Hotline: Lower Columbia Basin
Date: February 2, 1996
Phone: 509-943-OWLS
Compiler: Bob Woodley
Transcribers: Bill and Nancy LaFramboise, wlafra at oneworld.owt.com

Birds reported:

Rusty Blackbird
Snow Bunting
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Long-eared Owl
American Tree Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Lincoln's Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Red-shouldered Hawk
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Snow Bunting
Lapland Longspur
Gray Partridge
Gyrfalcon

-transcript

This is the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society Rare Bird Alert for
February 2, 1996. For any questions regarding LCBAS call Mike Lilga at
946-8966.

On January 26, Mike Denny reported a female Rusty Blackbird at the Walla
Walla College Dairy Farm. He also found 11 Snow Buntings, 6 miles west of
Clyde. To reach Clyde, go north on Ayer Road from Highway 124. Mike also
reported Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch along Ireland Road which proceeds north
from the location of the Cattle Auction facility on Highway 12 (east of
Lowden). Lastly, he indicated that Long-eared Owls were again roosting
along Smith Springs Road which goes north from 124 just east of Prescott.

A single (American) Tree Sparrow discovered Margaret Greger's feeder on
January 27. It was still present on January 31.

On January 28, Tony Greager found a Lapland Longspur along Humorist Road,
near its junction with Hanson Loop Road in the Burbank area. He also found
a Lincoln's Sparrow just west of the McNary National Wildlife refuge
headquarters.

On January 28, Dennis and Glenda Rockwell found a Savannah Sparrow along
Humorist Road about 1 mile east of its junction with Highway 12. Two days
later, I (Bob Woodley) found this bird in the same location plus 2
additional Savannah Sparrows on Maple Street just west of the McNary
Headquarters.

At the junction of Maple and Lake Streets (at McNary NWR), the
Red-shouldered Hawk was present on January 31.

Yellow-headed Blackbirds showed up at the feeders of the LaFramboises and
Ruth Fischer on January 31 and Tracy Walsh reported 2 other Yellow-headed
Blackbirds near the Tapteal Apartments on the same day.

Also on January 31, Phil Bartley found 2 Snow Buntings and 2 Lapland
Longspurs in a flock of about 2500 Horned Lark along Clodius Road about 1/2
to 1 mile south of County Well Road. The latter can be reached via Webber
Canyon south of Kiona. On February 1st, Ruth Fischer, Nancy LaFramboise and
I found 4 Snow Buntings among the Horned Lark but the longspurs could not be
found. However 5 Gray Partridge were seen along Cemetery Road just west of
its junction with Clodius Road.

Finally on January 30, Debbie and Ron Brown of Moxee found an adult
Gyrfalcon along Highway 24, between milepost 21 and 22 east of Yakima. Andy
Stepniewski found the bird again on February 1 at mile 22.

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