Hotline: Lower Columbia Basin
Date: January 9, 1997
Phone: 509-943-OWLS
Compiler: Bob Woodley
Transcribers: Bill and Nancy LaFramboise, wlafra at oneworld.owt.com

Birds reported:

Harris' Sparrow (2)
Blue Jay (2)
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Cassin's Finch
Western Scrub-Jay
American Tree Sparrows
Common Snipe
Red Crossbills
Townsend's Solitaire
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous Gull
Purple Finch
Northern Cardinal (Idaho)

-transcript

This is the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society Bird Alert for January 9,
1997. For any questions regarding LCBAS call Mike Lilga at 946-8966.

To skip the message, push the star button on your phone and give your
sightings after the tone.

Cathy Cheep, who is manager of the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge,
reported on January 3, that 2 HARRIS' SPARROWS had been at her feeder since
December 11. For additional information call Cathy at 541-922-4661.

On January 4, the day of our local Christmas Bird Count (CBC), Steve Weiss
reported one of the BLUE JAYS along Hood Street in North Richland. This
helped to give a count total of 104 species, tying the previous high
achieved in 1992. As to the BLUE JAYS, my wife and I (Bob Woodley) saw both
of them this morning at a feeder on Carriage Street, which is adjacent to
Hood Street.

Mary Lilga found 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS in her yard in North Richland on
January 5. This species did not appear on the previous day's count.

Also on January 5, Bill and Nancy LaFramboise had some particularly
interesting observations to report. They had a CASSIN'S FINCH and a HARRIS'
SPARROW in their yard, they found the WESTERN SCRUB-JAY in East Kennewick
where it now frequents the vicinity of 6th and Kingwood Streets. On Bateman
Island, they found the 2 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS discovered the previous day
on the CBC, plus a COMMON SNIPE and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. From the vicinity
of Harris and Spring Streets, in Richland, they saw 2 RED CROSSBILLS, a
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, a Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3 American White Pelicans, a
Merlin, a Red-breasted Nuthatch and a Pine Siskin, adding at least 4 more
birds to the count week total.

As to the Scrub Jay, I found it yesterday at the aforementioned locality.
Also among the gull flock on the ice west of the Bateman Island causeway, I
noted an adult THAYER'S GULL (seen on the CBC) and a first winter GLAUCOUS
GULL. While on Bateman Island I found a GREAT HORNED OWL, a Downy
Woodpecker, a Northern Shrike, and a female or immature PURPLE FINCH.

Finally, rather far afield, a NORTHERN CARDINAL has appeared in Lewiston,
Idaho. For current information call 208-882-6195.

To report your own sightings, please give your name, phone number and
sightings after the tone. Thank you.


Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
Richland, WA
wlafra at oneworld.owt.com