-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 5:21 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 10/24/06

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               10/24/2006
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 prepared Tuesday, October 24, at 4
pm.

Top bird this week is a possible *Cape Verde Shearwater in MD waters.
This bird was seen and photographed on a pelagic trip out of Lewes, DE
on Oct 21, just inside the tip of the Baltimore Canyon. If accepted,
this would be only the second North American record for this species.

Other birds of interest include SNOW GOOSE, EARED GREBE, AMERICAN
BITTERN, GREAT WHITE HERON, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, gulls
including FRANKLIN'S GULL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER,
sparrows including CLAY-COLORED SPARROW and LARK SPARROW, and LAPLAND
LONGSPUR.

A small flock of SNOW GEESE has been hanging out with a large flock of
Canada Geese in Montgomery Co, MD; the birds frequent a field on the
south side of Rte 107 just at the past the "Welcome to Poolesville"
sign on the eastern edge of town. Another Montgomery Co SNOW GOOSE was
noted at Blue Mash Nature Trail on Oct 21.

An EARED GREBE was spotted in the lower pond of the Easton WWTP on
Dover Neck Rd, Talbot Co, MD, on Oct 19; it was seen again Oct 20 and
23.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was found at Swan Harbor Farm, Harford Co, MD, on
Oct 19 and 20.

On Oct 18, a GREAT WHITE HERON was seen at two MD locations, Eastern
Neck NWR, Kent Co, and Scientists Cliffs, Calvert Co. The Eastern Neck
bird was reported as recently as Oct 21. 

On Oct 21, the hawk watch at Snickers Gap, on the Clarke/Loudoun Co
(VA) line, tallied 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK and 2 GOLDEN EAGLES. Two GOLDEN
EAGLES were also recorded at the newly established hawk watch at Bear
Mt in Highland Co, VA.

A first-winter FRANKLIN'S GULL was discovered Oct 22 in Dorchester Co,
MD; it was at a pig farm on Indiantown Road. This bird appeared to be
a different individual than one seen over the last few weeks. Also
present at the pig farm were an interesting albino RING-BILLED GULL
and an unexpected BONAPARTE'S GULL. 

Two LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES were found Oct 22 on the eastern side of Sky
Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, VA; the birds were east of the duck ponds
along a fence line, toward the woods. One or both vocalized in a
leafless bush and each performed some sort of tail display while
hopping around. 

An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was found Oct 18 at Daingerfield Island, off
the GW Parkway just south of Reagan National Airport. An
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was found Rock Creek Park, NW DC, Oct 21. 

Sparrows were thick on the ground this week. Highlights included a
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on Oct 22 at Assateague State Park, Worcester Co,
MD, around the first bath house north of the nature center, and a
handsome LARK SPARROW around the parking area for the Ocean Side
Camping area at Assateague Island National Seashore (sites 86-104).
Near the parking lot of the SP was a single VESPER SPARROW.

A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found Oct 21 at Gordon's Pond, north of
Rehoboth Beach, DE; it was along the bike/pedestrian loop trail. 

Visitors to Highland Co, VA, last weekend found a  CLAY-COLORED
SPARROW on Back Creek Valley Rd; a VESPER SPARROW on Bear Mountain;
and a FOX SPARROW northeast of Monterey, along Rte 631. 

Other FOX SPARROWS were spotted at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co,
VA, on Oct 21 and at Southwest Area Park, Baltimore, on Oct 22.

Other VESPER SPARROWS were noted at Meadowbrook Park, Howard Co, MD,
on Oct 18, and at Sky Meadows Oct 20. LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, too, were at
several of these locations.

There was a report of a LAPLAND LONGSPUR calling as it flew over
"Sparrow Alley" at the Law Enforcement Area of Manassas National
Battlefield Park, Prince William Co, VA, at dawn on Oct 21.

Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOSPREY,
VA-Bird, and DE Birds 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
 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 the MD/DC Records Committee
(www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html)