-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 1:23 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 12/4/07

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist
Date:               12/4/2007
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2
        (email):     
     (deadline):    midnight Mondays
Compiler:           John Bjerke 
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, December 4, at
9 a.m.

Top birds this week are CAVE SWALLOW* in MD, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE* in
MD, and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS in VA.

Other birds of interest include geese, eiders, LONG-TAILED DUCK,
RED-NECKED GREBE, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, NORTHERN GOSHAWK,
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, WILSON'S SNIPE, ICELAND GULL, LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE*, SHORT-EARED OWL,
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, NORTHERN SHRIKE, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHER, VEERY, GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER,
sparrows, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, INDIGO BUNTING, RED
CROSSBILL, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL*, COMMON REDPOLL, EVENING GROSBEAK.

A male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was reported near a vegetable garden in
Potomac Overlook Reg Park, Arlington, VA on Nov 28. A female RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD and a presumed female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD continue in the
Lynchburg, Amherst Co, VA area. 

A CAVE SWALLOW*, originally identified as a CLIFF SWALLOW, was
reported from pool 5B on Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on Dec 1.

A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE* was reported from Little Bennett Reg Park,
Montgomery Co, MD on Dec 1. The bird was on the closed gravel road
running west from the parking lot on Rt 121. Little Bennett is closed
this week for a managed deer hunt.
   
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen at Little Meadows Lake, Garrett
Co, MD on Nov 28 and Dec 1. An unusual find for Buchanan Co, VA was a
SNOW GOOSE on Nov 29. A ROSS'S GOOSE and a CACKLING GOOSE were seen on
the Broadkill Beach Road, Sussex Co, DE on Dec 1.
A female KING EIDER and up to 13 COMMON EIDERS including 6 young males
and 7 females were seen at Herring Point, Cape Henlopen St Park,
Sussex Co, DE on Dec 1. An additional 7 COMMON EIDERS were seen the
same day at Indian River Inlet, Sussex Co, DE.

Single LONG-TAILED DUCKS were observed at Burke Lake Park, Fairfax Co,
VA and Black Hill Reg Park, Montgomery Co, MD on Nov 28.

A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen on Deep Creek Lake, Garrett Co, MD on Dec
1.

AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were found at Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co,
MD on Dec 1. 

Seven NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were counted on the Kiptopeke hawkwatch,
Northampton Co, VA on Nov 27. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK sightings included two
on Cedar Creek Rd near Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on Nov 30,
one on the Wildlife Drive at Blackwater on Dec 1, one near Lilypons,
Frederick Co, MD on Dec 3 and a "light-phase" female at Fowler's
Beach, Sussex Co, DE on Dec 2.  

An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was seen over Chino Farms in Queen Anne's Co, MD
on Nov 28. Another GOLDEN EAGLE was found on Rt 66 south of Cavetown,
Washington Co, MD on Nov 29.

Four WILSON'S SNIPE were found on the Patuxent Research Refuge South
Tract on Dec 1. Up to 14 WILSON'S SNIPE were seen on Paper Mill Flats,
Baltimore Co, MD on Dec 1.

An adult ICELAND GULL was seen in Ocean City, Worcester Co, MD on Nov
27. An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was found on the beach near
Gordons Pond, Cape Henlopen St Park, Sussex Co, DE on Dec 2.

Seven EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES* were found in the Sandbridge area near
Back Bay NWR, VA, on Dec 1.

SHORT-EARED OWLS were observed along Cedar Creek Rd, Dorchester Co, MD
on Nov 30 and Dec 1. Five SHORT-EARED OWLS were found along Shorter's
Wharf Rd near Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on Dec 2.

A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE continues at the fishing pond, Sky Meadows St
Park, Fauquier Co, VA. Another LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen on Rt 15
about 7 miles south of Leesburg, Loudoun Co, VA on Dec 3. A subadult
NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on Russell Rd in southeastern Garrett Co, MD
on Dec 1.

A BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE was found in the Perryman area of Harford Co,
MD on Dec 1. 

Lingering migrants and summer residents included a BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHER in Annandale, Fairfax Co, VA on Dec 2, a VEERY in eastern
Henrico Co, VA on Dec 1, a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH in the Ivy Creek
Natural Area near Charlottesville, VA on Dec 1, a BLACK-AND-WHITE
WARBLER in Newport News, VA on Dec 2 and an INDIGO BUNTING in Highland
Co, VA on Dec 2 and Dec 3.

AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS appeared at Blue Mash Park, Montgomery Co, MD
on Nov 28 and Lilypons, Frederick Co, MD on Nov 29. A LINCOLN'S
SPARROW was seen in the Woodcock Meadow at Huntley Meadows Park,
Fairfax Co, VA on Dec 2.

Several LAPLAND LONGSPURS were seen feeding with many Horned Larks in
the plowed field off Cartanza Rd near Little Creek, Kent Co, DE on Dec
1.

SNOW BUNTINGS were reported this week from Back Bay NWR, VA, on Dec 1,
Blackwater NWR Wildlife Drive on Dec 1, Cartanza Rd, DE on Dec 1 and
Point Lookout St Park, MD on Dec 2.

Two RED CROSSBILLS were reported near the Visitors Center at Black
Hill Reg Park, Montgomery Co, MD on Dec 2. An adult male WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILL* came briefly to a backyard in Silver Spring, Montgomery Co,
MD on Dec 2.

A COMMON REDPOLL was reported as a flyover near Fletcher's Boathouse,
Washington, DC, on Dec 2. EVENING GROSBEAKS have made several visits
to feeders in Monterey, Highland Co, VA.

Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey,
DE-Bird, 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 records committee.