Hello birders, this is the Bird Brain, voice of Seattle
Audubon's Bird Sightings Hotline for FRIDAY, JULY 29, 1994,
at 10 AM.

To skip the details and just leave a message punch 5 and
wait for the tone.

For sick or injured birds call the Wild Bird Clinic at 941-
2174 [or PAWS at 743-3845 or 743-1884].

A HORNED PUFFIN was reported flying with COMMON MURREs near
Sekiu west of Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula. Very
occasional strays have summered at TUFTED PUFFIN colonies in
Washington in the past.

TUFTED PUFFINS could be studied at close range at Cape
Flattery at the end of the earth west of Neah Bay July 16.
Also conspicuous there were COMMON MURRES, PIGEON
GUILLEMOTS, BRANDT'S and PELAGIC CORMORANTS, BLACK
OYSTERCATCHERS, and BALD EAGLES.

A GREEN HERON was at the Montlake Fill July 9 & 10. Also
present that weekend were LEAST SANDPIPERS and a GREATER
YELLOWLEGS. The escaped RED BISHOP was seen there again July
6. A NORTHERN BOBWHITE, likely an escapee, has been reported
repeatedly in early July in north Seattle, most recently
July 18 at the corner of NE 117th and 26th NE. COMMON
MERGANSERS broods have been reported on Lake Washington in
recent weeks. A WOOD DUCK with chicks was on Green Lake
July 24. Three BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS were reported in
flight over Mathews Beach in Seattle in the early morning of
July 20. This species is not known to nest in the area and
is only rarely seen here.

The CASPIAN TERN colony at the Everett Naval Base contained
up to 2600 birds, as determined by a photographic analysis.
The first young hatching out June 13. Two pairs of ARCTIC
TERNs nested nearby but have fledged and departed. PURPLE
MARTINS are still at their nest in the Everett harbor. Look
for them in pilings north of the marina in Pt. Gardner Bay.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVERs, WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and RUDDY
TURNSTONES were on the mud flats of Gardner Bay July 26.

LESSER SCAUPs and AMERICAN WIGEONs had chicks on the Everett
STP in late July. A PEREGRINE has been feeding regularly
over the ponds also. A SOLITARY SANDPIPER and two
FRANKLIN'S GULL with some 200 BONAPARTE'S GULLS were at the
ponds July 26.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS were reported July 24 at Swantown
Pond and Crockett Lake on Whidbey Is. Other Whidbey Is.
sightings July 24 include a PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Swantown,
21 PACIFIC LOONS at Swantown beach, BLACK & RUDDY TURNSTONES
and SURFBIRDS at the nw corner of Penn Cove, four WHIMBRELS
and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE at Crockett Lake.

A variety of shorebirds including two juvenile SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPERS and a pair of SNOWY PLOVERS were on Catala Spit,
aka Damon Point at Ocean Shores July 24. A GREAT EGRET was
also present at the pond on the spit that day.

A family of NORTHERN PYGMY OWLs was spotted by Kevin Aanerud
on the Snow Lake Trail above Alpental at Snoqualmie Pass
July 15.

A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was reported July 13 up Iron Creek
Rd., FSR 9714 off US 97 southwest of Blewett Pass in the
Wenatchee Mountains. WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS are numerous
in this area also. FLAMMULATED OWLS were heard along FSR
9712 north of Liberty in the Wenatchee Mountains July 16 &
17. Call Ruth Sullivan in Tacoma at 206-564-7419 for
details.

A pair of THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS was at the parking lot at
Rainy Pass on SR 20 July 21. Ken Knittle reports both
THREE-TOED and BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS at the Mt. Hardy
burn just west of Rainy Pass, along with eight PINE
GROSBEAKS, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLs, and MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS,
all July 19. He also reported a WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN with
chicks on Slate Peak above Harts Pass that weekend. Russell
Rogers had SPRUCE GROUSE with chicks on the Freezeout Ridge
Trail up Tiffany Mountain ne of Winthrop in late July.

Scott Atkinson reports at least four GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES
along Biscuit Ridge Rd. in eastern Walla Walla Co. July 3.
They were seen again there July 16. Forty-two AMERICAN
WHITE PELICANS were at the mouth of the Walla Walla River,
also July 3. WHITE PELICANS are numerous also at White
Bluffs at the Black-throated Sparrow spot on the Columbia
River. A FERRUGINOUS HAWK was reported along US 395 north
of Pasco between mileposts 30 & 31 July 9.

For SAS field trips, or for information on conservation and
education issues please call the office at 523-4483 during
office hours, 10-4 Tuesday through Friday and 10-2 Saturday.

That's all for now. If you have news to report, wait for
the tone, then give your name, phone number, and the
details. Thanks and good birding.