-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 12:27 PM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 12/16/08

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               12/16/08 
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE 
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1 
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2 
       (email):      
    (deadline):     midnight Mondays 
Compiler:           Lou DeMouy
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 16 at 8:30 AM.

Top birds this week are GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in MD, CALLIOPE
HUMMINGBIRD in VA, and LE CONTE'S SPARROW* in VA.

Other birds of interest include CACKLING GEESE and other waterfowl,
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, rails, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, WILSON'S SNIPE, ICELAND GULL,
GLAUCOUS GULL, SHORT-EARED OWL, LONG-EARED OWL, WESTERN KINGBIRD, LOGGERHEAD
SHRIKE, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, LAPLAND LONGSPUR,
SNOW BUNTING, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, and PINE SISKIN.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE continues its visit to suburban Montgomery Co,
MD. It was spotted Dec 11 at a pond at the northwest corner of Tuckerman Rd
and Brewer's House Rd in North Bethesda, and it has continued to be seen
near the pond, or on the grounds of nearby Georgetown Prep school.  (If you
wish to enter the school property, stop at the gate and explain why you are
there.)  Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE have also been seen at Pickering
Creek Audubon Center, Talbot Co, MD, on Dec 13.

A CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD has been visiting a feeder just north of Lynchburg,
Bedford Co, VA, since mid-October.  The bird was banded and definitively
identified on Dec 6. This hatch-year male is being seen most days thanks to
the gracious hospitality of the property owners, at the rear of 207 Sandown
Circle. 

A LE CONTE'S SPARROW* was reported at the Rappahannock National Wildlife
Reserve (Wilna Tract), Richmond Co, VA, on Dec 13.

Two CACKLING GEESE were found in Carroll Co, MD, on December 13.
Single CACKLING GEESE have been spotted at Pickering Creek Audubon Center,
Talbot,Co, MD on December 10; Patuxent River Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD, on
December 11; Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in DE on December 12; and
on Oland Road in Frederick Co, MD, on Dec 13.  Three BLUE MORPH SNOW GEESE
showed among SNOW GEESE at Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary, Prince George's Co,
MD, on Dec 12, and a ROSS'S GOOSE was reported at Jug Bay (across from
Selby's Landing), Anne Arundel Co, MD, on Dec 14. 

A EURASIAN WIGEON was spotted Dec 14 at a pond at the Bayside development
off Rte 611 north of Assateague Island, Worcester Co, MD.
A EURASIAN WIGEON was reported at Piscataway Park, Prince Georges Co, MD on
Dec 14.

A REDHEAD was found Dec 13 in Cambridge, Dorcester Co, MD, on Dec 13.

A RED-THROATED LOON was visible from the Black Hills Visitor Center,
Montgomery Co, MD, on December 11.  Other RED-THROATED LOONS were abundant
at Indian River Inlet, DE on Dec 12.

A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was reported over Laurel, Prince George's Co, MD, on Dec
13.

A VIRGINIA RAIL showed in the Chesapeake Beach marsh, Calvert Co, MD, on Dec
14.  A KING RAIL and a SORA were identified at the Jug Bay Wetlands
Sanctuary, Anne Arundel Co, MD, on Dec 15.

An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was seen at the North Fork Wetlands in Prince William
Co, VA, on Dec 14.  As observed on December 14 and 15, Northampton Co, VA,
has continuing good numbers of AMERICAN WOODCOCKS.

A WILSON'S SNIPE showed at Paper Mill Flats, Baltimore Co, MD, on Dec 15.

Four ICELAND GULLS were at Cherry Island Landfill, Wilmington, DE, on Dec
12.  An ICELAND GULL flew over the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC on Dec 13.
A GLAUCOUS GULL and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL were close to Routes 50 and
346, Worcester Co, MD, on Dec 9.  A GLAUCOUS GULL showed at Cherry Hill
Landfill, Wilmington, DE, on Dec 12.
Two SHORT-EARED OWLS were along Jack Jouett Road in Louisa Co, VA, on Dec
13.  A SHORT-EARED OWL was heard close to Gordonsville Pond (15N exit from
64, right on East Green Springs) in Orange Co, VA on Dec 13.
A LONG-EARED OWL was reported at The Plains/Airlie on Blantyre Road, Rt 628
north of Warrenton, Fauquier Co, VA, on Dec 14.

 A WESTERN KINGBIRD and a LARK SPARROW were at Vessey's Orchard Somerset Co,
DE, on Dec 14. 

A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was spotted Dec 14 at Sky Meadows State Park, Fauquier
Co, VA, on Dec 14.

A YELLOW THROATED WARBLER was reported at Spruce Creek Park (close to Elk
Hill Baptist Church), Nelson Co, VA, on Dec 15.

AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were reported at a few spots including Bombay Hook
National Wildlife Refuge in DE on Dec 12 and at Manassas National
Battlefield Park, Prince William Co, VA, on Dec 14.

Five or 6 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were amidst hundreds of HORNED LARKS in fields
around the intersection of Oland Rd and Rte 85 in Frederick Co, MD, on Dec
14. LAPLAND LONGSPURS were reported at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
on Dec 12 and in Cecil Co, MD, on Dec 14.

RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, Loudon Co, VA,
on Dec 13 and at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Anne Arundel Co, MD, on Dec 14.


PINE SISKINS showed at many locations including the Van Ness area of NW
Washington, DC, on Dec 12, Lake Elkhorn in Centennial Park, Howard Co, MD,
on Dec 12, and Sycamore Landing Road, Montgomery Co, MD, on Dec 14

Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey, VA-Bird,
and DE-bird list servers.  

The Audubon Sanctuary Shop (301-652-3606,
http://www.audubonnaturalist.org/default.asp?page=511) is an excellent
source for guidebooks 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.