DC Area (MD/DC/VA/DE) RBA
June 23, 2009
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:59:53 -0400
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From: Steve Cordle <scordle@CAPACCESS.ORG>
Subject: [BIRDEAST] DC Area, 6/23/09
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Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 6/23/09
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email): voice@AudubonNaturalist.org
(deadline): midnight Mondays
Compiler: Lydia Schindler
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the
Central Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle (scordle@capaccess.org)
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, June 23, at 9
a.m.
Top birds this week are NEOTROPIC CORMORANT* in MD and ROSEATE
SPOONBILL* in VA.
Other birds of interest include waterfowl, seabirds, AMERICAN WHITE
PELICAN, LEAST BITTERN, MISSISSIPPI KITE, shorebirds, LESSER
BLACK-BACKED and GLAUCOUS GULLS, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER, CERULEAN WARBLER, sparrows, DICKCISSEL, and PINE SISKIN.
A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT* was discovered June 17 on the Potomac River in
the vicinity of Violette's Lock, Montgomery Co, MD; it has been
relocated daily through June 21. The most reliable viewing appears to
be in the evening, when the bird roosts (along with many
Double-crested Cormorants) on a small island about 1 mile downstream
from Violette's.
The ROSEATE SPOONBILL* found June 15 south of Waynesboro, Augusta Co,
VA, continued through the evening of June 19, but it has not been seen
since; the flooded corn field where it had been foraging (and where
birders' cars lined up facing the field "almost as if we were at a
drive-in movie") has been drying up.
Reports of a male RING-NECKED DUCK came from Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier
Co, VA, on June 20--and also from a large pond in Loudoun Co, VA,
about 6 miles NE of Sky Meadows that same day. On June 21 a juvenile
RING-NECKED DUCK was observed in the Potomac River from Great Falls
NP, Fairfax Co, VA. A COMMON MERGANSER and nine ducklings were seen
near Violette's Lock June 18.
On June 17 in Worcester Co, MD, waters off the ORV zone at Assateague
Island hosted CORY'S and GREATER SHEARWATERS, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL,
and NORTHERN GANNET. Similar seabirds were seen that day from the
Ocean City Inlet.
On June 16, an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was observed at Poplar Island,
Talbot Co, MD, and on June 17 one was found at Blackwater NWR,
Dorchester Co, MD (along Key Wallace Dr "near open water by the
maintenance yard"). More surprisingly, at midday on June 18 an
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was spotted over downtown DC, flying south down
16th St. At 3 that afternoon, an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN flew over the
Patuxent Research Refuge 3/4 mile south of Powder Mill Rd in Prince
George's Co, MD.
An ANHINGA was found June 17 in Southampton City, VA; it perched at a
small pond about 7 miles east of the Emporia Municipal Airport, along
Rte 615 south of Rte 58. On June 21, 2 ANHINGAS, apparently
fledglings, were seen at the Harwood Mills Reservoir, Oriana Rd, York
Co, VA.
During the weekly walk at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, on June 21, "one
lucky participant" got to see a LEAST BITTERN in flight. A LEAST
BITTERN was seen June 17 at Blackwater NWR.
On June 19 an adult MISSISSIPPI KITE flew over the Kings Park
subdivision in Springfield, Fairfax Co. On June 17 a MISSISSIPPI KITE
was again found in Greensville Co, VA; it perched near the Three
Creeks WWTP, at the north end of Rte 616 and east of Rte 301.
On June 17, Skimmer's Island in Ocean City held a dozen RED KNOTS,
plus SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS and, appropriately, BLACK SKIMMERS. The
Skimmers were still in evidence June 21.
On June 21 a GLAUCOUS GULL was at Skimmer Island and a LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL at the Ocean City Inlet.
A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO visited a yard in Waldorf, Charles Co, MD, the
morning of June 23.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER seen June 16 at Prince William Forest Park,
VA, was a first for the area; it was found along Rte 619 at Johnson's
Corner. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was noted June 17 on Bestpitch Ferry
Rd, in the vicinity of Blackwater NWR. On June 22, Keysville Rd,
Carroll Co, MD, hosted a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER as well as VESPER and
GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS.
On June 21, an adult CERULEAN WARBLER and a fledgling were discovered
near Conowingo Dam, Harford Co, MD; the birds were on the west side of
the old railroad trail a few hundred yards south of the parking lot.
Eight CERULEANS were among 8 species of warblers singing at G Richard
Thompson WMA in western Fauquier Co on the evening of June 22.
On June 19 at least 6 DICKCISSELS were still singing along Red House
Rd/Rte 615 in Campbell Co, VA; one of the birds was found there June
22. [From Rustburg, take Rte 24 east .7 mile to a right turn onto Rte
615; about 1 m past Rte 805, look for a small pond on the left.] In
Talbot Co, MD, DICKCISSELS continue to frequent a large field north of
White Marsh Cemetery, south of Easton.
PINE SISKINS visited a feeder in Ashton, Carroll Co, on June 18 and
19.
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
voice@AudubonNaturalist.org 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.
For Birdeast archives, and to join, leave, or change address, see:
http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdeast.html