-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 5:50 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 10/16/07

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               10/16/2007
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
        (email):     
     (deadline):    midnight Mondays
Compiler:           Andy Martin 
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 Tuesday, October 16 at
12 noon.

Top birds of the week are RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD* in VA and
EURASIAN-COLLARED-DOVE in MD

Other birds of interest include: TRUMPETER SWAN, geese and ducks,
RUFFED GROUSE, COMMON LOON, RED-NECKED GREBE, AMERICAN BITTERN, GOLDEN
EAGLE, falcons, KING RAIL, SORA, shorebirds, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL,
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BROWN CREEPER, wrens,
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, AMERICAN PIPIT, warblers, sparrows, BALTIMORE
ORIOLE, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, PURPLE FINCH, and PINE SISKIN.

A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE flew over Bayside, Assateague Island National
Seashore, Worcester Co, MD on October 13.

A single RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD each has been reported this past week from
a yard in Amherst Co and another yard in Lynchburg, VA. The Amherst Co
bird was banded. An unidentified SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRD visited a
feeder in Dinwiddie Co, VA on October 14.

TRUMPETER SWAN #962 continues at Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro,
Prince George's Co, MD as of October 14.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was found in Calfpasture Cove within
Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co, MD on October 14. Two CACKLING GEESE were
seen at Eastern Neck NWR the same day. Another CACKLING GOOSE (located
among a flock of approximately 2,000 Canada Geese) was found at Great
Oak Pond, Kent Co, MD on October 9. Great Oak Pond also hosted four
ROSS'S GEESE on October 13. A ROSS'S GOOSE was seen on Assateague
Island, MD on October 14.

A female COMMON EIDER was found at Cape Henlopen, DE on October 13.
Four immature SURF SCOTERS were observed at Piney Run Lake, Carroll
Co, MD on October 12.

A RUFFED GROUSE was found at Finzel Swamp, Garrett Co, MD on October
12.

Two COMMON LOONS were seen on the Occoquan River off Deephole Point,
Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA on October 13.

A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at Liberty Lake in Baltimore/Carroll Cos,
MD on October 12,14, and 15. 

An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen in flight at Possum Point, Prince William
Co, VA during the early morning hours of October 13. Another American
Bittern was seen October 14 at Millington WMA, Kent Co, MD.

A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen from the Snicker's Gap Hawk Watch,
Clarke/Loudoun Co line, VA on October 13.

A MERLIN flew over a Darnestown, Montgomery Co, MD yard on October 10.
Another MERLIN was seen at Fort C.F. Smith Park, Arlington, VA on
October 13.

A PEREGRINE FALCON passed by the Snicker's Gap Hawk Watch along the
Clarke/Loudoun Co line, VA on October 11. Another PEREGRINE was see
October 14 in the vicinity of Conowingo Dam, along the Harford/Cecil
Co line, MD.

A KING RAIL was found in the marsh at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William
Co, VA on October 13. A SORA was flushed from under the boardwalk at
Patterson Park, Baltimore, MD on October 14.

A BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was reported from the Beaver Run section of
Liberty Lake, Carroll Co, MD on October 14. AMERICAN AVOCETS were
present at Bombay Hook NWR, DE this past week. Twenty-five STILT
SANDPIPERS were found at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on October
14.

A single MARBLED GODWIT was found October 14 on Assateague Island
National Seashore, Worcester Co, MD at the Fox Hill Levels.

Some notable birds found during the Baltimore Bird Club's bus tour of
Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD this past week included: AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVER, AMERICAN AVOCET, STILT SANDPIPER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER
and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen this week at Violette's Lock,
Montgomery Co, MD on October 10; Western RP, Howard Co, MD on October
10; Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co, MD on October 12; Banshee Reeks
Nature Preserve, Loudoun Co, VA on October 13; Turkey Point, Cecil Co,
MD and Black Hill RP, Montgomery Co, MD on October 14.

A possible WESTERN KINGBIRD was found October 10 in Brownsville near
Nassawadox, Northampton Co, VA. 

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH reports continue throughout the area.

A MARSH WREN was found at Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore Co, MD on
October 11. Another MARSH WREN was seen at the Flint Hill School west
campus, Oakton, VA on October 15 in the marsh grasses and sedges of a
storm water retention pond. 

First of season WINTER WREN reports are starting to trickle in and
sightings of BROWN CREEPER are on the increase.

A GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was observed at Rock Creek Park, DC on October
10 and 11. The flight calls of several GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH were heard
over Possum Point, Prince William Co, VA in the pre-dawn hours of
October 13.

An AMERICAN PIPIT was observed at Possum Point, VA on October 13.

Some notable warbler sightings this week included: A TENNESSEE WARBLER
in Rock Creek Park, DC on October 11; ORANGE -CROWNED WARBLER at
Assateague Island, Worcester Co, MD on October 12; a first year
NASHVILLE WARBLER at Accotink SVP in Annandale, Fairfax Co, VA on
October 11; another NASHVILLE WARBLER at Rock Creek Park, DC on
October 15; a BAY-BREASTED WARBLER at Possum Point, VA on October 13;
and a YELLOW WARBLER at Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA on
October 13. 

A Gambels's WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was found at Layhill Park,
Montgomery Co, MD on October 11. LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were reported from
a number of locations this past week. Two GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were
found at Western RP, Howard Co, MD on October 10. A FOX SPARROW was
located at Rachel Carson Park, Montgomery Co, MD on October 13.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES were seen this week at Bombay Hook NWR, DE on
October 11. Two BALTIMORE ORIOLES were seen from a yard overlooking
Jug Bay, Prince George's Co, MD on October 14.

RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were found this past week at Occoquan Bay NWR and
Possum Point in VA and at Black Hill RP, Blackwater NWR, and
Schoolhouse Pond (Upper Marlboro) in MD.

PURPLE FINCHES were reported from back yard feeders and other
locations this past week. Four PINE SISKINS were seen on Assateague
Island, MD on October 14.

The hawk watch at Snicker's Gap, on the Clarke/Loudoun Co (VA) line,
is looking for volunteers to help monitor hawk migration,
September-November. For information, call 703-734-1238. The Turkey
Point Hawk Watch in Cecil Co, MD is also looking for volunteers; for
information, email 

See Life Paulagics has scheduled a trip on Saturday, October 20 out of
Lewes, DE. For more info, contact 

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
 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 records committee.