This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon Naturalist Society. This report was prepared Tuesday, June 27, at noon.Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist Date: 6/27/2006 Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1 Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2 (email): (deadline): midnight Mondays Compiler: Lydia Schindler 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.
Top birds this week are BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK in MD and WHITE-WINGED DOVE in VA.
Other birds of interest include TRUMPETER SWAN, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, LEAST BITTERN, LITTLE BLUE HERON, GLOSSY IBIS, MISSISSIPPI KITE, COMMON MOORHEN, AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, AMERICAN AVOCET, UPLAND SANDPIPER, LEAST TERN, BLACK TERN, CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW, WHIP-POOR-WILL, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, warblers, SWAMP SPARROW, DICKCISSEL, RED CROSSBILL, and ORANGE BISHOP.
The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK was still hanging out at the Washingtonian Center, Gaithersburg, Montgomery Co, MD, as of June 25.
The Southern Lapwing discovered June 17 in Worcester County, MD, could not be relocated June 22, despite extensive searching by land and sea.
There was a report of a WHITE-WINGED DOVE at a yard in Norfolk, VA; it was first seen June 26, and it returned the morning of June 27.
The TRUMPETER SWAN at Little Patuxent Oxbow Lake Nature Preserve in Anne Arundel Co, MD, was present June 26, as were a pair of LEAST BITTERNS, a pair of COMMON MOORHENS, and a small flock of LEAST TERNS.
On June 24, in the Prime Hook NWR area in DE featured several WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS at Prime Hook Beach, a dozen COMMON MOORHENS along Prime Hook Rd, 2 WILSON'S PHALAROPES along Broadkill Road, and a single BLACK TERN at the end of the Dike Trail.
On June 24, 3 LEAST BITTERNS were observed along Haul Rd at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co, VA.
On June 23, the Brandon Woods Business Park, east of Glen Burnie in Anne Arundel Co, held 2 LITTLE BLUE HERONS as well as a LEAST TERN colony, while nearby Kembo Rd featured 3 LITTLE BLUE HERONS and a GLOSSY IBIS.
A MISSISSIPPI KITE was reported June 23 from Charles Co, MD.
AMERICAN AVOCETS have been seen daily for the past 2 weeks on Poplar Island, Talbot Co, MD. On June 21, Poplar Island also hosted an AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER.
An UPLAND SANDPIPER was a nice find June 25 at the Remington Sod Farm, SW Fauquier Co, VA; it was south of Rte 654 off Sumerduck Rd.
On June 20, 1 CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW and 5 WHIP-POOR-WILLS were calling near Ino, in lower King and Queen Co, VA. On June 22, at least 2 WHIP-POOR-WILLS were heard in Cecil Co, MD, on Irishtown Rd across from the entrance to Elk Neck SP.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS continue to flood the 15 or more feeders in a yard in Laurel, Prince George's Co, MD.
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES continue at Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co. On June 25, an adult and 2 immatures were seen along the Meadow Trail (east of Rte 17); they were just east of the southernmost duck pond, which is across the stream from the trail.
On June 24, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, NE DC, held a NORTHERN PARULA, a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, and 2 YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS, as well as a SWAMP SPARROW.
On June 24, the monthly walk at the Blue Ridge Center in northwestern Loudoun Co, VA, yielded both BLUE-WINGED and KENTUCKY WARBLERS as well as CHAT.
On June 20, 2 DICKCISSELS were found in Kent Co, MD; they were singing in a field at the intersection of Grove Neck Rd and Cassidy Wharf Rd.
The RED CROSSBILLS visiting feeders at Bear Mountain Farm, Highland Co, VA, now include at least half a dozen males, several females, and 2 fledglings.
An ORANGE BISHOP, a native to Africa, was spotted June 24 in Edmonston, MD. It was at the Edmonston Pumping Station, which is along Pain Branch Trail just north of Decatur St, where the Trail, Decatur St, and Taylor St intersect.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOSPREY, VA-Bird, and DE Birds list servers.
Finding Birds in the National Capital Area by Claudia Wilds is an excellent source for directions to many birding sites. The ANS Bookstore (301-652-3606 or www.audubonnaturalist.org/cgi-bin/mesh/store) is an excellent source for this and many other nature-related titles.
To report bird sightings, e-mail your report to . But no big photo files, please. You may also report by calling 301-652-1088 and selecting 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.