Hello birders, this is the Bird Brain, voice of Seattle
Audubon's Bird Sightings Hotline for SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4,
1994, at 9 PM.

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].

An adult ROSS'S GULL was seen and photographed at McNary Dam
Nov. 27- Dec. 1 but could not be found on Dec. 2nd or 3rd.
It associated with Bonaparte's and other gulls, feeding at
the outlet pipes at the base of the fish ladders below the
dam on the Oregon side or resting with other gulls
downstream from the dam to the highway bridge. It could
still be hanging out somewhere along the river.

A GYRFALCON was seen Nov. 22 near Big Lake east of Mt.
Vernon in Skagit Co. This is the first of the fall.
Another was spotted Nov. 25 between Sunset and Field Rds. on
the Samish Flats northwest of Mt. Vernon.

A YELLOW-BILLED LOON was reported at Laconner near the Hope
Island Inn Nov.24. Another was off the boat landing at Ft.
Canby at Ilwaco near the mouth of the Columbia River Nov.
13.

Vic Nelson had one-two SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS off Pt. No
Point Nov. 18-20, ANCIENT MURRELETS in the hundreds, as well
as a COMMON REDPOLL and a GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH behind the
beach Nov. 22. The REDPOLL was still present Dec. 2 and a
RED PHALAROPE was seen off the lighthouse at the point Dec.
3, but ANCIENT MURRELET numbers dropped off sharply in
December.

An adult LITTLE GULL was off Mukilteo at the ferry landing
Nov. 19.

The adult male BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER remained a
regular visitor at Marilyn & Bill Hatheway's Mercer Is.
feeder through Dec. 4 but his visits are a bit less frequent
now than formerly. Call ahead at 232-6199 to arrange a
visit as long as it lingers.

A pair of PEREGRINES delighted observers as they took turns
pursuing a SANDERLING off Alki beach Nov. 16. Two SURFBIRDS
returned to the rocky beach south of Alki Pt. Nov. 17; 50
were there Nov. 23; and five Nov. 27. Fifty BRANT were off
Alki Pt. Nov. 27 as were three scoter species and several
HARLEQUIN DUCKS.

A single BOHEMIAN WAXWING was feeding with ROBINS and
STARLINGS near the tennis courts at Magnuson Park Nov. 27.
A SNOW BUNTING was at Magnuson Park Nov. 1-4 and 12-17 near
the old ammo shed. Also at Magnuson Park Nov. 17 was a PALM
WARBLER, flushed by a NORTHERN SHRIKE. It flew from near
the NOAA entrance gate to the sw so could be there anywhere
in the scot's broom & brambles. There is at least one good
male YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER there also.

Also noted at Magnuson Park Nov. 17 was a SHORT-EARED OWL,
perhaps the same one that has been reported sporadically at
the Montlake Fill on the UW campus over the last several
weeks, most recently Nov. 5. Also at the Montlake Fill of
late was a N. HARRIER, a DUNLIN, several LINCOLN'S SPARROWS
and a N. SHRIKE plus lots of waterfowl, including six
CACKLING CANADA GEESE on the adjacent playing fields. A
GREEN HERON was still present there Nov. 13 and another was
reported at Juanita Bay Park Nov. 23.

SWAMP SPARROWS were seen at the Everett Ponds Nov. 20 and
near Monroe 3.8 mi east of Rte 203 along Ben Howard Rd. Nov.
24. An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was seen at the Big Ditch
access parking lot of the Skagit WRA Nov. 27.

Two SANDHILL CRANES were reported seen from the east side of
the Everett STP along Union Slough. Another SANDHILL has
been frequenting a cranberry bog in Grayland south of
Westport. Look for it on the west side of Cranberry Rd.
near the Linn residence.

A WHITE-TAILED KITE was back at their historic site at the
Raymond airport Nov. 19.

Ocean Shores has been productive. On Nov. 10 two PALM
WARBLERS were seen at the base of the Damon Pt. peninsula in
scot's broom thickets near the public restrooms and another
was at the Ocean Shores STP Nov. 13; also Nov. 10 &
11produced a SHORT-EARED OWL and 3 SNOW BUNTINGS near the
jetty; the jetty itself had 3 ROCK SANDPIPERS, 15 SURFBIRDS,
and 5 BLACK TURNSTONES. An AMERICAN BITTERN was spotted at
the Cabana Pool and three PEREGRINES and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
were hunting over the Game Range. Two MARBLED GODWITS were
at Bowerman Basin Nov. 11.

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