Subject: All 3 Scoters @ YAkima River Delta
Date: Oct 31 00:17:53 1997
From: Bill and Nancy LaFramboise - wlafra at owt.com


Since mid-October there have been several sightings of Surf Scoters at the
Yakima River Delta in Richland WA. It's always great finding to see these
birds in this area. There seem to be 1 or 2 each fall but either the area
is getting better coverage or there are more Surf Scoters this year.

On October 28, at the Yakima River delta, Bob Woodley discovered 1 female
Black Scoter among 7 Surf Scoters. Needless to say, Black Scoters are a very
unusual sighting for Eastern WA. Bob is only aware of two other
sightings/records. The birds flew as Bob was watching.

Maybe that's what inspired Phil Bartley to check the end of Bateman Island
today. While there, he observed 2 White-winged Scoters. White-winged
scoters have shown-up in the area more often than Black Scoters but are
still a relativly unusual sight.



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