Hotline: Lower Columbia Basin
Date: August 3, 1996
Phone: 509-943-OWLS
Compiler: Bob Woodley
Transcribers: Bill and Nancy LaFramboise, wlafra at oneworld.owt.com

Birds reported:

Black Tern
Sage Thrasher
Bonaparte's Gull
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Northern Mockingbird
Great Egret
shorebirds at the Yakima River delta

-transcript

This is the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society Bird Alert for August 3,
1996. For any questions regarding LCBAS call Mike Lilga at 946-8966.

On July 26, Dennis Rockwell noted a BLACK TERN on the Columbia River off Two
Rivers Park in Finley, an uncommon migrant in the TriCities

Ron and Carol Lauderback (sp?) observed a SAGE THRASHER on their fence in
Kennewick on July 27. A very unusual yard bird.

Tony Greager reports an immature BONAPARTE'S GULL at Chiawana Park (in
Pasco) on July 21. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH in his Kennewick yard on July
28, and 2 adult and 2 immature NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS along Buckskin Loop in
Richland on July 29. Thus the mystery is solved. The mockingbirds
successfully nested.
A GREAT EGRET at the pond just east of the Walla Walla River Delta was
observed by Nancy LaFramboise on July 31.

Lastly, Dennis Rockwell found the following birds on the Yakima River delta
this morning, August 3: 6 AMERICAN AVOCETS, 7 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 1 SPOTTED
SANDPIPER, 24+ WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 1 LEAST SANDPIPER, 10 DOWITCHERS, 1
COMMON SNIPE, 7 CASPIAN and FORSTER'S TERNS, 30+ KILLDEER, and a single
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. This is welcome news. Not only that a variety of
shorebirds have returned, but also that the river is now low enough to
provide mud flats so they can replenish energy.

To report your own sightings, please give your name, phone number and
sightings after the tone. Thank you.


Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
Richland, WA
wlafra at oneworld.owt.com