MIDDLE ATLANTIC 
Dorchester 9 May (TA, fide HTA). A Purple 
Sandpiper was out of place at Chesapeake 
Beach, Calvert, MD 3 Apr (ML), and 38 con- 
tinued from the winter at Poplar through 27 
Apr, where 2 remained as late as 18 May OR)- 
Rarer in the spring than the fall, 3 Stilt Sand- 
pipers were a good find at Hart 9 May (EJS et 
al.), as were 4 at Poplar 11-12 May QR et al.). 
Single Stilt Sandpipers were at Brown’s Sta- 
tion, Prince George’s, 16-18 May (BH et al.); 
along Rt. 309, Queen Anne’s, MD 17 May (ZB); 
and at Chesapeake Farms, Kent 25 May (SA et 
al.). A very rare find anywhere in the East in 
spring, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Craney 
1. 13 May (ph. BT; BW, RB) was just the 2nd 
spring Virginia record; the first was at Chine. 
1-27 May 1964. A species noted more fre- 
quently in fall migration in the Region, a fe- 
male Ruff was at Chesapeake Farms, Kent 25- 
27 May (SA et al). Another rare spring tran- 
sient, a Long-billed Dowitcher at Chine. 14 
May was a trip highlight (LM et al). 
The 230 Wilson’s Snipe at Swoope, Augus- 
ta 2 Apr (AL) made a good spring count. 
Three Wilson’s Snipe at Finzel Swamp, Gar- 
rett 28 Apr (ML) were winnowing at a poten- 
tial breeding location, though breeding has 
yet to be confirmed anywhere in the Region. 
Two Wilson’s Phalaropes at Craney 1. 13 May 
(BW, RB, BT) were the only report of this rare 
spring transient. At least 26 Red-necked 
Phalaropes were observed at nine locations 
17-30 May; the most unexpected were single 
birds in D.C. at E. Potomac Park 26 May (PP) 
and Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens 27 May 
(WP, WK). 
More typically a rare summer through fall 
visitor, an ad. Franklin’s Gull was a surprise at 
Back River, Baltimore 20 Apr (BC). Ad. Little 
Gulls were reported from four locations: up to 
2 at Lapidum, Harford/Cecil 24-29 Mar QH et 
al.); up to 2 at Back River, Baltimore 27 Mar-2 
Apr (ML); one at C.B.B.T. 5 Apr QMc, KGe); 
and one at Hart 18 Apr (KGr et al.). Single ad. 
Black-headed Gulls visited Back River, Balti- 
more 28-29 Mar (SA et al.) and Lapidum, Har- 
ford/Cecil, MD 29-31 Mar (ML et al). Six Ice- 
land Gulls were reported from five locations, 
all but one for a single day. The most notable 
were singles at Centennial L., Howard 8 Mar 
(DZ et al.) and one at O.C., Worcester 2-24 
May (HH et al.). Lesser Black-backed Gull re- 
ports included 45 at Assat. 24 Apr QLS) and 8 
at Skimmer L, Worcester 24 May (MH et al.); 
regular surveys at Back Bay turned up 208 on 
9 Mar, 143 on 6 Apr, and 52 on 26 May 
(RLAk, DLH). The first-cycle Glaucous Gull 
at Oyster, Northampton last winter continued 
through the spring (D&ES, AD, TT); another 
was at Skimmer L, Worcester 24 May-f (MH et 
al.). Thirteen Caspian Terns at Fisherville, Au- 
gusta 20 Apr (AL) provided an impressive in- 
land count; one was at Mill Creek L., Amherst 
6 May (MB). A rare transient and summer vis- 
itor along the coast and in the lower Bay, a 
Roseate Tern was an excellent find at the O.C. 
Inlet, Worcester 17 May QB et al); the date is a 
good one for spring migrants, especially dur- 
ing periods of onshore winds. Two Common 
Terns were at Rocky Gap, Allegany 26 May 
(DY). There were only eight reports of 1-2 
Black Terns each from Maryland and D.C. 2- 
27 May; 3 were noted at Back River Reef e. of 
Poquoson, VA 30 May (BP). Two Black Skim- 
mers observed at Van Ness, D.C. 8 Apr (p.a., 
fide GA) and 2 at Hart 20 May (RFR et al.) 
were notable. A Parasitic Jaeger chased a 
Forster’s Tern at Chine. 30 May (AD, TT). A 
breeding-plumaged Common Murre was a 
most unexpected discovery at O.C. Inlet, 
Worcester 11 Apr (JB, ML, JL), although the 
species is said to be relatively regular through 
early spring off s. New Jersey by bird survey- 
ors working over Continental Shelf waters. 
DOVES THROUGH WARBLERS 
A Eurasian Collared-Dove at South Boston, 
Halifax 12 Mar+ (PG) was joined by another 
in late May, probably the same birds that vis- 
ited this location Jul-Sep 2008. One or 2 col- 
lared-doves were in Rockingham, VA 23-27 
Apr (AL, BTe); one continued from winter at 
South Pt., Worcester through 25 Apr (m.ob.); 
and 2 continued at Pocomoke, Somerset 
(m.ob.). A White-winged Dove was spotted 
from an office window in Halifax 2 Apr (PG); 
another was at Hughes Hollow, Montgomery 
26 Apr (PD). Black-billed Cuckoo seemed un- 
usually common in the Region this spring, 
with over 15 reports, including one on the 
coast at Cape Charles, VA 5 May (ESB). The 
last of this winter’s Snowy Owls included sin- 
gles at Havre de Grace, Harford 8-10 Mar (PPo 
et al.) and downtown D.C. 10-16 Mar 
(m.ob.). A Northern Saw-whet Owl was re- 
ported calling at the Saxis marsh, Accomack 
23 Apr (S&tSK, fide DM), a very unusual date 
for this species and location. A Common 
Nighthawk at Stuarts Draft, Augusta 4 Apr 
(BTe) was an extraordinarily early spring ar- 
rival. A Chuck-will’s-widow at Ft. McHenry, 
Baltimore City 28 Apr (KEC, LN) was a mi- 
grant at the fringe of this species’ range. 
An Olive-sided Flycatcher at Spencerville, 
Montgomery 26 Apr (CC) was very early. A 
singing Alder Flycatcher was at Banshee 
Reeks Nature Preserve, Loudoun, VA 16 May 
(GK63:MAK); 2 sang at Straight Fork, High- 
land, VA 24-27 May (DSh, G6a:RH). A Scissor- 
tailed Flycatcher was at Port Republic, Rock- 
ingham 8 May (fide KR); one near Waynes- 
boro, Augusta 28 May (p.a. AC) would pro- 
vide a first county spring record. In Maryland, 
where the species is less often recorded, an 
ad. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Eastern Neck 
N.W.R., Kent 26-27 May was well seen and 
photographed QGr et al). A few Loggerhead 
Shrikes were reported, including 2 at Clifton 
Farms, Russell, VA 15 Mar (TH), 2 near 
Wardell, Tazewell, VA 30 Mar (TH), one at 
Elk Garden, Russell 15 Mar (TH), one along 
Rte. 15, cen. Loudoun 17 Mar (LW, fide Joe 
Coleman), and one at Stuarts Draft, Augusta 
21 Mar (AL), A rare spring migrant on the 
Eastern Shore, a Warbling Vireo at Blackwater 
N.W.R., Dorchester 9 May (WR) was notable. 
Single Philadelphia Vireos were noted at 
Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax 11 May (KG, 
RR), at Upper Watts Branch Park, Mont- 
gomery 12 May (PO), at Green Ridge, Alle- 
gany 17 May OlS, EB), and at Merrimac Farm 
W.M.A., Prince William 17 May (MR). 
Common Raven continues to spread east- 
ward in Maryland, and this season had many 
new reports from the Laurel area of Prince 
George’s and Anne Arundel, plus a few reports 
from Harford. One at Swan Creek, Anne Arun- 
del 14 May (MG) was well away from any 
known breeding locations. Two Carolina 
Chickadees seen and heard at Bond’s Landing, 
Allegany 17 May QlS. Eb) were interesting: 
the species is very rare in Allegany, and these 
birds looked phenotypically like Carolinas. A 
Brown-headed Nuthatch at S. Holston Res., 
Washirrgton VA 7 Mar (ph, LMc, RBi) was pos- 
sibly the same bird detected on the Dec 2008 
Bristol C.B.C. and is the only Virginia Moun- 
tains and Valleys record s. of the New R. re- 
gion. Unexpected single Sedge Wrens were at 
Patterson Park, Baltimore City 30 Apr-8 May 
(DCu et al), at Patuxent Branch Trail, Howard 
5-7 May (Steve Collins et al), and at Finzel 
Swamp, Garrett 8 May QbC). A Bicknell’s 
Thrush was recorded singing and calling at 
Pasadena, Anne Arundel 18-20 May (v.r. BH et 
al); another cooperative Bicknell’s sang at Up- 
per Watts Branch Park, Morrtgomery 20-22 
May (PO et al). A Wood Thrush along Rte. 
610, Augusta 17 Mar (WPl, Jicle YL) was ex- 
tremely early. An American Pipit lingered late 
at Patton Turf Farm, Montgomery 17 May 
(AM). Single Brewster’s Warblers were at 
James River Park, Richmond 19 Apr (AB) and 
Clifton Farms, Russell 26 Apr (ph. TH). A 
Brewster’s Warbler at Old Legislative Rd., Alle- 
gany 7 May (ML) sang Golden-winged War- 
bler song; this area hosted a Brewster’s in 
2007. An Orange-crowned Warbler at Upper 
Marlboro, Prince George’s 13 May (FS) was 
late. Most spring records for this species in the 
Region occur in Mar/Apr. Single Audubon’s 
Warblers were notable at Hollywood, St. 
Mary’s 2 Mar (PC) and at Noland’s Ferry, Fred- 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 3 
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