Subject: Seattle Audubon Hotline report for July 2 & 8 by E. Hunn
Date: Jul 8 11:30:22 1994
From: Eugene Hunn - hunn at u.washington.edu


Hello birders, this is the Bird Brain, voice of Seattle
Audubon's Bird Sightings Hotline for SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1994,
at 9 PM. I am using the back-up unit while the main machine
is in the shop. Sorry for the difficulties of the past
week.

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 BLACK-THROATED SPARROW invasion is in full force. More
than a dozen singing males were located in eastern
Washington during the past week. At least two were at White
Bluffs in Grant Co. Drive south into the Wahluke Slope WRA
on a road at mile 63 off SR 24 west of Othello 7.5 mi. to a
gate at the end of the road. Look for them in hop sage on
the bluff overlooking the Columbia River. Three more were
at the Konnowock Pass spot south of Moxee where several were
seen last year. At least six were heard along the west side
of the reservoir above Priest Rapids, which is closed to
public access. Another was found west of Yakima in the
Ahtanum Creek area and two more in Klickitat Co. up Rock
Creek 3.0 and 3.1 mi from the Columbia. This phenomenon may
reflect drought conditions in their normal breeding areas.

A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was found near the Black-throated
Sparrow spot at White Bluffs. Walk over two miles south on
a dirt road that takes off from the White Bluffs road
parallel to the bluffs to a power line. The mockingbird was
singing at the power post marked 12-6. This is in T13N,
R28E, Sect. 18. DO NOT DRIVE this road as the fire danger
is extreme. Look for SAGE THRASHERS, SAGE, BREWER'S, and
LARK SPARROWS, and LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES as well.

A singing adult male AMERICAN REDSTART was along Larimer's
Rd. about 1.2 miles nw of Larimer Corner in sw of Snohomish
June 27.

LAZULI BUNTINGS have been reported more widely than is usual
for this side of the mountains. A pair nested this year at
the Russell Rd. P-Patch west of the Kent ponds. Two singing
males vied for space along the West Snoqualmie River Rd.
June 15, one mile south of the Osprey nest tree at Seattle
Audubon's Carnation marsh. Four males were discovered
singing 1 mile north of US 2 on Kellogg Lake Rd. near
Startup in Snohomish Co., and an additional 6-7 males have
been reported recently in hedgerows behind the Auburn
Academy airport sw of Auburn in s King Co.

Greg Toffic of the Woodland Park Zoo reports that a rare
Bali Myna has escaped. This is an endangered species. It
was spotted June 21 in Ballard near NW 55th & 12th NW. It
is starling sized, all white with a blue face patch. If you
spot it please call Greg at 684-4836.

A female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was at the Montlake Fill
June 21 and BLACK SWIFTS were foraging low over the fill
June 17. BLACK and VAUX'S SWIFTS were common July 2 in the
Skykomish area under cloudy skies. Another good spot for
BLACK SWIFTS is Colonial Creek CG on Diablo Lake off the
North Cascades Highway.

Scott Atkinson reports two NORTHERN BOBWHITES calling June
19 at Roy in Pierce Co. Go right on 4th St. E in Roy 1/2
mile to a chain link fence on the north side of the road.
Walk the path past the end of the fence into a clearing.

The CASPIAN TERN colony at the Everett Naval Base has now
reached over 3000 birds, with the first young hatching out
June 13. A pair of ARCTIC TERNs nesting nearby on a pile of
dirt had chicks by June 26. PURPLE MARTINS have been
prospecting for nests in pilings north of the marina in Pt.
Gardner Bay. Four CANVASBACKS remained at the Everett STP
June 26.

Steve Mlodinow reports 8 species of shorebirds at Crockett
Lake on Whidbey Is. June 26, including several SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPERS at Crockett Lake. He also noted lingering
PACIFIC, RED-THROATED, and COMMON LOONS off Swantown and 70+
HARLEQUIN DUCKS at the mussel platforms in Penn Cove on
Whidbey Is., presumably summering non-breeders.

BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS are reported nesting at Mineral
Spring Camp ground along US 97 ne of Cle Elum and
WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS are nesting nearby at Swauk
Campground. Scott Atkinson reports a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER
nest above Long Swamp at the end of FSR 300 in Sect 31,
T39N, R23E. He also noted singing NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES
along the Simikameen River just south of the Canadian border
north of Loomis in nc Okanogan Co. RED-NECKED GREBES are
raising young on Spectacle Lake in Okanogan Co. as of June
25, as was a BARROW'S GOLDENEYE.

Andy Stepniewski reports that all the usual breeding birds
are in place in the Lyle vicinity at the east end of the
Columbia Gorge in Klickitat Co., including LESSER
GOLDFINCHES ca 1/2 mi n of SR 14, along SR 142. LESSER
GOLDFINCHES were also found June 19 about the town of
Maryhill east from Lyle along the Columbia River. No
reports of ACORN WOODPECKERS have been received from the
Lyle colony for at least two years.

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.

*************

Hello birders, this is the Bird Brain, voice of Seattle
Audubon's Bird Sightings Hotline for FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1994,
at 9 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 singing male INDIGO BUNTING was noted July 4 in Adams Co.
nw of Othello near the scenic pullout on McManamon Rd.in
Sect.10 or 11, T16N, R28E, pg. 53 of DeLorme Atlas.

A BLACK-THROATED SPARROW invasion continues. Andy
Stepniewski has located more than 20 individuals in rocky
hopsage/winterfat habitats in Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton
counties. Several have been found regularly at White Bluffs
in Grant Co. West of Othello drive south from SR 24 at mile
63 into the Wahluke Slope WRA 7.5 mi. to a gate at the end
of the road. Look for them on the bluff overlooking the
Columbia River. Several were singing along SR 22 between
the west gate of Hanford and the San Michelle winery at Cold
Creek in Benton Co. and five were on the hill above the
south side of Priest Rapids dam. Two have been seen through
July 3 in Klickitat Co. up Rock Creek 3.0 and 3.1 mi from SR
14 on the Columbia. This phenomenon may reflect drought
conditions in their normal breeding areas.

A GREEN HERON was at the Montlake Fill July 2. A singing
adult male AMERICAN REDSTART was along Larimer's Rd. about
1.2 miles nw of Larimer Corner in sw of Snohomish June 27.
A HERMIT WARBLER was seen feeding young in early July along
the Asahel Curtis Nature Trail at the west base of
Snoqualmie Pass just off I-90.

LAZULI BUNTINGS have been reported more widely than is usual
for this side of the mountains. A pair nested this year at
the Russell Rd. P-Patch west of the Kent ponds. Two singing
males vied for space along the West Snoqualmie River Rd.
June 15, one mile south of the Osprey nest tree at Seattle
Audubon's Carnation marsh. Six-7 males have been reported
recently in hedgerows behind the Auburn Academy airport sw
of Auburn in s King Co.

The CASPIAN TERN colony at the Everett Naval Base has now
reached over 3000 birds, with the first young hatching out
June 13. A pair of ARCTIC TERNs nesting nearby on a pile of
dirt tended a single chick July 4. PURPLE MARTINS are
nesting in pilings north of the marina in Pt. Gardner Bay.
Four CANVASBACKS remained at the Everett STP July 4, when
370 BLACK SWIFTS were counted feeding over the ponds.

Eighteen SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS were tallied July 3 at
Crockett Lake among some 3500 WESTERN SANDPIPERS.

BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS are reported nesting at Mineral
Spring Camp ground along US 97 ne of Cle Elum and
WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS are nesting nearby at Swauk
Campground. Scott Atkinson reports a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER
nest above Long Swamp at the end of FSR 300 in Sect 31,
T39N, R23E. He also noted singing NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES
along the Simikameen River just south of the Canadian border
north of Loomis in nc Okanogan Co. RED-NECKED GREBES are
raising young on Spectacle Lake in Okanogan Co. as of June
25, as was a BARROW'S GOLDENEYE.

Scott Atkinson reports at least four GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES
along Biscuit Ridge Rd. in eastern Walla Walla Co. July 3.
A male SPRUCE GROUSE was seen along this road 3.6 miles past
the end of the pavement, also July 3. Forty-two AMERICAN
WHITE PELICANS were at the mouth of the Walla Walla River,
also July 3.

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.