Columbia Estuary Report - 12/8/97

The Lower Columbia Birders took their monthly outing yesterday to
the Lewis Unit of the Willapa Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The
day was beautifully clear and reasonably warm for December with a
wind from the east. There are six TRUMPETER SWANS on the unit.
Six more Trumpeters are on Black Lake in Ilwaco.

Four unidentified swans were reported on the Necanicum Estuary
this morning. The GREAT EGRET is still being seen there as well.

Hawk numbers were a little disappointing. Only 7 RED-TAILED HAWKS
and a SHARP-SHINNED on Chinook Valley Rd

Is it just me, or does this seem like a grebier year than usual.
At least 6 PIED-BILLED GREBES were on Black Lake with the swans.
There are RED-NECKED GREBES in several location (this is not
always an easy species to find) including 2 on the Astoria water-
front and one in the Hammond boat basin. An EARED GREBE was on the
Warrenton Sewage Ponds. HORNED GREBES and WESTERN GREBES even
seem to be turning up in unexpected places.

I had time this morning for a very short (15 min) seawatch and
a drive along Sunset Beach. There are still good numbers of
PACIFIC LOONS offshore. 2500 DUNLIN were roosting at Peter
Iredale. At least 2000 more were seen between Sunset Beach access
and Del Rey access along with about 500 SANDERLINGS



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* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * What revolutionaries do best
* mpatters at orednet.org * is eat their own young
http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters