Subject: Seattle Audubon Bird Hotline for 9-1-94 by E. Hunn
Date: Sep 2 09:13:33 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, SEPTEMBER 1,
1994, at 6 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 UPLAND SANDPIPER was seen just north of the Ocean Shores
STP August 27 and again August 30. It is secretive, so may
still be present.Other recent sightings from Ocean Shores
include a RUFF Aug. 12 and an adult male BAR-TAILED GODWIT
Aug. 20 at the Ocean Shores Game Range.

At the Tokeland Marina on the north shore of Willapa Bay
Aug. 21 at high tide there were 150 MARBLED GODWITS, 5
WILLETS, and 25 WHIMBRELS.

A MANX SHEARWATER of the nominate race was seen with SOOTY
SHEARWATERS from a boat near the tip of the Westport Jetty
Aug. 20 and another was reported 20 miles offshore Aug. 27.
This Atlantic species has been reported sporadically
offshore during the past few years and patient and lucky
observers might spot it from shore among the masses of
SOOTIES now migrating past. Recent pelagic trips have
reported good numbers of BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, PINK-
FOOTED SHEARWATERS, and FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS as well as
SABINE'S GULLS, LONG-TAILED and POMARINE JAEGERS. FULMARS
and CASSIN'S AUKLETS have been rare, while BULLER'S
SHEARWATERS are just beginning to pass through. For
information on future offshore bird trips call Terry Wahl at
206-733-8255.

Ken Knittle reports a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER on the north
side of the Lummi River in Whatcom Co. Aug. 27 1/2 mile west
of Hillaire Rd. Special care is required to distinguish this
rare vagrant from the common BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS
moving south at this time. Ken also noted a LONG-BILLED
CURLEW on the ne corner of March Pt. east of Anacortes.
Scott Atkinson reports a possible juvenile LITTLE STINT Aug.
28 at the Maupin Rd./Jensen Access on Skagit Bay and two
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS in the nearby fields. Needless to
say, a juvenile LITTLE STINT would be a first state record
and a most contentious sighting, but with precedents in
California.

GREEN HERONs, as many as 3 individuals, have been spotted
recently at the Montlake Fill on the UW campus; others have
been seen at Green Lake, at Twin Ponds, and on Ballinger
Lake, all in the Seattle area. A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was
present at the Montlake Fill through Sept. 1. A juvenile
EARED GREBE has likewise been present for the past week on
the central pond. A COOPER'S HAWK and a RED-TAILED HAWK
were at the fill Sept. 1 also. A juv. FRANKLIN'S GULL was
reported with BONAPARTE'S GULLS on the beach at Golden
Gardens Sept. 1 Martin Muller reports that up to three
PEREGRINES are currently foraging in the downtown precincts
of Seattle, including the father from this summer's nesting
pair and a potential new mate for him. The surviving male
fledgling died after injuring himself for the second time
but the surviving female is apparently healthy and has
departed for parts unknown.

The CASPIAN TERN colony at the Everett Naval Base maxed-out
at 2600 birds, as determined by a photographic analysis.
Their numbers are declining now but many remain. A single
PURPLE MARTIN was still near their nest pilings north of the
marina in Pt. Gardner Bay August 28. A BAIRD'S SANDPIPER
was spotted amongst some 400 WESTERNs on the mud flats at
the north end of Jetty Island in the harbor August 27.
Numerous OSPREYS and an adult PEREGRINE are also present at
this location.

A RED KNOT, two RUDDY TURNSTONES, and several RED-NECKED
PHALAROPES were at Swantown Pond on Whidbey Is. Aug. 28, but
there was no sign there or at Crockett Lake of the AVOCETS
and STILT SANDPIPERS reported the previous week.

GREAT EGRETS have been spotted at March Point in Skagit Co.
and at Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor, and Nisqually NWR in the
past two weeks.

Two WHITE-TAILED KITES were located at their traditional
site east of Raymond in Pacific Co. between Lebam and
Frances along Elk Prairie Rd. A WHITE-TAILED KITE has been
reported several times in early August north and west of
Sequim in eastern Clallam County, anew location for this
rare hawk.

A WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN with chick was spotted Aug. 21 0.4
miles nw of Monogram Lake in the North Cascades. This spot
is off the Lookout Creek trail off Cascade Rd. east of
Marblemount, DeLorme Atlas Pg. 111, T36N, R12E, Sect. 31. A
female PTARMIGAN with three chicks was on the north ridge of
Slate Peak above Harts Pass in early August.

Bill Tweit reports large numbers of migrants in Washtucna
August 27-28 including a LEAST FLYCATCHER and a juv. CLAY-
COLORED SPARROW. This and other east side migrant traps
might be ripe for picking in the next few weeks.

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.