Transcribed by Hal Opperman
halop at u.washington.edu
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
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 1:40 p.m. January 21st, 1997.]

6:07 p.m. January 21st - This is Ruth Sullivan from Tacoma, 564-7419.
Today again on the Crab Restaurant Road there was the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
on Golden Sand Boulevard -- in the vicinity, not exactly. He was observed
between 2:30 and 2:45. Also in the vicinity was an immature [NORTHERN]
GOSHAWK. Bye.

6:44 p.m. January 21st - This is Ruth Taylor, 525-6345 (that's a Seattle
number). Yesterday on Monday Judy DuVall and I birded the Samish Flats
and also part of the Skagit Flats. Probably the best bird of the day: an
adult gray GYRFALCON at the West 90. This individual is very heavily
marked on the breast, belly, and flanks, and in poor light superficially
very much resembles a giant PEALE'S PEREGRINE [FALCON]. However, the bird
was very much a gyr. Also at the West 90: six SNOWY OWLS and at least
three very cooperative SHORT-EARED OWLS. Two more SNOWY OWLS, possibly a
third, at the mouth of the Samish River, and also two SNOWY OWLS at the
Jensen access. Also on Fir Island: two flocks of SNOW GEESE totalling
probably about nine or ten thousand, with the larger flock near the North
Fork access and the smaller flock near the Jensen access. And also --
this is kind of a hit-or-miss thing, but the wooded part of the campground
at Bayview State Park was very, very good for small passerines. Good luck
and good birding!

11:11 p.m. January 21st - Hi. Paul Hicks here from Tenino, 360-264-2462.
Monday the 20th at the Skagit wildlife range I saw a WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW. It would be, I suppose, west of the south parking lot across the
plank from the restroom area. At the end of the field it constricts to a
single roadway, and at that point were the flock of sparrows and with them
possibly an [AMERICAN] TREE SPARROW -- smaller, long tail, gray. Might be
worth checking out.

8:22 p.m. January 22nd - Barry Levine from Seattle (526-8676), reporting
on a trip Monday to Vancouver [B. C.]. There is a YELLOW-BILLED LOON just
off of Canada Place, which is downtown Vancouver about half a mile east of
Stanley Park. Also in Stanley Park -- we didn't see it, but the TUFTED
DUCK is still being seen there. It's directly across from the city
entrance on Lost Lagoon. There is a stone bridge -- that's the spot that
it's usually seen at. If you haven't gotten a chance to go up and see the
COMMON EIDER, it's a great bird. It's the furthest south (according to
the reports that we got) that it's ever been seen on the western side of
the United States (sic!). Great bird to see. It's at Kitsilano (?)
Beach, which is, if you look to downtown Vancouver from the south side of
English Bay, it's at a place called Kitsilano (?) Beach, and there's a
pool there, and it's usually found in a flock of scoters right by that
pool. Also, there were lots of [NORTHERN] SAW-WHET OWLS at Reifel National
Wildlife (sic!) Refuge. Take care. Good luck and good birding!

10:06 p.m. January 22nd - Hi. Dave Lauten here at 206-706-0666. Rode the
Fauntleroy-to-Southworth ferry this morning and did *not* see any SMEW,
but I did see five RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Happy birding!

[Mailbox last checked at 3:30 p.m. January 23rd, 1997.]