Mark T. Adams 
Matt Hafner 
T he season opened with a major winter 
storm that affected the Eastern 
Seaboard and the southern Appalachi- 
an Mountains 1-3 March. Averaged across the 
season and the Region’s geography, however, 
spring temperatures were mostly near nor- 
mal, though Maryland was warmer than aver- 
age in April. The season became wetter as it 
progressed. March precipitation showed a 
distinct gradient from much below normal in 
the northwest to near normal in the south- 
east. April was wetter in Maryland than Vir- 
ginia, but rainfall amounts were well above 
average east of the Chesapeake Bay in both 
states. May was wet everywhere outside cen- 
tral and eastern Virginia, which were closer to 
normal though still above average. Observers 
reported many rarities, including Black-bel- 
lied Whistling-Duck, Red-billed Tropicbird, 
Eurasian Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, and 
Common Murre. The lamentable lack of 
pelagic birding trips in the Region continues 
to leave a lacuna in our understanding of the 
current distribution of pelagic terns, tubenoses, 
jaegers, tropicbirds (but see below), and 
skuas off Virginia and Maryland. 
In addition to this report’s many individual 
contributors, we thank Todd Day, Adam 
D’Onofrio, YuLee Lamer, Roger and Linda 
Mayhorn, Robert E Ringler, Jo Solem, and Bill 
Williams for their assistance in compiling and 
interpreting the season’s records. 
Abbreviations: Assat. (Assateague L, Worces- 
ter, MD); Bay (Chesapeake Bay); C.B.B.T. 
(Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, linking 
Northampton and Virginia Beach, VA); C.C.B. 
(Center for Conservation Biology, College of 
William and MaryWirginia Commonwealth 
University); Chine. (Chincoteague N.W.R., 
Accomack, VA); D.C. (District of Columbia); 
Hart (Hart-Miller I., Baltimore, MD); O.C. 
(Ocean City, Worcester, MD); Poplar (Poplar 
L, Talbot, MD); V.C.R. (Virginia Coast Reserve 
of The Nature Conservancy). 
WATERFOWL 
THROUGH IBISES 
Though the species has occurred 
with increasing frequency through- 
out the East since the mid-1990s, 10 
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks 
were still an excellent find at L. 
Churchill, Montgomery, MD 30 May 
(K&BH). Another delighted birders 
at Richmond, VA 19-25 May (AB et 
al). Rarely seen in the Region in 
numbers in May, 16 Greater White- 
fronted Geese were grazing on 
young wheat with 3000 Canada and 2 Cack- 
ling Geese at Leedstown, Westmoreland, VA 8 
May (FA). A single Greater White-fronted 
Goose continued from the winter at Piney 
Res., Garrett, MD through 8 Mar (ML et al); 
and another single visited Gibson L, Anne 
Arundel, MD 22-26 Mar (CV et al). Lone 
Ross’s Geese were at Chestertown, Kent, MD 7 
Mar (MB), Blackwater N.W.R., Dorchester, 
MD 8 Mar (]B), and near downtown Lynch- 
burg, VA 27-30 May (TDa et al); 2 were in 
Kent, MD 17 Mar (SA). A flock of 112 Brant at 
Grandview Beach Park, Hampton, VA 25 Apr 
(NF et al.) was a noteworthy number locally. 
Three Brant at Poplar 9 Mar QR) and one at 
Cobb 1., Charles, MD 1 Apr (]H, JBy, JCu) 
were both good finds, as the species is rare in 
Maryland away from Worcester. 
Long-billed Curlew has been a rare, annual visitor to Vir- 
ginia's barrier islands In recent years, but most records ap- 
pear to refer to one or two returning Individuals. This one 
was photographed 30 May 2009 on the eastern side of Elkins 
Marsh, Northampton County, near where one has been 
recorded most years since 2003. Photograph by Barry Truitt. 
A Mute Swan at Deerfield, Augusta, VA 11- 
12 Apr (LT, fide YL) furnished just the 3rd 
county record in spring. A Trumpeter Swan 
visited Rocky Gap, Allegany, MD 23 Mar (ph. 
ML). Four Trumpeter Swans continued at Vi- 
olette’s Lock, Montgomery, MD from the win- 
ter through 17 Mar (DCz et al). The Trum- 
peter Swan at Upper Marlboro, Prince 
George’s, MD continued from the winter 
through 23 Mar (FS et al.) and is presumed to 
Middle Atlantic | 
be #962, though the bird has lost its wing tag. 
A lone Trumpeter Swan remained at Lakeside 
Business Park, Harford, MD from the winter 
through 31 Mar (m.ob.). A Tundra Swan at 
Chesapeake Farms, Kent 28 May (RFR) was 
not seen afterward. 
The male Eurasian Wigeon continued from 
the winter at Ridgeway Park, Hampton 
through 4 Mar (BCo); others were at Patterson 
Park, Baltimore City, MD 1 Apr (DCu), at East- 
ern Shore of Virginia N.W.R. 7 Mar 
(GK&MAK), and at Chine. 4 & 17 Apr (AL et 
al). A Canvasback lingered at Ramsey L., Anne 
Arundel until 20 May A male Ring- 
necked Duck was similarly late at Shirley Plan- 
tation, Charles City, VA 17 May (AB). Four 
Greater Scaup were well past their typical de- 
parture date at Hart 23-30 May (EJS et al). The 
season’s eiders were a King at O.C. Inlet, 
Worcester, MD 21 Mar (AS et al.) and 2 Com- 
mons at O.C. Inlet 18-21 Mar (WW, DB et al). 
Two Harlequin Ducks were at O.C. Inlet, 
Worcester 1 1 Apr, and an imm. male remained 
through 22 May (ML, JL, JB), establishing a 
new late date for Maryland (Virginia has had 
summering Harlequins). Notable inland Surf 
Scoter records included an ad. male on the 
James R., Richmond 17 Apr (AB); 2 birds at Vi- 
olette’s Lock, Montgomery, MD 20 Apr (DCz); 
and one at Seneca, Montgomery (m.ob.) that 
remained from the winter through 20 Mar. 
Two White-winged Scoters were a nice find at 
Riley’s Lock, Montgomery 15-21 Mar (GH et 
al), as were the 2 at Violette’s Lock, Mont- 
gomery 20 Apr (DCz). A White -winged Scoter 
at O.C. Inlet 17-22 May (BH et al.) was the sea- 
son’s latest. Fourteen Long-tailed Ducks dis- 
covered at Mill Creek L., Amherst, VA 14 Apr 
(MJ et al.) were unprecedented for the county; 
4 at Bell’s Lane 28 Mar (AL) were the first in 
Augusta since 1990; a female visited a 
Fauquier, VA pond 11 Apr Q&BJL); and a male 
stopped at Sandy River Res., Prince Edward, VA 
12 Apr (ph. TM). A Bufflehead at Cambridge, 
Dorchester 23 May (ZB) was late, as was a 
Common Goldeneye at Hooper’s L, Dorchester 
28 May OM)- Hooded Merganser was con- 
firmed this season as a Maryland breeding 
species in Prince George’s, Morrtgornery, Anne 
Arundel, Carroll, and Frederick. 
A Red-throated Loon at Carvins Cove Res., 
Botetourt, VA 27 Mar (MP et al.) made a first 
Roanoke Valley record. Single Red-throated 
Loons were welcome inland finds at Little 
Seneca L., Montgomery 2 Apr (DCz) and at 
Cylburn Arboretum, Baltirrrore City 12 Apr 
(KGr et al). The 217 Common Loons hying 
over Manchester at Carroll, MD 10 Apr (MSc) 
represented an excellent count for this Pied- 
mont location. A Common Loon at L. 
Moomaw, Bath, VA 27 May was late (GS et 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 3 
403 
