You have reached the Seattle Audubon's Bird Sightings Hotline for Friday,
March 1st, 1996, at 9:00 AM.

Highlights for western Washington this week include, DICKCISSEL, PALM
WARBLER, GREAT GRAY OWL, SLATY-BACKED GULL, LITTLE GULL, ROSS'S GOOSE,
GYRFALCON.

The adult male DICKCISSEL reported on the last update at Ocean Shores,
was last reported on February 25th. If you would still like to try for
this bird, it was being seen at the residence of Norm Schut [pronounced
"Skut"] at 568 Ensign Road, in Ocean Shores. Also on February 25th at
Ocean Shores, 2 PALM WARBLERS were seen in the Scotch broom just east of
the Interpretive Center and just north of the marina.

The GREAT GRAY OWL east of Bayview, in Skagit County, was last reported
on February 26th. It was banded and radio tagged on February 23rd, and is
probably still in the area. To find this bird - from I-5 go west on
Highway 20, turn right, onto Port of Skagit County Road. Go up to Ovenell
Road and take a left, then go down about a quarter of a mile. It had been
in trees along the road as recently as yesterday, February 16th.

The ROSS'S GOOSE that has been seen on the Samish Flats most of the
Winter was as not reported this past week, however, I do not know if
anyone looked for it. It was last seen in the area of Avon Allen Road and
the junction of Field and Thomas Road. Another noteworthy duck report was
of 3 male and 1 female REDHEAD on Beaver Lake east of Mt. Vernon, seen on
February 23rd.

The SLATY-BACKED GULL that has been reported infrequently since the end
of December, was relocated on February 22nd. It was seen in the flooded
field on the west side of Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. The gull
could not be located on February 28th, but a second-winter GLAUCOUS GULL
and an albino MEW GULL, were seen in it's place.

At Point No Point, on the northeast tip of the Kitsap Peninsula, 2 adult
LITTLE GULLS have been seen in a flock of about 3,000 BONAPARTE'S and MEW
GULLS on February 22.

On the Long Beach Peninsula in Pacific County, an immature GYRFALCON was
seen about 4.5 miles north of Northhead and a first year GLAUCOUS GULL
was seen about two or three miles south of Leadbetter Point on February 24th.

The KING EIDER at the end of Hastie Lake Road on Whidbey Island was last
reported on February 19th and the YELLOW-BILLED LOON at the John Wayne
Marina, just to the southeast of Sequim, was last reported on February
16th.

Another sign of spring has arrived in the Puget lowlands this past week.
In addition to many reports of VIOLET-GREEN and TREE SWALLOWS, TOWNSEND'S
SOLITAIRES have put in early appearances at the Padilla Bay Interpretive
Center on February 25, and at in North Tacoma on February 26th.

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 or the
Tri-Cities at (509) 943-6957.

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.

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