Subject: Washington BirdBox 3-4 May 1997
Date: May 05 22:08:14 1997
From: Lisa M Smith - subplot at juno.com


Transcribed by Lisa M. Smith
subplot at juno.com
phone (206) 523-9229

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 (425) 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.

Birds mentioned (in order of appearance):

Western Kingbird
Solitary Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Swainson's Hawk
Nashville Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Warbling Vireo
Western Tanager
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Vesper Sparrow
Barred Owl
Bar-tailed Godwit
Peregrine Falcon
Baird's Sandpiper
Tattler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Shearwater
White-fronted Goose
Golden Plover
Merlin

[Mailbox previously checked at 11 p.m. Friday 2 May 1997.]

6:29 a.m. 05-03-97: This is Bill Shelmerdine, Olympia, 866-9106.
Yesterday at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, there were 2 WESTERN
KINGBIRDS at the outer part of the dike trail near the observation
platform, and there was also a SOLITARY SANDPIPER at the rainwater puddle
near the orchard. There was also at least 1 SOLITARY SANDPIPER still at
the stormwater ponds off ??? [sounds like Montman] Road in West Olympia.
That's it. Good luck and good birding.

4:18 p.m. 05-03-97: Hi, this is Steve Mlodinow. Chris McInery and I
birded an assortment of places today from Whidbey Island to Skagit County
to the Stillaguamish Delta and Spencer Island. Pretty slow, actually. The
highlight was a breeding- plumage SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER at a small pond
just west of the ??? [sounds like Willa or Willow] Bay on Whidbey Island,
visible from the main highway. Other highlights were a scattering of
WHIMBREL, including 4 at the Sylvana exit just west and south of that
road, off I-5. And that's really about it. Good luck and good birding.

5:18 p.m. 05-03-97: Gary Bletsch, 360-853-7203. Today, Keith Wiggers and
I saw a SWAINSON'S HAWK on the Dalstead Road [sp?] between Kelleher Road
[sp?] and Cook Road in the Butler Flats area of Skagit County. Also in
the area [were] a WESTERN KINGBIRD and 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS.

5:44 a.m. 05-04-97: Hello, this is Scott Atkinson. I just want to quickly
report that yesterday morning, May 3rd, I had 2 NASHVILLE WARBLERS here
along the ??? [could not understand this word] Road in Lake Stevens and
also the first WILSON'S WARBLER and WARBLING VIREO that I've had up here
for the season. Thanks. Bye.

9:10 a.m. 05-04-97: Hi, this is Sam Terry, 206-329-9038. This morning,
there are a few WESTERN TANAGERS on the hillside behind my house, along
with some ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, lots of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and at
least 1 WILSON'S WARBLER. Thanks. Bye.

5:34 p.m. 05-04-97: Hello, this is Dave Beaudette, 206-365-2083. Spent
today, May 4th, birding Skagit County. The SWAINSON'S HAWK was again seen
west of Sedro Woolley. Look for the bird south of the Dalstead [sp?] Road
1.5 miles west of District Line Road. The hawk spent a lot of time on the
ground and was seen from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Also present in this
field were 15 WHIMBREL. At the Barnaby Slough Fish Hatchery along the
Skagit River was a VESPER SPARROW. To reach the site from Rockport, go
south on Highway 530, east on the Rockport/Cascade Road, then onto the
Martin Ranch Road. Then follow signs for the slough. From the parking
area, walk west on the road that follows the slough. Go about 3/10 of a
mile down this road where a side road crosses the slough. The bird was
seen in weeds along the edge of the side road as it crosses the slough.
Continue about 2/10 of a mile down the main road that runs west along the
slough. A BARRED OWL was seen in the old-growth, big-leaf maple forest
here. Good birding.

5:48 p.m. 05-04-97: Don Carol, 253-852-1501, on Ocean Shores this
weekend. On Saturday, a BAR-TAILED GODWIT was seen north of the boat
basin. A PEREGRINE was in the same area. There were 3 BAIRD SANDPIPERS at
the Point Damon Pond, along with lots of other shorebirds. 3 TATTLERS on
the jetty--one at each end and one in the middle. A WARBLING VIREO and a
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER at the old state park sewage ponds. There
were some SHEARWATERS also far off the jetty. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on the
game range. And on Sunday, we saw 3 GOLDEN PLOVERS on the golf course. 3
BAIRDS were still at the Point Damon Pond, and 1 MERLIN was in the area
chasing the shorebirds. By the way, the circular sandspit at the back bay
is now gone, and a new house has been built across two lots where the old
access was to that spit. Good birding.

[Messages last checked at 11:45 p.m. Sunday 4 May 1997.]