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].

Two adult and one first winter LITTLE GULLS have been seen sporadically on
American Lake south of Tacoma through Feb. 15. They are most often seen
at the southern end of the lake, south of Silcox Island. Access points
include Harry Todd County Park in Tillicum (from exit 123 off I-5), or off
exit 122, marked "Camp Murray." Go we st from this exit one long block,
then left on a dirt road to a boat launch. Access is also possible
through the Camp Murray gate, accessible from exit 122. A permit may be
obtained at the gate. Follow 41st Division Rd. south from the gate to a
dirt road through a gate along some fences in a wooded area. This leads
to a boathouse and dock on the lake shore. On Feb. 16 eight TREE SWALLOWS
were seen here.

The adult SLATY-BACKED GULL has been seen through at least February 18 in
the vicinity of Tacoma at the Gog-le-hi-te Mitigated Wetland off Lincoln
Ave. It is most often with the large flock of large gulls that roosts on
the roof of a meat packing plant near the lagoon, though it should also be
looked for on roofs at the pole plant north of Lincoln Avenue and in the
lagoon or along the nearby Puyallup River at low tide.

Two BAR-TAILED GODWITS were reported Feb. 3 at the North River delta on
Willapa Bay. They are likely the same birds that remained until late fall
at Tokeland. This is also the best spot now to look for WILLETS,
LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, and MARBLED GODWITS. Two YELLOW-BILLED LOONs have
been seen repeatedly at the Ilwaco Boat Launch near Ft. Canby SP near the
mouth of the Columbia River. Another has been at Pt. No Point on the
Kitsap Peninsula since Feb. 3. It was seen Feb. 11 from the Hansville
Store parking lot 1/2 mile west of the Pt. No Point lighthouse.

Two SNOW BUNTINGS were along Keystone Spit east of the ferry dock on
Whidbey Is. Feb. 12. One ROCK SANDPIPER was reported Feb. 10 with BLACK
TURNSTONES and SURFBIRDS in Penn Cove, also on Whidbey Island. It was on
the mussel platforms near Coupeville. Three were seen Feb. 14 on Ediz
Hook in Pt. Angeles near the gate to the Coast Guard Station.

The GYRFALCON at the "West 90" on the Samish Flats, the corner on Samish
I. Rd. west of the T junction with the Bayview-Edison Rd., has been seen
regularly through February 19. In the same area there have been three
PEREGRINEs, a MERLIN, HARLAN'S RED-TAILED, many ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS an d
NORTHERN HARRIERS, NORTHERN SHRIKES, plus many SHORT-EARED OWLs,
conspicuous at dusk.Nearby, three SNOWY OWLS have been seen regularly
north of the Bayview-Edison Rd. bridge over Samish Slough.

Near Vancouver, BC, 21 SNOWY OWLS are about Boundary Bay, a dozen or so
are at the end of 72nd St.

A HARRIS'S SPARROW is hanging out with a flock of House Sparrows in the
vicinity of N 120th and Corliss in north Seattle. A flock of SURFBIRDS,
BLACK TURNSTONES, and SANDERLINGS forages regularly just south of A lki
Point in West Seattle. HARLEQUIN DUCKS, BARROW'S GOLDENEYES, BRANT, MURRES
and RHINOCEROS AUKLETs forage offshore between Alki Pt. and Duwamish
Head.

Martin Muller reports that six or eight PEREGRINEs are now at home in
Seattle. Your assistance in t racking these birds over the winter is
requested. Please phone in sightings to the Falcon Research Group hotline
at 364-6584.

One EMPEROR GOOSE remained on Blackmon Lake in Snohomish through at least
Feb. 8. The winter male RUSTY BLACKBIRD in Lynnwood was seen again February
11. It has been seen in a mixed blackbird flock at Sprague Pond on the sw
corner of sw 200th and 50th w and at Screiber Lake wildlife area to the
nw. A WHITE-THROATED, a SWAMP, and an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW have been
reported at or near the Russell Rd. P-Patch in early February. This spot
is 200 yds. south of 212th nw of Kent.A SCRUB JAY has been present in
Bremerton for some time. It was seen Feb. 10 at the intersection of 15th
St. and Callow or Montgomery Aves.Upt to five GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE
are with Canadas at the Nisqually NWR through Feb. 16.

Richard Rowlett scoured the frigid ne Okanogan Co. region Jan. 29-31 and
found a few good birds, including a GREAT GRAY, a BOREAL, and 12 SAW-WHET
OWLS. The roads are icy and the local residents protective of their
property rights, so proceed with caution. The GREAT GRAY OWL was at the
forest edge along Mt. Annie Rd. 0.5 mi south of SR 20 and 1 mi west of the
Wauconda Cafe in Wauconda. Log trucks are operating here so u se extra
caution.

The SAS Winter Bird Tour found a flock of 1000 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in
Winthrop Feb. 20. A few SNOW BUNTINGS were with HORNED LARKS north of
Lamoine on the Waterville Plateau, also Feb. 20. No ROSY FINCHES nor
PINE GROSBEAKS have been noted recently.

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 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.