Transcribed by Hal Opperman
halop at u.accessone.com
phone (206) 635-0503

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 by Bob Norton at 7:50 a.m. on April 12th, 1997]

10:21 p.m. April 12th - Hi. This is Scott Downes, 361-7073. Went out, did
some birding, the Skagit/Samish Flats and on over to Whidbey today. At the
Skagit game range we had an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, as well about 8:30 this
morning, two very active GREAT HORNED OWLS. Looked like they might have
been nesting in there, although could not find the nest. On the Samish
Flats, had what I believe to be the ICELAND GULL reported by Steve Mlodinow
last week. Only got a partial glimpse of it sitting and flying away;
however, it looks very likely. On Whidbey Island there was a LESSER
YELLOWLEGS in Penn Cove along with a GREATER [YELLOWLEGS]. There was a
YELLOW-BILLED LOON at the Clinton ferry dock this afternoon, and as a last
note, there was a GLAUCOUS GULL in Oak Harbor, also reported by Steve
Mlodinow last week. Good look at it along the shore. That's about it.
Good luck and good birding!

9:41 a.m. April 13th - Hello. This is Mike Denny in Walla Walla at
509-529-0080. Would like to report a flock of 12 ROSS' GEESE and one SNOW
GOOSE. These birds are in the WSU Experimental Farm fields in northern
Garfield County, at Willow Bar. This is E of Central Ferry off Hwy 12. We
were able to photograph these birds. We last saw them about 6:30
yesterday, the 12th of April. Also there is still a single first-year
GLAUCOUS GULL on the compost piles in western Walla Walla County, along Hwy
12 just N of the Wallula pulp mill. Any questions, give me a call. Bye.

11:38 a.m. April 13th - This is Wilson Cady, 360-835-5947. Yesterday,
April 12th, I birded in Klickitat County, and at The Dalles Airport at
Dallesport, which is DeLorme atlas page 25, C7, along Tyadman Road which is
on the N side of The Dalles Airport, there was one TRUMPETER SWAN; and
along Hwy 197 about one mile N of The Dalles Dam, there was an AMERICAN
AVOCET on a pond on the W side of Hwy 197. Also, CASPIAN TERNS are up the
Columbia at least to The Dalles Dam. Thank you.

9:02 p.m. April 13th - Hi. This is Jan Bragg, area code 206-524-3460.
Yesterday, Saturday morning April 12th, at Magnuson Park in Seattle between
8:00 and 10:00 a.m., there was a flock of about 35 AMERICAN PIPITS. There
was also a WESTERN MEADLOWLARK in full breeding plumage that was separate
from the pipits. There was a [WESTERN] SCRUB-JAY flying with some
STELLER'S JAYS. There was also a male BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, a YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLER ("MYRTLE"), full breeding plumage. Today, Sunday morning April
13th, the flock of pipits was again seen between 9:15 and 9:45 a.m., and
the WESTERN MEADOWLARK was still around. CLIFF SWALLOWS returned to their
nesting area by at least Wednesday, April 9th of this past week, and there
have been two COMMON LOONS in full breeding plumage off of NOAA for at
least a week. Good luck and good birding!

8:27 a.m. April 14th - Hello. This is Scott Atkinson, reporting for mostly
Sunday, April 13th, Samish Flats area. There was a remarkable mix of gulls
up on the Samish Flats yesterday the 13th, including eight species, the
highlight of which was a first-winter ICELAND GULL seen first about 8:00
a.m. along the S edge of Field Road, in the middle section of Field Road
just W of Route 11, near a dairy farm. I believe this is where Steve
Mlodinow and others originally had it. It was then seen thereafter around
11:00 a.m. just NE of the Route 11/Field Road intersection. In both cases
it was in with many other gulls. In addition I had a second-winter
GLAUCOUS GULL near Lions Park just N of the old downtown Mount Vernon area
along the Skagit River. Other highlights: three PEREGRINE [FALCONS] and
numerous AMERICAN PIPITS at various points throughout Samish Flats. Of the
pipits I had a flock of 75 along Sullivan Road. There were also six late
TUNDRA SWANS and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK at this site. Other highlights: a
late drake EURASIAN WIGEON near the Samish River bridge and an early
WHIMBREL on the fields just S. Also I noted arrival of COMMON
YELLOWTHROATS on Saturday the 12th near Lake Stevens, and there was another
on Samish Flats on the 13th. That's all. Bye bye.

10:22 a.m. April 14th - This is Hugh Jennings in Bellevue, Washington, at
206-746-6351, and this morning (Monday) while I was doing my walk in the
Lake Hills Greenbelt in the rain, there was eight COMMON SNIPE in the
wetland just N of the boardwalk which goes E from 148th Street. They must
like the rain. Also there was two COMMON YELLOWTHROAT in the area there,
Larsen Lake. Thank you.

[Mailbox checked last at 12:00 noon on April 14th, 1997]

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Hal Opperman - P. O. Box 286 - Medina, Washington 98039 - USA
halop at accessone.com - phone 1-206-635-0503 - fax 1-206-635-0271
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