I hope some people read this!!!
Cheers
Phil.
NORTH EASTERN UNITED STATES TRIP REPORT
17.1-26.1.97.
BY PHIL HANSBRO
DEPT. OF PATHOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, CAMBRIDGE, CB2 1QP, UK.
Tel: (h) 01223-514441, (w) 01223-333545. Fax: 01223-333346. Email:
INTODUCTION
I went to this area at this time of year on a business trip and managed
to get in 6 days of birding. I managed to have an excellent trip and
clean up on 37 species I hadn't seen before. I could get some information
on the area via the internet and I put out a general enquiry on the
American birding news group "birdchat" to which I recieved many very
helpful replies.
THANKS
My heartfelt thanks go out to Mary Gustafson and Bruce Peterjohn who were
immensely helpful. They picked me up from the airport and drove me around
for days on end and without their help and immense birding talents I
wouldn't have seen half of the birds I did see.
Thanks also to Paul O'Brien for taking me to look for Saw-Whet's at Hughes
Hollow and Gail MacKiernan, Alan McBride, Franz Hespenheide, Michael
O'Brien, Dalcio Dacol, Kevin Kelly, Charlie Muise, Ron Outen and
appologies to anyone else I forgot to mention.
TRIP LIST (those with an asterisk represent ticks for me).
Common Loon
Red-throated Loon
Horned Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
American Bittern
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Tricoloured Heron
Snowy Egret
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Tundra Swan
Mute Swan
Snow Goose
*Ross's Goose
Canada Goose
Brant Goose
Mallard
American Black Duck
Gadwall
Green-winged Teal
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Northern Shoveler
Ruddy Duck
*Canvasback
*Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Common Eider
Black Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Surf Scoter
Harlequin Duck
Oldsquaw
Common Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
*Hooded Merganser
Clapper Rail
American Coot
American Oystercatcher
Semi-palmated Plover
Killdeer
Black-bellied Plover
*Marbled Godwit
Whimbrel (hudsonicus)
Willet
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Long-billed Dowitcher
*Wilson's Snipe
*American Woodcock
Ruddy Turnstone
Dunlin
Sanderling
Western Sandpiper
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Black-tailed Gull
Herring Gull
Glaucous Gull
Kumlien's Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
*Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Northern Bobwhite
Wild Turkey
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl (heard only)
Barred Owl (heard only)
*Hawk Owl
*Boreal Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-shafted Flicker
Red-headed Woodpecker
*Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
*Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Horned Lark
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven
Tufted Titmouse
*Black-capped Chickadee
*Carolina Chickadee
*Brown Creeper
*White-breasteded Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
*Marsh Wren
*Golden-crowned Kinglet
*Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
*Hermit Thrush
*American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
American Water Pipit
*Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
(Western) Palm Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Eastern Towhee
*Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
*Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
(Acadian Sharp-tailed Sparrow)
*Seaside Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
(Ipswich Sparrow)
*Song Sparrow
*American Tree Sparrow
*Field Sparrow
*Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
*White-throated Sparrow
*White-crowned Sparrow
*Fox Sparrow
*Swamp Sparrow
Snow Bunting
*Dickcissel
Eastern Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
House Sparrow
*American Goldfinch
*Purple Finch
*House Finch
= 145 Species
SITES VISITED
MARYLAND
Blackwater Wildlife Refuge
A large wetland area in Western peninsular Maryland ~10 miles South of
Cambridge. Drive around the roads and check large Snow Geese flocks for
Ross's Goose.
Great Blue Heron, Tundra Swan, Mute Swan, Snow Goose, Ross's Goose (1),
Gadwall, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk,
Horned Lark, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2), Field Sparrow, Fox
Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow.
Ocean City
On the Eastern shore of Peninsular Maryland. Check the harbour, coastline
and bays around the town.
En route: Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Bluebird.
Common Loon, Red-throated Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant,
American Black Duck, Ruddy Duck, Canvasback, Greater Scaup, Common Eider,
White-winged Scoter, Harlequin Duck, Oldsquaw, Bufflehead, Red-breasted
Merganser, Clapper Rail, American Coot, American Oystercatcher,
Black-bellied Plover, Bonaparte's Gull, Ruddy Turnstone, Purple Sandpiper,
Dunlin.
Potomac C & O Canal
Violette's Loch and Riley's Loch.
Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker,
Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned
Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Purple Finch (32).
Blackhills Reservoir
Just North West of Gaithersburg. Drive around to find the open water. The
Sparrows were around the visitors centre. Good at this time of year, only
if there is still some unfrozen open water.
En route: Black Vulture, White-crowned Sparrow.
Pied-billed Grebe, Tundra Swan, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail,
Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye,
Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, American Black Duck, American Coot, American
Tree Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow.
E. A. Vaughn Reserve
On the East coast of peninsular Maryland down Bayview Road and head for
the coast, from Girdletree 6 miles North of the Virginia border. Good for
Rails but was frozen up, a tape would be useful.
Tundra Swan, Snow Goose, Great Horned Owl (heard only), Belted Kingfisher,
Marsh Wren, Hermit Thrush, American Robin.
Hughes Hollow
Talk to local birders.
Red-shouldered Hawk, Wild Turkey (heard only), Barred Owl (heard only),
Hairy Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, American Robin.
VIRGINIA
Chincoteague
A great place on the Eastern coast of peninsular Virginia. Ipswich and
Savannah Sparrows are in the dunes by the beach. Drive into Chincoteague
on the 175 turn left at the lights and right towards Maddocks
caravan/camping park. Follow the road to the end, park in the car park and
walk through the Southern dunes. For the Saltmarsh Sparrows walk through
the saltmarsh on the mainland end of the causeway on the North side of the
road. It is easier to walk though when frozen but the birds are hard to
see - it took me 6 hours!!
En route: Pied-billed Grebe, Snow Goose, Brant Goose, Bufflehead,
Red-breasted Merganser, Hooded Merganser, American Oystercatcher,
Semi-palmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Sharp-shinned Hawk,
Eastern Bluebird, Brown-headed Cowbird.
Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Black-crowned Night-Heron,
Tricoloured Heron, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Mute Swan, American Black
Duck, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Ruddy
Duck, Lesser Scaup, Black Scoter, Surf Scoter, Oldsquaw, Black-bellied
Plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, Dunlin, Sanderling, Bald
Eagle, Northern Bobwhite, Belted Kingfisher, Horned Lark, Marsh Wren,
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, (Acadian
Sharp-tailed Sparrow), Seaside Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, (Ipswich
Sparrow), Swamp Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Eastern Meadowlark.
Pony Trail Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge - Red-bellied Woodpecker,
Brown Creeper, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet,
Cedar Waxwing.
Willis Wharf
A site for good views of Marbled Godwit but they are often not there. Just
have a quick look and if not go to Oyster. Willis Wharf is a tiny village
and is also on the Eastern coast of peninsular Virginia. Turn off the 13
East on the 603 just South of Exmoor. Drive into Willis Wharf and check
the small area of the river and mudflats.
Ruddy Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Marbled Godwit,
Willet.
Oyster
14 miles South of Exmoor turn off the 13 to Cheriton and follow the signs
to Oyster. Check the tidal mudflats - rising tide is best.
En route: Glaucous Gull, Black Vulture, Fish Crow.
Great Cormorant, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser,
Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel, Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, Long-billed
Dowitcher, Ruddy Turnstone, Western Sandpiper, Northern Harrier, Cooper's
Hawk, Field Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark.
Cheasapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Island No. 4
A permit is needed to stop on the bridge tunnel which runs across
Chesapeake Bay from Cape Charles to Norfolk. So you need to go with local
birders, it is also $10 to cross.
Common Loon, Canvasback, Greater Scaup, Common Eider, Surf Scoter,
Oldsquaw, Bonaparte's Gull, Black-tailed Gull with Ring-billed, Herring
and Great Black-backed Gulls, Kumlien's Gull, Purple Sandpiper.
Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge
Kiptopeake.
En route: Horned Lark, Eastern Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed
Cowbird.
American Woodcock, Peregrine Falcon, Hermit Thrush, American Robin,
Chipping Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow.
DELAWARE
Indian River Inlet
Part of the Delaware Seashore State Park on the Eastern coast of
Peninsular Delaware. A bridge goes over the Indian River Bay between
Rehoboth Beach and Ocean City, towards the South end of the bridge is a
turning off which allows you to park near to the mouth of the Inlet. From
the South end of the car park you can walk through the saltmarsh. Check
the river mouth for ducks.
Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Cormorant, American
Bittern, Great Blue Heron, American Black Duck, Canvasback, Greater
Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser,
Hooded Merganser, Clapper Rail, Ruddy Turnstone, Dunlin, Sanderling, Marsh
Wren, Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow.
Silver Lake
Snow Goose, Snow Bunting.
Cape Henlope
Again on the Eastern coast of Peninsular Delaware, turn East off the 1 on
to the 9 and follow to the park. Check the feeder at the visitor centre,
the woodland and the sea.
Red-throated Diver, Mute Swan, American Robin, Fox Sparrow, House Finch.
WEST VIRGINIA
Along Route 230
Wilson's Snipe, American Water Pipit.
Kabletown Road area, Jefferson County
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Western Palm Warbler, Red-headed Woodpecker,
White-crowned Sparrow.
Shenandoah River
Pied-billed Grebe, Hooded Merganser, American Black Duck, Bufflehead.
RHODE ISLAND
Along Creek close to Airport
Hooded Merganser
MASSACHUSETTS
Cape Anne
Common Eider, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Black-capped Chickadee,
Dickcissel (twitched at a feeder).
Down Town Boston
Boreal Owl (twitched).
VERMONT
Waterbury
En route: Wild Turkey, Common Raven, American Robin.
Hairy Woodpecker, Hawk Owl (twitched).
Addison
En route: Rough-legged Hawk, Horned Lark.
Northern Harrier, Hawk Owl (twitched), Black-capped Chickadee, American
Tree Sparrow.
Cornwall
Hawk Owl (twitched).
COMMON BIRDS
Canada Goose, Mallard, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great
Black-backed Gull, Turkey Vulture, American Kestrel, Rock Dove, Mourning
Dove, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tufted
Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, American Robin, Northern
Mockingbird, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal,
Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged
Blackbird, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow, American
Goldfinch.
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Dr Phil Hansbro I Tel: (h) 01223 514441 or
Dept of Pathology I 01223 514434
Tennis Court Road I (w) 01223 333545
Cambridge University I Fax: 01223 333346
Cambridge CB2 1QP I
UK I Email:
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