NYS@NIHCU.BITNET ("Norman C. Saunders") (06/07/90)
The Voice of the Naturalist A Service of the Audubon Naturalist Society Transcript of the Tape Made June 6 at Noon ****************************** Migration is winding down and most reports this week are of probably breeders, plus a few stragglers. The possible nesting birds of special interest include BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS, ALDER FLYCATCHER, and MOURNING WARBLER. The migrants include two late BUFFLEHEADS at Mason Neck NWR on June 2 and first-summer GLAUCOUS GULL at Port Mahon on the 1st and OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER in Rock Creek Park on the 30th, a PINE SISKIN in Kensington on the 31st and a MAGNOLIA WARBLER in Falls Church on June 3. Several days after Frederick County, MD's first CATTLE EGRET was re- ported, one showed up in Loudoun County, VA, near Lucketts, on June 1. If you're looking for nightjars, a CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW was calling along Old Marshall Hall Road in southern Prince Georges County, MD, about 9 pm on the 3rd and WHIP-POOR-WILLS were calling along Mill Hill Road in northern Charles County on the 5th. A pair of BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS and an ALDER FLYCATCHER that may have been on territory were found at Blair Valley Lake in Washington County, MD, on June 2. From the parking lot of Blair Valley Lake, go west along the dam and north around the west end of the lake. Cross the stream on the broken footbridge. Cross a large field on a dirt track to the northwest corner then enter a second field. Go west past a post with blue and orange ribbons and enter a third field and go to its west end. There you'll see a large area of dead trees with thick underbrush. That's where the birds were. The total walk is about 3/4-mile. The nesting MOURNING WARBLER was found on the ANS trip to Shenandoah NP on June 3. Take the trail up St. Mary's Rock about 1/2 mile. As soon as you make a 90-degree turn and are above the roadway you can hear the warbler singing in front of you and a little below you. WORM-EATING WARBLERS are nesting nearby on the south side of the tunnel on Skyline Drive. If you park at the overlook there you can hear them around the rocky scree around the south tunnel entrance. WINTER WRENS can be found 1/4-mile up the trail that starts on the east side of the tunnel, singing in a hemlock grove. There is an excellent spot in Howard County, MD, for WILLOW FLYCATCHERS and CERULEAN, WORM-EATING, and BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS. Go up Georgia Av- enue, which is Rt. 97, from the Washington Beltway a vaguely-estimated 15 miles until you enter Howard County from Montgomery County. Take the first left onto Jennings Chapel Road and the next left onto Howard Chapel Road. At the bottom of the hill is a parking lot on the left. A CERULEAN WARBLER has been on territory in the trees there and WILLOW FLYCATCHERS are nesting across the road and upstream in a heavily over- grown meadow. A hundred feet back up the road from the parking lot a muddy trail goes into the woods across the street where CERULEAN, BLUE- WINGED, and WORM-EATING WARBLERS are easy to find. Reports of nesting species from Lucketts in Loudoun County, VA, include RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, COOPER'S HAWK, and the UP- LAND SANDPIPERS, all along Rt. 662 near the junction with 658. If you want to chase DICKCISSELS in Westmoreland County, VA, call the Virginia Birding Hotline for details at 804-929-1736. ****************************** The next ANS field trip will be a late afternoon and evening trip on June 16 to Elliot Island. It has a 30-person limit and requires reser- vations. Sign up with Paul O'Brien by June 12 at 301-424-6491. Hal Wierenga will co-lead. ****************************** To report bird sightings, call 652-9188 or 652-5964 weekdays from 9 to 5. Good birding and thank you for calling!