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS perched in the area. A BANK SWALLOW 
> appeared at Violette's Lock April 10. A BANK SWALLOW was also 
> reported from Anacostia Park, NE DC, on April 9.
> 
> RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES continue to be seen.
> 
> A WOOD THRUSH was singing at Huntley Meadows on April 9. 
> 
> Half a dozen BROWN THRASHERS were noted at Baltimore's 
> Patterson Park April 5, and an AMERICAN PIPIT was discovered 
> there April 10.
> 
> Warbler sightings included NORTHERN PARULA April 9 at 
> Occoquan Bay, along with  YELLOW-THROATED (also seen there 
> April 8) and a possible BLUE-WINGED WARBLER. YELLOW-THROATED 
> was seen at Jug Bay, Anne Arundel Co, April 9, and PARULA at 
> Schoolhouse Pond, Prince George's Co, April 10. On April 8, 
> Pokomoke SF, Worcester Co, held numerous OVENBIRDS and a 
> PRAIRIE WARBLER. A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was singing at Huntley 
> Meadows April 9.
> 
> Eight CHIPPING SPARROWS were one of 8 sparrow species found 
> at Paint Branch Stream Valley Park in College Park, MD, on 
> April 10. A VESPER SPARROW was seen at Occoquan April 7. 
> VESPER SPARROW was one of 7 species found on a trip to 
> Central Farm, Howard Co, April 9; the tally also included 
> hundreds of SAVANNAH SPARROWS. A SALT-MARSH SHARP-TAILED 
> SPARROW was found at Irish Grove April 10. 
> 
> A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK visited a feeder in California, MD, April
7.
> 
> Flocks of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS frequented several locations, 
> including the Henryton section of Patapsco Valley SP, Howard 
> Co, April 6, and Huntley Meadows on April 8 and 9.  
> 
> PURPLE FINCHES lingered; 20 or more gathered in a yard in 
> Darnestown, Montgomery Co, on April 8.
> 
> A single PINE SISKIN visited a niger feeder in St. Louis, 
> southwest Loudoun Co, VA, on April 8.
> 
> 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 
>  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. 
> 
> *Of interest to either the MD/DC Records Committee
> (www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html) or the VA Records Committee
> (www.virginiabirds.org)
>