Columbia Estuary Report - 10/12/97

The series of winter storms did not bring in anything particularly
unusual this week. Expected fall movements of SPOTTED TOWHEE and
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER are beginning. Towhees were
conspicuous in the brushy spots at Fort Stevens and the numbers
of Yellow-rumps is building nicely on the bike path near parking
lot A.

Shorebird numbers are disappointing. 11 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and
3 BLACK TURNSTONES were the only shorebirds at the SJCR. There
is a big happy flock of LAPLAND LONGSPURS (my best count was
about 80). 625 SANDERLINGS were counted on the beach between
Sunset Access and Del Rey along with a pitiful 2 DUNLIN.

WESTERN GREBES are everywhere. At least 100 were at Seaside Cove
in a single raft. A RED-NECKED GREBE was in the Hammond Boat
Basin and 2 HORNED GREBES were at SJCR. There is a major PACIFIC
LOON movement going on now with 100's going by per hour.

A SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER (wing linings same color as breast) was
off Ecola Point today. A dark shearwater was there on Tuesday.
There are plenty of BROWN PELICANS still around. BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKES are easily seen.

And now the dead bird count for Clatsop Beach 10/12/97
(Sunset Access to Del Rey; 5.5km):

Red-throated Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Pelagic Cormorant 1
Northern Fulmar 3
Surf Scoter 2
Common Murre 7
Pigeon Guillemot 3
Rhinoceros Auklet 2



--
********************************* I am but mad north-north-west;
* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * when the wind is southerly,
* mpatters at orednet.org * I know a hawk from a handsaw.
http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters -ws