Transcribed by Lisa M. Smith
subplot at u.washington.edu
phone: (206) 523-9229

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[Mailbox previously checked at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, 4 February 1997.]

9:49 p.m. 02-04-97: This is Steven Mlodinow. Surprisingly, no one has
called the BirdBox to gloat to the rest of us about the wonderful pelagic
trip they had on Sunday last weekend, I believe that's the second. Those
who were present got to see a couple MOTTLED PETRELS, ??? [sounds like
Parakeet] AUKLETS, over 10 LAYSAN ALBATROSSES--really a remarkable trip.
I, unfortunately, was birding on land and was so stunned with their
sightings that I didn't even get around to calling in mine. We didn't find
anything too hugely amazing, but did have some success. I was birding with
David Lauten and Cathy Castlein, and we started out over at Monroe at the
Two Rivers Wildlife Management area, where we had a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
among other things like MERLIN, KESTREL, and COOPER'S HAWK. We then birded
some of the farmlands down around Ebey Island and found 3 TREE SPARROWS,
quite a number of LINCOLN SPARROWS, and other more common stuff. Then we
went up to Stillaguamish Delta, and at the end of Idie Road, which is just
west of Stanwood, we had 8 SNOWY OWLS, a SHORT-EARED OWL, and 2 HARLAN'S
HAWKS--one an adult bird and one an immature bird, both dark-phase. And I
think...I think that I've covered it all as far as the interesting things
we saw. Decent number of birds around that day. That's about [static on
mailbox, about two seconds' worth] too long, not much more to say. There
was a nice concentration of TRUMPETER SWANS north of Stanwood and south of
the Big Ditch access totaling about 250 Trumps, and a couple TUNDRA SWANS.
Also, at the end of Idie Road, a nice collection of WESTERN MEADOWLARKS,
about 40 birds. In the Bow Road area, there was a KESTREL. Also, on Ebey
Island, there was a KESTREL, so that was three for the day for us. That's
it! Good luck and good birding. I'll be out of town for the next couple
weekends, so you probably won't hear from me until almost March. I hope
you all do well. Take care.

[no messages on mailbox for Wednesday, 02-05-97]

[no messages on mailbox for Thursday, 02-06-97]

[Mailbox last checked at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, 6 February 1997.]