Transcribed by Lisa M. Smith
subplot at u.washington.edu
phone (206) 523-9229

The Washington BirdBox is a voice mailbox sponsored by the Washington
Ornithological Society. To leave a message about a notable sighting, or
to listen to the 12 most recent messages, call (206) 454-2662 and follow
the prompts. First-time BirdBox users may find it convenient, before
calling, to review the status of Washington's chickadee species.

[Mailbox previously checked at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday 12-11-96.]

[No messages were left on the BirdBox for Thursday 12-12-96.]

10:41 a.m. 12-13-96: This is Tom Aversa again. Listen, there's a SNOWY OWL
at the Seattle Times at the corner of John and Fairview. The bird is there
*right now* if anybody wants to see it. Thank you.

1:14 p.m. 12-13-96: Michael Preba, 623-7798. I'm at Don Armandy Park, and
just a couple minutes ago--that's right down by Salty's Restaurant south
of Duwamish Head--just a couple minutes ago, I observed a flock of
SURFBIRDS that had what was almost certainly a ROCK SANDPIPER in it. I say
almost certainly because that ROCK SANDPIPER at the base of its bill was
distinctively orange. The legs, however, were not particularly orangeish,
though they weren't particularly greenish either. I know it can't be the
other. But it would be good if an actual, knowledgeable birdwatcher got
down here to the Alki Point area and had a look at this flock--he might
make a discovery that would make it worth his or her while. The flock flew
away from the Salty's area on up toward Duwamish Head, and I would assume
it's still feeding somewhere between the Duwamish Head area and Alki Point
or the gastank area; so probably anywhere this afternoon would turn this
bird up. I'll get off the line and try to find the flock again. Thanks.
Good luck, good birding, and good-bye.

1:48 p.m. 12-13-96: Steve Dang, 368-6887. Today in West Seattle at about
11 a.m. this morning were 7 SURFBIRDS and 1 ROCK SANDPIPER in with them.
The birds were on the rocks just north of Salty's Restaurant in West
Seattle, which is on the west side of Elliott Bay. Also in that area was a
PACIFIC LOON. And oh, there was 1 DUNLIN in with that flock of SURFBIRDS
and the ROCK SANDPIPER. That's it.

2:36 p.m. 12-14-96: Ed Deal in Seattle, 723-4742. This morning at Skagit
Wildlife area headquarters, the NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was again present.
Also up on Skagit Flats, north of McLean Road and west of Best Road, 3
SNOWY OWLS on a fence post. Up on the Samish Flats at the West 90, 2 SNOWY
OWLS and 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS. And along Bayview-Edison Road on the flats, a
heavily streaked, brown GYRFALCON. Good luck and good birding.

3:27 p.m. 12-14-96: Steve Mlodinow. Today at the Port of Everett from the
Everett public boat launch, there was a CLARK'S GREBE. And in a farm yard
on Ebey Island, there was a TREE SPARROW. That's about it. Good luck and
good birding.

9:46 p.m. 12-14-96: Wilson Cady, 360-835-5947. Today in Clark County at
the Staggerwald National Wildlife Refuge, I had 1 gray-phase GYRFALCON, a
new bird for my county list. The Staggerwald Refuge is near the city of
Washougal, but it is not open to the public. With luck, you can see the
bird from Highway 14.

[Mailbox last checked at 9 a.m. Sunday 12-15-96.]