Subject: Seattle Audubon Society Bird Hotline for Oct. 6, 1994 by E. Hunn
Date: Oct 12 14:14:30 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 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6,
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 molting male INDIGO BUNTING has been present daily through
Sept. 23 through October 2 at a community garden on the west
edge of Spokane. It could not be found, however, Oct. 3 and
may have departed. Call Jim Acton in Spokane at 509- for
an update.

A PALM WARBLER was at the Everett STP Oct. 3 & 4. It was
seen about 1/2 way out along the east side of the main pond.
Three FRANKLIN'S GULLS were still there Oct. 4.

Kennedy Creek on Mud Bay north of Olympia is definitely
worth a visit: the WILLET that has been present for several
weeks was joined by a single BAR-TAILED GODWIT there October
1.

A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and an
EASTERN BLUE JAY were reported at local feeders last week.
For information on the crossbill call Steve Sutton at 226-
5706. Another BLUE JAY was reported in Discovery Park at
the overlook northwest of the south meadow Oct. 5. Other
BLUE JAYS have invaded Spokane for what could be a banner
year for this rare straggler from east of the Rockies.

Three species of SCOTERS and HARLEQUIN DUCKS were off Alki
Pt. Oct. 5, as was an imm. Peregrine. An imm. MOURNING DOVE
was there Oct. 3. Others PEREGRINES were noted on the power
towers on the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge and at the grain
terminals off Myrtle Edwards Park. A FRANKLIN'S GULL at the
mouth of the Cedar River in Renton Oct. 3 is unusual at this
location. A flock of 5 WHITE PELICANS reported circling
over Mercer Is. Oct. 4 is most unusual. If anyone else saw
them, I'd like to hear the details.

An immature RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen at the bridge over
Ravenna Slough at the Montlake Fill on the UW campus Sept.
24 but has not been reported since. It looked like a
typical winter male Rusty but with a dark eye. A SAY'S
PHOEBE was seen there Oct. 3.

A dribble of shorebird passed the fill Oct. 3, including
three PECTORAL, a COMMON SNIPE, and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS.
Two VIRGINIA RAILS and a flock of AMERICAN PIPITS were also
present, while seven WOOD DUCKS were on nearby Union Bay.

At the Kent ponds Sept. 28 there was a GREAT EGRET, a LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, a few LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and a PURPLE
MARTIN with a late flock of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS.

A group of 38 TURKEY VULTURES astounded residents of the
Magnolia Bluffs area the evening of the 27th. The next
morning about 11 AM the pack up and circled on south.
Another flock of about 15 was spotted over Union Bay and
West Seattle on September 30. Additional flocks include a
dozen of the UW campus Sept. 26, 12 over Lynnwood Sept. 20,
and 30 over Spencer I. east of Everett Oct. 2. Diane
MacRae's Turkey Vulture watch on the south shore of the
Straits of Juan de Fuca counted 417 flying across the
Straits from Vancouver Is. Sept. 27 and 522 arriving Oct. 2.

Vic Nelson reports a BROWN PELICAN flying south past Point
No Point toward Seattle Sept. 30. More than 30 PARASITIC
JAEGERS migrated past Pt. No Point over the past week. Many
HEERMANN'S GULLS are about and a possible GLAUCOUS GULL flew
by the point Oct. 3. Seven SANDHILL CRANES over south
Kingston Sept. 30 were off course.

On Whidbey Is. there were 8 SURFBIRDS and 4 RUDDY TURNSTONES
with a flock of 300 BLACK TURNSTONES at Penn Cove Sept. 11,
8 Red-throated Loons at Crescent Harbor and 18 BLACK
OYSTERCATCHERS just off the parking lot at Partridge Pt.
Oct. 3, and 100 HEERMANN'S GULLS at Swantown Beach Oct. 2.

At least five FRANKLIN'S GULLS were still present at the
Everett Ponds as of September 30. An immature HEERMANN'S
GULL was at the Marysville STP the same day.

Two adult WHITE-TAILED KITES with a juvenile were located at
their traditional site east of Raymond in Pacific Co.
between Lebam and Frances along Elk Prairie Rd. September
22.

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.