The Birdbox phone number is (206) 454-2662

[messages previously checked at about 6PM Nov 23]

6:42PM Nov 23 - Hi, this is Steven Mlodinow. Steve Pink, Casey and I went off
to Edmonds and then to Spencer Island and then to the Port of Everett. At
Spencer Island there were enormus numbers of birds including 400 Song
Sparrows, 100 Rufous-sided Towhees, 40 to 50 Fox Sparrows, 25 Lincoln's
Sparrows. The quality birds included a calling Swainson's Thrush and an
American Bittern. Also, at the Port of Everett, at the Everett Public Boat
Launch in a flock of Canada Geese grazing on the grass where people sometimes
fly kites, there was a Blue Goose. This is an interesting area that has
previously turned up things such as White-fronted Goose and Emperor Goose
despite its inauspicious appearance. And also, there were a couple of
Short-eared Owls hunting on the north side of the sewage ponds just across
from NE 12th Street about 3 o'clock this afternoon. Thats it. Good luck and
good birding.

6:48PM Nov 23 - David Buckley in Seattle, 937-2541. Today Jim Ellingbow(sp?),
Gene Drugge(sp?) and I birded from Samish to Stanwood. Birds included 12 Snow
Buntings at March Point at the end of the road by the oil refinery, an
immature Snowy Owl at the North Access to the Skagit Refuge and 2 Snowy Owls
at Big Ditch and we saw over 45 snipe in the course of the day including a
group of about 24 on a field along Bayville-Edison Road. That's it. Thanks.

7:58PM Nov 23 - Hi, Ed Deal in Seattle at 723-4742. Today a walk out
Dungeness Spit turned up 7 Snowy Owls and 5 Snow Buntings. Most of them at
the junction of Graveyard and Dungeness Spit. Good luck.

8:45AM Nov 24 - This is Bob Bentonhal(sp?). Becky and I were in Golden
Gardens Park yesterday 11-23-96. Somewhere between 1:30 and 2PM and sighted a
Snow Bunting. In order to designate the exact location of that, one should
leave the parking lot walking north through the newly restored area in the
Golden Gardens Park. Take the first turn off to the left and walk toward the
water. We sighted the Snow Bunting just north of that location. It was first
on the rocks close to the water. It was flushed by someone coming from the
south and so it flew north around us stopping again about 50 feet to our
north and walked all the way, another 25 feet, back toward us. Had very clear
sightings. Saw the white stripe on the dark wings very clearly, the sort of
orangish head and the two very distinct marks on the shoulder coming down on
to the upper breast on either side and were able to view it within about 25
feet of the bird. [message cut off]

10:56AM Nov 24 - Hi, Ed Deal in Seattle at 723-4742. This morning the female
Black and White Warbler is still present in the Arboretum. Directions on
previous messages. It's seen in the company of a small flock of birders. Good
luck. Goodby.

4:06PM Nov 24 - Scott Atkinson here (360) 691-7232. Excellent birding today
up in coastal Skagit Co. To start with, the Scrub Jay at the previously
described feeder location in the southern section of old downtown Mt Vernon
was again present at dawn this morning. The bird also seems to frequent the
shrubbery at the City of Mt Vernon Engineering Dept. Building just one block
south and east of the Snoqualmie Avenue location. Then south to the Jenson
Access to Skagit WMA, 1 Snowy Owl out on the driftwood. Near the main access
Headquarters at the Skagit WMA a very large movement of passerines along the
large parking area near the boat launch including 25 Lincoln's Sparrows, 2
White-throated Sparrows, 1 and posssibly a second American Tree Sparrow and,
more surprisingly, a Northern Waterthrush heard and then seen at close range
at the small swampy area just past the restrooms also just at the edge of
that parking area. Interestingly, there are at least 2 other late fall-winter
records from this immediate area. Out on the dike trail, 10 Bohemian
Waxwings and then finally, leaving the refuge, along Wylie(sp?) Road I had a
male Rusty Blackbird in a large mixed flock of blackbirds and starlings and a
couple of cowbirds in there. This is along Wylie Road just north of the
Headquarters. That's all. Good luck and good birding. Also a note of caution,
if you do plan to visit this area, be aware of the fact that the area is
being very heavily hunted right now. So act accordingly. Good luck and good
birding.

6:48PM Nov 24 - This is Barry Levine calling from Seattle and the number is
(206) 526- 8676. I took a trip up to Boundry Bay today and Tsawwassen
looking for the Spotted Redshank. The Spotted Redshank was NOT spotted today.
The last time it was seen was on Thursday and they are not really sure at
this point whether it indeed is a Spotted Redshank. So if you're planning on
going up there you'll probably want to get in touch with the Vancouver Alert
and see whether it has been seen recently. At Boundry Bay there were at least
10 Short-eared Owls and 2 Snowy Owls that I saw. Thanks and good birding.



[messages last checked at 9PM Nov 24]

Transcribed by:
Bob Norton
Joyce, WA
norton360 at aol.com
(360) 928-3053