Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist Date: 6/6/2017 Coverage: MD/DC/VA/central and southern DE/WV panhandle Reports, comments and questions: [email protected] Compiler: Helen Patton Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States 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, May 30 and was completed on Tuesday, June 6 at 10 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).

The top birds this week were SWALLOW-TAILED KITE in VA* and SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER in MD.

Other birds of interest this week included waterfowl, B,ACK-BILLED CUCKOO, KING RAIL, COMMON GALLINULE, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, RED KNOT, WHITE- RUMPED SANDPIPER, SANDWICH TERN, BLACK SKIMMER, SOOTY SHEARWATER, LEAST BITTERN, MISSISSIPPI KITE, falcons, flycatchers, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, warblers, sparrows, DICKCISSEL and BOBOLINK.

TOP BIRDS

A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was at Cape Charles, Northampton Co., VA on May 30.

A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was at the Glendening Preserve Area of the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Anne Arundel Co., MD on June 3. It was not seen again.

OTHER SIGHTINGS

One to two SNOW GEESE were at Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co., De on June 1, 4 and 5. A CACKLING GOOSE was at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (Horsehead), Queen Anne’s Co., MD on June 1. A TRUMPTER SWAN was on Elliott Island Road, Dorchester Co., MD on June 1.

A COMMON EIDER was at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co., MD on May 30 and another was at Matompkin Island, Accomack Co., VA on June 3. Two LONG-TAILED DUCKS were at Beverly-Triton Beach, Anne Arundel Co., MD on May 30.

A BLACK-BILLED CICLOO was at , Prince George’s Co., MD on June 1.

A KING RAIL was at the Patuxent River Park, Wooton’s Landing, Co., MD on May 31. Another KING RAIL was at Black Marsh, Baltimore Co., MD on June 3.

A COMMON GALLINULE was at the Mason-Dixon Farm, Frederick Co., MD on May 30 and another was at Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co., MD on May 31.A COMMON GALLINULE was at the Back Bay NWR, Virginia Beach, VA on June 1.

COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were at the Boardwalk, Baltimore Co., MD and Windsor Point, Norfolk Co., VA on June 1 and the C&O Canal, Violette’s Lock, Montgomery Co., MD on June 5.

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were in the fields at the Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co., DE on May 30.

During the week many persons enjoyed the annual migration of RED KNOTS at various coastal locations in the reporting area, including such traditional spots in Delaware as the DuPont Nature Center (Mispillion) and Prime Hook NWR in Sussex Co, DE.

Three WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were on King Farm Road, Pulaski Co., VA on June 3.

Two SANDWICH TERNS were at Mobjack P.O> Matthews Co., VA on June 2.s BLACK SKIMMERS were at Fowler Beach, Sussex Co., DE on May 30.

On June 3, a SOOTY SHEARWATER was spotted in waters offshore from Worcester Co.

A LEAST BITTERN was at the Back Bay NWR, Virginia Beach, VA on June 1.

Northward-moving MISSISSIPPI KITES were conspicuous in the reporting area with many reports from various locations in Howard Co, MD. Other reports included: three at the Hampton Roads Agriculture Research Center, Virginia Beach, VA on June 1; a quick flyover at , Prince George’s Co., MD on May 31; one at the intersection of Columbia Pike at Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA on May 31; one at Green Spring Gardens, Fairfax VA, also on May 31; two at Magothy Bay NAP on May 31 and one to four at , Columbia, Howard Co., MD on June 3, 4 and 5;

MERLINS were observed at Sewell’s Orchard Pond, Howard Co., MD on June 3 and the C&O CANAL, Pennyfield Lock, Montgomery Co., MD on June 4. A PERIGRINE FALCON caught and ate a pigeon on the grass in front of the Hirschhorn Museum on the Mall in DC, providing an unusual tourist attraction on May 31.

Sightings of OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER included: one at the Angola Neck Preserve – North end, Sussex Co., De on May 31; one at the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area, Howard Co., MD also on May 31 and Columbia, Howard Co., MD on June 1. A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was at Monticello Park, Alexandria, VA n May 30 and at Lilypons Water Gardens, Frederick Co., MD on June 3. Noteworthy sightings of ALDER FLYCATCHER included singing individuals at several locations including Castleton Road in NE Harford Co., MD on May 31 and June 1; one on Castleton Road, Darlington, Harford Co., MD on June 1 and one to three on Old Legislative Road, Allegany Co., MD on June 1 and 3.and the Swoope Area, Augusta Co., VA on June 5.

A continuing LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE at the Smith Farm in Lunenburg Co, VA was most recently seen on May 30. Another LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was at the Helm-Toelke Farm, Craig Co., VA on June 4.

Warbler highlights included a MOURNING WARBLER seen at the Swan Creek dredge containment facility, Anne Arundel Co., MD on May 31. A WILSON’S WARBLER was at Bombay Hook NWR, Kent Co., DE on June 1.

A YELLOW-EYED EASTERN TOWHEE, an unusual subspecies, was spotted at Back Bay NWR, Virginia Beach, VA on June 1. A migrating NELSON'S SPARROW was found at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (Horsehead) Queen Anne’s Co., MD on June 2.

DICKCISSELS were seen from many locations in the area during the week.

SUMMER TANAGERS also appeared in the area during the week.

BOBOLINK sightings included: one at Craney Island Disposal Area, Portsmouth, VA on June 1; one at Greensboro, Caroline Co., MD also on June 1 and six at Fair Hill NRMA, Cecil Co., MD on June 4.

***

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, https://anshome.org/naturalist-shop/ 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 Records Committee