Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist Date: 12/20/2016 Coverage: MD/DC/VA/central and southern DE/WV panhandle Reports, comments and questions: [email protected] Compiler: Joe Coleman Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States (independent of NAS) Transcriber: Steve Cordle

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This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon Naturalist Society. This report covers the week starting Tuesday, Dec 13 and was completed on Tuesday, Dec 20 at 9:00 a.m.

Information on noteworthy birds is presented below in taxonomic order, as set forth in the American Ornithologists’ Union Checklist for North and Middle American birds, as revised through the 57th Supplement (July 2016).

Every year several rare and unusual birds are found as a result of the massive effort and the access to locations that are usually not open to the public occur during the many Christmas Bird Counts that take place in our area from Dec 14 through Jan 4. This year is no exception as many of the sightings below from Dec 14 on were found during CBCs or during scouting before the counts.

Top birds this week were PINK-FOOTED GOOSE* in MD, BARROW’S GOLDENEYE* in MD, WESTERN GREBE* in VA, CRESTED CARACARA in DE, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER* in MD, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK* in MD.

Birds of interest this week included geese including GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, TRUMPETER SWAN, EURASIAN WIGEON, LONG-TAILED DUCK, RED- NECKED GREBE, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, SANDHILL CRANE, AMERICAN AVOCET, gulls including BLACK-HEADED, ICELAND and GLAUCOUS, GREAT CORMORANT, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, BROWN PELICAN, AMERICAN BITTERN, herons, NORTHERN SHRIKE, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, SEDGE WREN, SNOW BUNTING, warblers including ORANGE-CROWNED, NASHVILLE, and WILSON’S, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, sparrows including LE CONTE’S and LINCOLN’S, DICKCISSEL, and ORIOLE.

TOP BIRDS

Two PINK-FOOTED GEESE*, mixed in with a flock of Canada Geese, were found and photographed on Dec 18 next to a pond about ½ way down Reese's Corner Rd, Kent County, MD ; they have not been relocated since then.

Just in time to be counted for the Pt Lookout CBC on Dec 18, the drake BARROW’S GOLDENEYE* returned for the 6th year to the Elm’s Environmental Education Center, St. Mary’s Co, MD; it was seen again on Dec 19.

A WESTERN GREBE was spotted Dec 17 in Chisman Creek off the pier at the Dare Marina, 821 Railway Rd, Yorktown, VA.

On Dec 18 a CRESTED CARACARA was seen and photographed in flight at Gordons Pond, Cape Henlopen SP, DE.

The continuing BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER* was again seen at Tydings Memorial Park, Harford Co, MD with reports as recently as Dec 19.

A BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK*, first seen visiting a feeder at a private residence in St. Mary’s Co, MD on Dec 13, was seen by numerous birders as recently as Dec 19.

OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST

On December 4 four GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE visited Shearness Pool at Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co, DE. On Dec 18 a flock of 13 GREATER WHITE- FRONTED GEESE was found at Sherwood Lakes, Virginia Beach, VA. A single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was found close-by on Dec 16 at Haviland Dr. On December 13 one and on 14 two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen from McHenry in Deep Creek Lake, Garrett Co, MD. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was found Dec 19 at Chesapeake Farm, Kent Co, MD. A flock of 7 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were reported off of Rock Hill Rd, Chestertown, Kent Co, MD. Both ROSS'S GEESE and CACKLING GEESE turned up at a number of locations in both MD and VA this past week.

The longstanding tagged TRUMPETER SWAN that frequents Lake Churchill and nearby Gunner’s Lake in Montgomery Co, MD was reported as recently as Dec 16. A TRUMPETER SWAN was also seen throughout the week at , Prince George's Co MD.

A EURASIAN WIGEON was seen Dec 13 at Battle Royal Circle Virginia Beach, VA. A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was found Dec 18 at the private (restricted access) Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, Montgomery Co, MD. One was also seen during the Seneca CBC on Dec 18 at Sycamore Landing, C&O Canal, Montgomery Co, MD. On Dec 14 four LONG-TAILED DUCKS were seen in Deep Creek Lake from McHenry, Garrett Co, MD.

Two RED-NECKED GREBES were seen Dec 19 in , Baltimore Co, MD from Loch Raven Pt.

The continuing young female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was seen in Wildewood, St. Mary’s Co, MD through Dec 16. Another female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD is visiting a feeder on Candymint Ln, Westminster, Carroll Co, MD with reports from Dec 13 to the 16th.

SANDHILL CRANES turned up at a variety of locations in both MD and VA this past week. On Dec 15 a flock of 13 flew across I-95 heading NW on the Baltimore Co, MD side of Little Gunpowder. Two were seen Dec 15 at the Algonkian Nature Preserve, Louodun Co, VA. Five were seen on Dec 16 in a cornfield at the Blandy Experimental Farm, Clarke Co, VA. Twenty SANDHILL CRANES flew from Montgomery Co, MD to

2 Howard Co, VA near the on Dec 17. A flock of between 16 and 28 SANDHILL CRANES was seen in a farm field along Bradshaw Rd near Kingsville, Baltimore Co, MD on Dec 18 and 19. Four SANDHILL CRANES were seen Dec 19 at the junction of Routes 47, 15, and 360 in Charlotte Co, VA.

Sixty-two AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen Dec 15 at the Craney Island Disposal Area, Portsmouth, VA.

On Dec 17 a BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen Dec 17 at the treatment plant from behind the shopping center at Rte 404 and Legion Rd in Caroline Co, MD. A LAUGHING GULL was seen Dec 18 on the from the Cliffs City (Kent Co) landing. Other LAUGHING GULL sightings included a flock at the Eastern Sanitary Landfill (restricted access), Baltimore Co, MD, on Dec 13 and 14. Also at the Eastern Sanitary Landfill was an ICELAND GULL on Dec 13 and 14. A first-year GLAUCOUS GULL was found Dec 16 on the mud flats east of the Hunting Creek Bridge, Fairfax Co, VA.

Two GREAT CORMORANTS flew north past Eastern Neck Island, Kent Co, MD on Dec 18.

On Dec 18 an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was seen at Hog Island WMA, Surry Co, VA. An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was seen Dec 18 and 19 at Perryville Community Park, Cecil Co, MD. Out-of-season BROWN PELICANS continued to be seen in MD along and near the .

An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen Dec 18 in Black Marsh at North Point SP, Baltimore, MD. A well-documented GREEN HERON plus 4 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, were seen at Ben Brenman Park, Alexandria, VA as part of the D.C. CBC on Dec 17.

SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen throughout the week at the Konterra Dr fields and ponds, Prince George's, MD. Six SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen Dec 16 near the intersection of Milldale Rd, Rte 624 and Stone Bridge Rd, Rte 644 in Warren Co, VA just past Gate #2 of Milldale Farm (Milldale Rd).

Both continuing NORTHERN SHRIKES, the one at the Sully Woodlands in Fairfax Co, VA, and the one along 123-132 Bens Point Road in Queen Anne’s Co, MD, were seen again this past week, the former as recently as the 16th and the latter through the 19th.

The irruption of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES continues with widely scattered sightings throughout the region.

A SEDGE WREN was found Dec 18 at the Eastern Neck NWR, Kent Co, MD; the same day another one was found at Jamestown Island, James City Co, VA.

The SNOW BUNTINGS at Point Lookout SP, St. Mary’s Co, MD, were seen as recently as Dec 18.

Also found on the D.C. CBC on Dec 17 was a videoed OVENBIRD foraging near the entrance to the American Indian Museum. Several ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen this past week including 7 on the Hopewell (VA) CBC on Dec 18. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was found Dec 17 along the bike path north of the Belle Haven picnic grounds, Fairfax Co, VA. Another was seen at , Howard Co,

3 MD on Dec 14. And on Dec 18 in DE, 2 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen at Shearness Pool, Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co, and one at Lebanon Landing, Kent Co. A NASHVILLE WARBLER was seen Dec 14 at Upper NW Branch Park, Montgomery Co, MD. Another NASHVILLE WARBLER was seen Dec 18 at Cogins Pt, Prince George County, VA. The continuing WILSON’S WARBLER at the south end of the picnic area at Dyke Marsh WP, Fairfax Co, VA was seen again on Dec 17. A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was found Dec 18 at Back Bay NWR, Virginia Beach, VA.

A LE CONTE’S SPARROW was photographed Dec 18 on Lowe’s Island, Loudoun Co, VA during the Seneca CBC; the same day another one was photographed on the Beasley Tract, Princess Anne WMA, Virginia Beach, VA. During the Hopewell (VA) CBC a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found Dec 18 at Curles Neck Farm (restricted access), Henrico Co, VA. A LINCOLN’S SPARROW was found Dec 13 at the Swan Creek Wetlands/Cox Creek DMCF, Anne Arundel Co, MD.

A continuing DICKCISSEL was seen again Dec 13 at a residential feeder in Charlottesville, VA.

Two BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS were found Dec 17 along Sanger’s Ln, Augusta Co, VA.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES continued to turn up at a number of locations.

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This week’s report was based on reports on the DE, MD, VA, and WV list servers, eBird records and various birding pages on Facebook.

The Audubon Sanctuary Shop (301-652-3606, http://anshome.org/shop)is an excellent source for guidebooks and many other nature-related titles.

To report bird sightings, e-mail your report to [email protected]. Please post reports before midnight Monday, identify the county as well as the state, and include your name and a Tuesday morning contact, e-mail or phone.

Thank you for your interest, and enjoy the birds.

*Of interest to the applicable state records committee

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