-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 10:48 AM
To: 
Subject: DC Area, 9/15/09

Hotline:            Voice of the Naturalist 
Date:               9/15/09
Coverage:           MD/DC/VA/DE 
Telephone:          301-652-1088 option 1 
Reports (voice):    301-652-1088 option 2 
        (email):     
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, September 15, at 9:00 am.

Top birds this week are EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER* in DE and SAND-PLOVER* in VA

Other birds of interest include NORTHERN GOSHAWK, BROAD-WINGED HAWK,
shorebirds, BLACK TERN, CHIMNEY SWIFT, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, flycatchers,
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, COMMON RAVEN, warblers, and
LARK SPARROW.

A EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER* was reported on Sep 14 on the west side of Rte 9
in the fields of Wick's potato farm between the Leipsic River Bridge and the
turnoff sign for Bombay Hook NWR in DE. Traffic on Rte
9 has fast moving vehicles in this area and birders should exercise caution.

The SAND-PLOVER* first spotted in Augusta Co, VA, on Sep 6 and 7 was
reported again on the afternoon of Sep 8 flying north but has not been
observed since. The specific identification of whether the bird was a LESSER
SAND-PLOVER* or GREATER SAND-PLOVER* continues to be studied at the time of
this report.

A juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK was reported on Sep 8 north of Frederick, off of
Walter Martz Road where it crosses Tuscarora Creek, Frederick Co, MD.

BROAD-WINGED HAWKS are in their annual mid-September movement through the
mid-Atlantic States with reports from our region's hawk watch locations and
elsewhere. Sightings have included 78 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS over Manchester,
Carroll Co, MD on Sep 10, 86 above Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, Waynesboro,
Augusta Co, VA on Sep 12, 85 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS in the vicinity of Van Ness
and Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC on Sep 14, 223 at Ashland Nature
Center, New Castle Co, DE on Sep 14, 134 at Cromwell Valley Hawk Watch,
Baltimore Co, MD on Sep 14, and 247 above Rockburn Branch Park, Howard Co,
MD on Sep 14.


Grassland and field reports have included eight AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS on
the Central Sod Farms on John Brown Rd, Queen Anne's Co, MD on Sep 8 and
again on Sep 12 and 13. Two BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were at the same sod
farms on Sep 13. Other AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were spotted at Wick's potato
field on Rte 9 between the Leipsic River Bridge and the entrance road to
Bombay Hook NWR, DE on Sep 14. 

A trip to Poplar Island in Talbot Co, MD on Sep 14 uncovered at least
22 species of shorebirds including two AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS, three
BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, and one MARBLED GODWIT.

Elsewhere, shorebirds included a WHIMBREL on the beach at Swan Creek in
northern Anne Arundel Co, MD on Sep 10. A STILT SANDPIPER was seen on the
mud flats close to the Patuxent River Bridge on Brown's Bridge Road in
Howard Co, MD on Sep 10, 11, and 13. Two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS were seen at the
Youghiogheny Reservoir from the direction of Old Morgantown Rd, Garrett Co,
MD on Sep 10.

A BLACK TERN was identified flying at Great Oak Pond, close to Chestertown,
Kent Co, MD on Sep 11. Two BLACK TERNS were spotted at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax
Co, VA on Sep 13. 

About 500 CHIMNEY SWIFTS were observed going to roost in the area of
Belvedere School, Annandale, Fairfax Co, VA on Sep 13.

Nine RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen along the Tubman Road Trail and two
others on the wildlife drive of the Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co, MD on Sep
13. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was reported in the meadow area across from the
old fort at Fort Smallwood Park, Anne Arundel Co, MD on Sep 14.

Flycatcher sightings came from various locations. Two OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHERS were spotted in Woodbine, Carroll Co, MD on Sep 13.
Reports of a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER came from Schoolhouse Pond, Upper
Marlboro, Prince George's Co, MD on Sep 8; two at Prime Hook, DE on Sep 9,
and two others at Brookside Gardens/Wheaton Regional Park, Montgomery Co, MD
on Sep 13. A LEAST FLYCATCHER was observed at Ashland nature Center, New
Castle Co, DE on Sep 8.

The SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER* seen previously near Sudlersville, Queen
Anne's Co, MD was seen again on Sep 12. The tail feathers were reported to
be growing back. Head north from Sudlersville on Rte 313/Millington Rd for
of couple of miles to 1421, a house with a small produce stand and check the
wires and trees. 

A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen at Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore Co, MD on
Sep 12, another at Point Lookout SP, St. Mary's Co, MD on Sep 12, and
another at Brookside Gardens/Wheaton Regional Park, Montgomery Co, MD on Sep
13.

A COMMON RAVEN was spotted on the water tower at the Naval Surface Warfare
Center near MacArthur Blvd, Carderock, Montgomery Co, MD on Sep 9. Another
COMMON RAVEN was seen at the Hunter Hacor Tract in Centreville, Fairfax Co,
VA on Sep 13.

This is a wonderful time to see and study fall warblers. Warblers were
widespread through our region including numerous sightings of AMERICAN
REDSTART, BLUE-WINGED, NORTHERN PARULA, YELLOW, CHESTNUT-SIDED, MAGNOLIA,
YELLOW-RUMPED, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, PINE,
BAY-BREASTED, BLACK-AND-WHITE, WORM-EATING, OVENBIRD, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT,
and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. A sampling of other warblers and their locations
in our region includes a CONNECTICUT WARBLER on the National Mall in
Washington, DC on Sep 8, a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER at Davidsonville Park, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on Sep 8, a CAPE MAY WARBLER at Deal Island, Somerset Co, MD
on Sep 9, a WILSON'S WARBLER at Compton Mountain, Buchanan Co, VA on Sep 9,
a MOURNING WARBLER at Governor Bridge Natural Area, Prince George's Co, MD
on Sep 10, a NASHVILLE WARBLER on Assateague Island, Bayside, on Sep 12, a
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER on the ridge in Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC on
Sep 13, a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER on the azalea hillside at the National
Arboretum, Washington, DC on Sep 14, a BLACKPOLL WARBLER at Ladew Gardens,
Harford Co, MD on Sep 14, a HOODED WARBLER in Monticello Park, Fairfax Co,
VA on Sep 14, and a TENNESSEE WARBLER at
Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on Sep 14..   

A LARK SPARROW was at Fort Miles, Cape Henlopen SP, DE on Sep 12, a LARK
SPARROW was seen in Historic St. Mary's City, St. Mary's Co, MD on Sep 12,
and another at the Bachman Sports Complex off Ordnance Rd, Glen Burnie, Anne
Arundel Co, MD on Sep 13.

Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey, VA-Bird,
and DE-Birds 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