You have reached the Seattle Audubon's Bird Sightings Hotline for
Thursday, August 17, 1995, at 2:30 PM.

To skip the details and just leave a message punch 5 and wait for the tone.

For sick or injured birds call PAWS at 743-3845 [or 743-1884].

For the most up to date information on rare birds call the Washington
Ornithological Society's Bird Box at (206) 454-2662, and for the latest
from Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho call (208) 882-6195.

The alternate plumaged adult BAR-TAILED GODWIT at the Ocean Shores Game
Range, first reported on Saturday August 5th, was last seen on Tuesday,
August 15th. Another rarity at Ocean Shores this past week was an
ELEGANT TERN, seen at the Point Brown Jetty on August 13. Consult Bob
Morse's _Birders Guide to Ocean Shores_ for directions to these locations.

In eastern Washington, at the Walla Walla River delta, near Richland, an
alternate-plumaged RED KNOT, a MARBLED GODWIT, and 2 SANDERLINGS, all
uncommon to rare east of the Cascade crest, were seen feeding with
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS on August 15th. Other birds reported from this
location this past week include LESSER YELLOWLEGS, WESTERN, LEAST, and
BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, FORSTER'S TERN, and WHITE PELICAN.

The pair of nesting NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS in southern Grant County are
still being seen, however, they are starting to wander away from their
nesting site. To reach these birds, from the north end of the Vernita
Bridge head west on highway 243 for a little over 2 miles to the steel
high tension power poles which cross the highway (see DeLorme atlas p.
52). At the west end of the wires on the north side of the highway there
is a clump of Black Locust which stands out in the shrub-steppe. The
mockingbirds are in there. Be careful when pulling off the highway, as
the shoulders are very soft. Several birders had to be towed out this
past week.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS are still being reported as abundant in the
mountains of the North Cascades, Okanogan highlands and across the state
east to Salmo Mountain. A group that visited Hart's Pass and Slate Peak
the weekend of August 4 reported more than 50 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS.
They also reported on the same trip other good alpine species, including,
1 BOREAL OWL, 2 WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN, 1 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH, and 2
BOREAL CHICKADEES.

A FRANKLIN'S GULL was seen on Whidbey Island, on August 8th, at the
Hastie Lake Boat Landing at the west end of Hastie Lake Road. Another
FRANKLIN'S GULL was seen at the Everett STP on August 15th.

A GREAT EGRET was seen in Kent area on August 15th, just off if Highway
167, at the 272nd Street over pass.

Some good shorebirds in the Seattle area this past week were at
University of Washington's Montlake fill and at shoreline of Discovery
Park. Reported from the Montlake fill were SEMI-PALMATED, BAIRD'S,
SPOTTED, WESTERN, and LEAST SANDPIPER as well as a GREATER YELLOWLEGS.
At Discovery Park, on August 10th, 10 SURFBIRDS, 1 BLACK TURNSTONE, and 1
SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER were reported with hundreds of WESTERN and LEAST
SANDPIPERS.

BLACK SWIFTS are apparently on the move, 5-6 were seen at Paradise on Mt.
Rainier, where they are seldom reported, on August 13th, while scores
were seen over Whidbey Island on August 16th, and at least 180 were over
the Everett STP on August 15th.

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.