Columbia Estuary Report - 04/19/98

Andrew Emlen saw a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON while leading a canoe
trip on the Columbia River near Skamokawa (DeLorme spelling),
Wahkiakum Co, WA. Breeding for this species has long been
suspected on the islands of the Lewis & Clark NWF and this is
further circumstantial evidence of that suspicion. A GREAT EGRET
flew over my house Friday afternoon (what a great yardbird).

Three cute little baby KILLDEER were with nervous parents at
the Ft Stevens Historical area. Waves of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS
(running about 80% Myrtle-type) and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS have
been moving through. They were practically dripping from the
trees at the Hammond Boat Basin Park on Sunday (no sign of the
solitaire reported Saturday).

The shorebird movement is starting up. A movement of COMMON SNIPE
was evident on Saturday at Wireless Rd. WHIMBREL numbers are
picking up as well. I drove Clatsop Beach on Friday and Sunday
and the difference in numbers was remarkable.(see below). I also
found a dead SOOTY SHEARWATER on the drive.

Clatsop Beach 3.3km 4/17/98 4/19/98
Black-bellied Plover 6
Dunlin 1800
Sanderling 16 300

Wireless Rd 4/18/98 4/19/98
Black-bellied Plover 1
Whimbrel 9 1
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Common Snipe 8
Western Sandpiper 10
Least Sandpiper 60



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Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR _Birds and other Wildlife of the
mpatters at orednet.org Columbia River Estuary_
http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/book_ad.htm