Transcribed by Chris Hill
cehill at u.washington.edu
phone: (206) 258-3680

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 at 8 a.m. on Saturday, 8 February 1997.]

8:16 p.m. 02-09-97: Hi, this is Scott Downes, 361-7073. Today, Bob
Norton, I, and various other King County birders took a field trip to the
Coast Guard station at Ediz Hook, and at the very outer air strip, we had
7 SNOW BUNTINGS. These can be reached if you go through the gate, sign in
at the guard station there, continue on out by walking to the very outer
circle area. That's about it, other than there was a nice WHIMBREL on
Ediz Hook today. Good luck and good birding.

6:39 p.m. 02-09-97. This is Ruth Sullivan, 564-7419. [? sounds like
Daveek] and I spent two days in Eastern Washington, Spokane. Drove 593
miles. The main bird was the HAWK OWL, which really cooperated for photos.
Sunday he became entangled and irritated by a HAIRY WOODPECKER, which
escaped safe. Other birds of interest included the PINE GROSBEAK,
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, BLUE JAY, and last, 75 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS. Thank you
and good birding. Bye.

4:40 p.m. 02-09-97 Hello, this is Ben Freeman, and I spent the weekend in
Vancouver, B.C. Let's see - there were 42 SNOWY OWLS and 7 SHORT-EARED
OWLS between 64th and 72nd streets in Boundary Bay, and there was also 1
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW and 60+ BALD EAGLES from the end of 96th st. on
Boundary Bay. In Stanley Park at Lost Lagoon there was a male TUFTED DUCK
and a REDHEAD at the west end of the lagoon. We did not see the [COMMON]
EIDER, but some local birders we met up with said it was hard to see
nowadays. Finally, we saw 1 SAW-WHET OWL and 5 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS
at the Riefel Refuge, although as many as 5 SAW-WHET OWLS have been seen
lately, and one GREAT HORNED OWL. Thanks.

8:57 p.m. 02-08-97. Hi, this is Scott Downes at 361-7073. This morning
at about 8:30 the HAWK OWL was present and just a [?] note to Dave's
comment: we actually observed the bird with two PINE GROSBEAKS right in
front of the sports complex right next to the football stadium there. It
eventually flew over in the direction of Elm and Cherry, which is where I
imagine Dave had it later in the day. If you go for the bird early in the
morning you might also want to try the sports complex because, just like
where Andy Stepnewski, Jim Flynn and Steve Pink had it is about the same
area where we had it, along with the two PINE GROSBEAKS. Thanks, good
luck and good birding.

7:35 p.m. 02-08-97. Hello, this is Dave Beaudette at 206 365-2083.
Today, February 8th, the NORTHERN HAWK OWL was again observed at the
campus of Eastern Washington University at Cheney, in Spokane County.. The
bird was quite active and moved around quite a bit. It was seen in the
tops of trees between 9th and Elm st. and the Science Building. I
observed the bird between 11:50 and 12:30, and it was most likely present
in that area for the rest of the day. Bye bye.

[mailbox last checked 10 a.m. 10 February 1997]