>Hotline: Lower Columbia Basin
>Date: June 17, 1996
>Phone: 509-943-OWLS
>Compiler: Bob Woodley
>Transcribers: Bill and Nancy LaFramboise, wlafra at oneworld.owt.com
>
>(Transcriber's note: 2 sightings not called into the alert but noteworthy.
>On June 11, 1 male adult Northern Parula was seen by on the Hanford Site by
>Corey Duberstein. It was reported to be singing and foraging. On June 12,
>Jim Nestler located a singing male Rose-breasted Grosbeak east of Dixie
>along Coppei Creek. It could not be relocated on 6/14)
>
>
>Birds reported:
>
>Black Tern
>Black-throated Sparrow
>Black-chinned Hummingbird
>Northern Mockingbird
>
>-transcript
>
>This is the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society Bird Alert for June 17,
>1996. For any questions regarding LCBAS call Mike Lilga at 946-8966.
>
>On June 12, Nancy LaFramboise and I (Bob Woodley) watched a BLACK TERN
>foraging over the waters between Bateman Island and Columbia Point. This
>species does not nest locally but appears annually in small numbers on its
>way north.
>
>Dennis Rockwell has determined that the BLACK-THROATED SPARROW is still on
>Candy Mountain as of June 15. Follow Keene Road west after its intersection
>with Dallas Road and continue up the hill to the southeast slope of Candy
>Mountain. See DeLorme Atlas page 39 B-5.
>
>Bill and Nancy LaFramboise found a male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD on
>territory in WE Johnson Park, north of Duportail Street on June 16.
>
>This afternoon, June 17, I found the Northern Mockingbird still in residence
>along Buckskin Loop, 4/10 mile in from Van Giesen Street.
>
>As an indication of what might still be found locally, I offer these
>sightings of birds in or around my yard. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH on June
>12, my latest ever TOWNSEND'S WARBLER on June 14, and 2 VAUX'S SWIFTS on
>June 16.
>
>The variety and number of migrants have declined considerably as has input
>to the Bird Alert. As these trends will likely continue, it is quite
>probable that I will increase the period between Bird Alert updates until
>such time that bird sightings and input increase with the coming of
>southbound migrants. Nevertheless, keep your sightings coming in.
>
>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
>
>
Regarding late migrants, Mike and Merry Lynn Denny and myself noted 1
Solitary Vireo, 1 Warbling Vireo,1 female Nashville Warbler, 1 male
Townsend's Warbler and 1 male Wilson's Warbler in lowland riparian habitats
on the Yakima Training Center 15 June. A day later, in an equally exhaustive
survey of training center birds, in similar habitats but different sites, no
vireos or warblers were detected. We were very surprised by these late birds
too. Given the topsy turvy weather this spring, might there not be an
unusual % of failed breeding attempts in mountain birds? Today Susie was on
a Cascade hike on Fifes Ridge where they encountered heavy snow falling at
5,000', even sticking on the ground! Those conditions would be tough on
nesting insectivores. Record low temps are forecast for tonight again.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA