-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 12:23 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 7/10/07

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               7/10/2007
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
        (email):     
     (deadline):    midnight Mondays
Compiler:           Helen Patton
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 completed at 11:30 am on Tuesday,
July 10. 

Top bird this week is SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER* in VA.

Other birds of interest this past week include waterfowl, NORTHERN
BOBWHITE, herons, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, PEREGRINE FALCON, MARBLED GODWIT,
CASPIAN and LEAST TERNS, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE,
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, sparrows, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL
and BOBOLINK.

A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was discovered on July 6 at the golf
course on Compton Mountain in Buchanan Co, VA.

This week's waterfowl include AMERICAN WIGEON at Dyke Marsh,
Alexandria VA on July 9, NORTHERN PINTAIL in northern Anne Arundel Co,
MD along Kembo Road on July 6, and probable LESSER SCAUP in Belmont
Bay, Mason Neck SP, Fairfax Co, VA on July 4.

NORTHERN BOBWHITES were reported from Veteran's Park, near
Featherstone, Prince William Co, VA on July 7. 

A LEAST BITTERN was seen at the Julie Metz Wetlands Bank in
Woodbridge, Prince William Co, VA on July 7. Three LEAST BITTERNS were
observed on Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD on July 9. Six CATTLE
EGRETS were seen in a field outside Centreville, Queen Anne's Co, MD
on July 3. 

Twelve BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS set a new high count for the species
at Fort Smallwood Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD on July 4. Other
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were reported from College Park, Prince
George's Co, MD and near Rte 66 in Washington Co, MD on July 9.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were reported from Bethesda, Montgomery
Co, MD on July 2 and Lake Elkhorn, Columbia, Howard Co, MD on July 4
and 5. The YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS in Sligo Creek Park, Silver
Spring, Montgomery Co, MD have had a successful nesting season with an
immature bird spotted on July 7. Sightings of both BLACK-CROWNED and
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS enlivened an evening bike ride along Sligo
Creek Parkway on July 9.

A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was observed at Manassas National Battlefield Park,
Prince William Co VA on July 4.

The PEREGRINE FALCON has returned to the Skyline area of Baileys
Crossroads, Alexandria, VA with a sighting from July 3. The PEREGRINE
FALCON family was seen conducting flight lessons near the Rte 50
Severn River Bridge, Annapolis, Anne Arundel Co, MD on July 4.

A single MARBLED GODWIT was sighted on Skimmer Island, Ocean City,
Worcester Co, MD on July 5.

A CASPIAN TERN arrived at Skimmer Island, Ocean City, Worcester Co, MD
on July 7. Two LEAST TERNS were seen at Schoolhouse Pond, Prince
George's Co, MD on July 5. Six LEAST TERNS were seen at Blackwater
NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on July 8.

A COMMON NIGHTHAWK flew over the North East River in Cecil Co, MD on
July 4, providing enjoyment to birders awaiting the start of the
fireworks.

A parent escorted a young RED-HEADED WOODPECKER to a feeder in
Chester, VA on July 3.

An immature LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen at Sky Meadows State Park,
Fauquier Co, VA on July 7.

A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH appeared at the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary,
Anne Arundel Co, MD on July 3 and another one came to the backyard of
the same observer on July 6.

A VESPER SPARROW was heard and seen along Hibler Road in Lucketts, VA
on July 4. A singing VESPER SPARROW was on Old Telegraph Road, Cecil
Co, MD on July 8. Fifteen GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were sighted at
Manassas National Battlefield Park on July 4. GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS
were seen in Cecil Co, MD on July 4 and 8 on Old Telegraph Road and on
July 4 on Elk River Landing Road. Kenilworth Park in northeast DC
hosted a singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW on July 7. A SEASIDE SPARROW
delighted birders participating in the Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA
birdwalk on July 8. 

A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK came to a feeder in Covered Bridge Farms,
near the DE/MD/PA border on July 8.
 
DICKCISSELS were seen at several locations. Two DICKCISSELS were noted
on Old Telegraph Road in southeastern Cecil Co, on July 4 while
another two were on Wye Island, Queen Anne's Co, MD on the same day. 

An adult, male BOBOLINK in full breeding plumage was a surprise
sighting at Kenilworth Park, DC on July 8. Another BOBOLINK was
spotted along a grassy median on I-295 between DC and Prince George's
Co, MD on July 9.

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 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
 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 record committee.