Hi Tweeters,

Well, someone blurted out that its warm up in Canada and now the migrants
are all on there way.

"Barn Swallow and Rufous Hummingbird in Victoria, BC!"

On Sunday, Feb 1st , a male Barn Swallow was reported to be feeding on Swan
Lake in Victoria. Though we had an early record last year, this could be
either a very early northen migrant or a wintering bird that we missed.
Chances are that it's an arrival.

Also on Sunday, a male Rufous Hummingbird was reported from the Cadboro (10
mile) Point area in Saanich. This bird has appearently been here for a few
days. Cadboro Point is also the home of many Anna's Hummingbird and very
near the spot where our Costa's Hummer showed up in the summer last year.

These birds may well be a very early arrivals as El Nino's influence sends
them our way. The Rufous is a few weeks ahead of shedule and not that out
of place but the Barn is very early.

Arrival Dates in Victoria (notes from Brian Gates)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Barn Swallow: late march - late april
Rufous Hummingbird: early - late march

Also, Townsand's Solitare seem to be appearing as well.

For further information, call the Victoria RBA at (250) 592-3381

Pleasant Birding,







At 12:08 AM 02/02/98 PST, you wrote:
> TWEETERS Digest 1293
>
>Topics covered in this issue include:
>
> 1) Odd Aythya Hybrid, Lost Lagoon, Jan 31 1998
> by mprice at mindlink.bc.ca (Michael Price)
> 2) Caracara (Very short).
> by "Robert Taylor" <taylorrt at foxinternet.net>
> 3) Rusty Blackbird
> by B&P Bell <bellasoc at mail.isomedia.com>
> 4) Columbia Estuary Report - 2/1/98
> by mpatters at orednet.org (Mike Patterson)
> 5) Red-shouldered Hawk Survey
> by mpatters at orednet.org (Mike Patterson)
> 6) Saturday's Neah Bay Trip
> by "Robert Taylor" <taylorrt at foxinternet.net>
> 7) Weird bird day - Rufous Hummningbird
> by "Rob Conway" <robin_conway at hotmail.com>
> 8) Bald Eagles in Eastern Washington
> by Karen Fischer <merckdf at concord.televar.com>
> 9) turkey vulture arrivals
> by Diann MacRae <tvulture at halcyon.com>
> 10) Re: Rusty Blackbird iris
> by "Dan Logen" <pdl at whidbey.net>
> 11) Re: CARACARA
> by Tom Foote <footet at elwha.evergreen.edu>
> 12) Point-No-Point this AM
> by Pinguinus at aol.com
> 13) 01-31-98 Des Moines Marina
> by Maureen Ellis <me2 at u.washington.edu>
> 14) Re: 01-31-98 Des Moines Marina
> by "S&C Richardson" <salix at halcyon.com>
> 15) (JOKE) New Element Discovered!
> by mprice at mindlink.bc.ca (Michael Price)
> 16) Red-shouldered Hawk in Benton County
> by Bill and Nancy LaFramboise <wlafra at oneworld.owt.com>
> 17) Re: Saturday's Neah Bay Trip
> by "Ruth Sullivan" <GODWIT at worldnet.att.net>
> 18) Rusty Blackbird
> by MurrayH at aol.com
> 19) Re: Weird bird day - Rufous Hummningbird
> by mprice at mindlink.bc.ca (Michael Price)
> 20) Car Talk
> by borealis at borealis.seanet.com (Michael B. Brown)
> 21) Caracara
> by <jschmitt at sprintmail.com>
> 22) RE: Rusty Blackbird
> by Eugene Hunn <hunnhome at accessone.com>
> 23) Re: Rusty Blackbird
> by Eugene Hunn <hunnhome at accessone.com>
> 24)
> by Eugene Hunn <hunnhome at accessone.com>
> 25) Re: Red-shouldered Hawk in Benton County
> by "Andy Stepniewski" <steppie at wolfenet.com>
> 26) Rufous Hummingbird Arrivals
> by "Rob Conway" <robin_conway at hotmail.com>
> 27) Late January in the Lower Yakima Valley
> by "Andy Stepniewski" <steppie at wolfenet.com>
> 28) Re: Rufous Hummingbird Arrivals
> by mpatters at orednet.org (Mike Patterson)
> 29) Re: Rufous Hummingbird Arrivals
> by mprice at mindlink.bc.ca (Michael Price)
> 30) wetland drained
> by "Martha Jordan" <marthaj at premier1.net>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 01:06:30 -0800
>From: mprice at mindlink.bc.ca (Michael Price)
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Odd Aythya Hybrid, Lost Lagoon, Jan 31 1998
>Message-ID: <E0xyvMD-00081k-00 at dewey.mindlink.net>
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>Hi Tweets,
>
>Forgot to mention attention caught by an odd-looking female scaup-type
>hybrid in the big flock that landed in late afternoon, think it might have
>been a cross between a Ring-necked Duck (RNDU) Aythya collaris and Greater
>Scaup (GRSC) A. marila. Was along the 'N' side of the Lagoon in a large
>flock of newly-arrived Lesser Scaup (LESC) A. affinis with a few GRSC males
>and females and one RNDU male. Direct plumage and structural comparisons
>with LESC, GRSC, and RNDU of both sexes and all age classes present.
>Sighting duration 2 min., distances from 20 to 50 meters, through 10x40 bins.
>
>Description--as adult female GRSC in size and plumage *except*:
>
>--steep slant-back (the 'Mayan' look) forehead as RNDU;
>--crown highest at rear-crown, as RNDU or LESC;
>--strongly rounded rear-crown peak, as RNDU, not LESC;
>--longer, narrower bill than GRSC with narrow pale grey subterminal ring;
>--very large brilliant white patch around base of bill, as GRSC;
>--longer-necked than GRSC
>
>otherwise:
>--head, neck and chest dark brown;
>--folded wings blackish-brown;
>--sides dirty grey-brown, mottled and vertically barred darker grey;
>--pale eye;
>
>Headshape and pale ring on bill suggest RNDU, plumage features GRSC.
>
>Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
>Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery and change;
>mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
> Aphra Behn (1640-1689)
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 08:28:01 -0800
>From: "Robert Taylor" <taylorrt at foxinternet.net>
>To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Subject: Caracara (Very short).
>Message-ID: <19980201162840595.AAA303 at taylorrt>
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>
>Hi Tweets
>
>Couldn't get on the net last night after return from Neah Bay.
>This is just to confirm that the Caracara is still being seen but
>roams considerably.
>
>Bob
>Federal Way, WA
>taylorrt at foxinternet.net
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 01 Feb 1998 10:27:06 -0800
>From: B&P Bell <bellasoc at mail.isomedia.com>
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Rusty Blackbird
>Message-ID: <34D4BE7A.4399 at mail.isomedia.com>
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>Hi Tweets -
>
>Gail Spitler mentions that they couldn't find reference to anything but
>yellow eyes for Rusty Blackbird. The second edition of the National
>Geographic Guide states that "Juveniles resemble winter adults but have
>dark eyes". In checking, I notice that the 1st edition doesn't have this
>statement. Also, The Audubon Society Master Guide to Birding, vol. 3, p.
>298 mentions that "Juveniles in summer may have dark eyes". When we
>first saw the bird with the dark eye it considerably puzzled us, but all
>the other features were consistent with Rusty. That was one of the
>reasons we studied it thoroughly. Later, when checking guides we found
>the reference to dark eyes for juveniles. It is a continual learning
>experience isn't it.
>
>Brian H. Bell
>Woodinville Wa
>bellasoc at isomedia.com
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 12:00:22 -0800
>From: mpatters at orednet.org (Mike Patterson)
>To: obol at mail.orst.edu, tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Columbia Estuary Report - 2/1/98
>Message-ID: <199802012000.AA01936 at ednet1.orednet.org>
>
>
>
>I did a quick (20min) seabird watch at Ecola State Park on Saturday. The
>wind was from the southeast, but it was pleasant and partly cloudy. COMMON
>MURRES seem to be congregrating near shore now, but there were very few other
>birds around.
>
>Today, I took a trip out to Brownsmead and did a raptor count. The best bird
>was a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (a new county bird for me, details to follow) on
>Aldrich Point Rd. between Andersen Rd and Davis Bottoms Rd. (OR DeLorme
>pg 71 c5). There were plenty of ducks around and 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS in
>the flooded fields. I got to see a Tundra-type PEREGRINE come in on a flock
>of KILLDEER from 500 meters. The Killdeer waited until after the falcon made
>its pass before flying make the attempt unsuccessful.
>
>I should also note that the pinioned EMPEROR GEESE are now permenantly on the
>loose at the Ziak Refuge. Don't be fooled.
>
>Brownsmead raptor count results:
> Bald Eagle 31
> Red-tailed Hawk 4
> Rough-legged Hawk 1
> RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 1
> Northern Harrier 4
> Peregrine Falcon 2
>
>
>
>--
>*********************************
>* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR *
>* mpatters at orednet.org *
>http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 12:08:01 -0800
>From: mpatters at orednet.org (Mike Patterson)
>To: obol at mail.orst.edu, tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Red-shouldered Hawk Survey
>Message-ID: <199802012008.AA05405 at ednet1.orednet.org>
>
>
>
>This has been a big year for Red-shouldered Hawks outside their expected
>haunts and I'd like to do a little distributional work on this year's
>records.
>
>Please send me the following (if you're of a mind to):
> Location (if you can tell me in township-range to 1/16 section
> it would be best, but DeLorme and/or good landmarks is fine)
> Date and time of day
> Number of birds encountered
> (Optional) habitat discription
>
>Please send post directly to me. I will sort through them and post a
>compilation
>
>Thank you,
>
>
>--
>*********************************
>* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR *
>* mpatters at orednet.org *
>http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 12:05:26 -0800
>From: "Robert Taylor" <taylorrt at foxinternet.net>
>To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Subject: Saturday's Neah Bay Trip
>Message-ID: <19980201201129382.AAA204 at taylorrt>
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>
>A quick but a little more detailed report on a trip to Neah Bay.
>
>I responded to Richard Rowlett's e-mail posting for ride sharers to go to
>Neah Bay. If you have a chance to bird with Richard, do. He is
>knowledgeable, informative and helpful. The folks we met all requested
>that he continue his postings in the manner that he does. He told me to do
>this one and I am (reluctantly).
>
>Richard when you read this, please fill in my missed deatails -- there
>are probably many.
>
>
>Primary objective was to see the Caracara but also to enjoy the trip and
>see what else would turn up. Caught the Edmunds-Kingston ferry before 6AM
>so it was too dark to see anything on the way over (reserved checking the
>Sound for the return trip. Hah!! It was black then, too!) and headed up
>the peninsula. It was past Port Angeles before it was light enough to see
>much of anything!
>
>Once we started paralleling the shore we stopped regularly and checked for
>everything. Got small groups of Oystercatchers (7, 5, 3, 6, and a couple
>of 2's), all three scoters, Red-throated and Pacific Loons (if there were
>any Commons, I don't recall them), fair numbers of Harlequin's, a few
>Wigeon (no Eurasian), Buffleheads, Red-throated, Western, and Horned Grebes
>and numbers of gulls scanned briefly without anything standing out.
>
>While we were stoppped at one point checking out the Straits, a male
>Pergerine passed behind us with its leisurely flap-cruise-flap-cruise flap
>and disappeared to the east. Bald Eagles were frequent perched, in flight
>and a coule on the rocky shore/beach.
>
>Careful checking of the rocks also yielded Surfbird, Black Turnstone and a
>lone Rock Sandpiper. Hey, and we found two River Otters! Also, along
>this stretch we noted 2 male and a female kingfisher.
>
>Arriving in Neah Bay at 10 we were immediately honked at by a following
>GOSHAWK (that is Ruth Sullivan's license plate) and met by Ian Mcgregor
>(who had seen the Caracara that morning). Indications were that it was
>best seen at or near the Senior Center. When we arrived there we found
>that Ian had just located a Black-legged Kitiwake where the little fresh
>water creek flows into the bay. The Caracara was not apparent but a very
>scraggly immature Bald Eagle drew some attention and then a Glaucus Gull
>was tweeked out of the gulls at the fresh water creek! Someone then
>spotted the Caracara peched in a large tree about 4 blocks from the water.
>Easy and clear scope view was had by the group that had gathered (about 8
>of us?).
>
>Easiest way to describe the bird is "look in the NG Field Guide"! It left
>there had moved to some alders for a brief stay and then flew further west,
>returned and disappeared over the low hills to the west. It was clearly
>seen and certainly no one was lacking a good look for ID purposes. The
>Glaucus Gull then joined us near the closed off road to the spit.
>
>We headed toward Cape Flattery. We had been told that there were a pair of
>dead cows in the area and perhaps a food source for the Caracara and watch
>out for Trumpeters. (We did not see the Caracara again on Saturday.
>Apparently, it is not known where it spends the rest of its time.) Before
>we checked out an area that looked excellent for Cattle Egrets (without
>luck), we investigated what looked to be large pieces of white plastic bag
>trash --- a pair Trumpeter Swans. Also, got Hooded Merganser, Robin,
>Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Finch,Song Sparrow, Marsh Wren, Bufflehead,
>etc. In the field there is also a 'Georgia O'Keefe' cowskull! One more
>male Kingfisher over the the tidal creek. Plenty of Starlings.
>
>At Cape Flattery, Richard remarked that if he went down to the Clumbia
>River Jetties he would have been in all four corners of Washington satae
>during the week! How many could say that?? The work that has been done on
>the trail to the Cape is significant. For those that have not been there
>recently (the last couple of years?). The trail has been smoothed. An
>elevated walkway has been built. And WELL built. The split wood treads
>have the rough grain going across the direction of travel that provides
>skid resistance. The turns have been put together in a craftsman-like
>manner. The steps are not too high or too shallow. There are handrails in
>appropriate places. The lookout areas are not "poured concrete with steel
>handrails"
>but nicely shaped and well-positioned for seeing Tatoosh and the area.
>This is truly a job "Well Done". If anyone has an e-mail address for the
>Makah Nation so that a word of thanks can be forwarded to them I think it
>would be most appropriate. Further, it should be used as an example of how
>to do a job well for other County, State or Regional parks areas.
>
>Plenty of Western grebes and a scattering of others. About a dozen Black
>Turnstones. Murres in the distance. Harlequins. Scoters. A good sized
>River Otter. Sea lions. Harbor Porpoises. A possible Ancient Murrelet and
>Richard had a bird that could have been a Fulmar.
>
>Went down the coast a bit -- to the Fish Hatchery and then back and
>another try to go further down the coast resulted in running into an area
>where several trenches had been cut acorss the road to bar further travel.
>How do you get to Three Arches??? Found four more Trumpeters and on the
>way Home got an exceptionally close view of the two Trumpeters closer to
>Neah Bay. A last troll along the area where there should be Cattle Egrets
>-- nop -- and then a long haul Home.
>
>Ferry was a few minutes late and we were among the very last cars aboard.
>
>Last Comment: WEATHER, best put as, "This must be June!" We had
>generally clear skies, temps in the 50's, some wind but not harassing or
>chilling. Birded from dark to dark.
>
>Richard, "Thank You for a great day." It was good to see people get a
>good bird and rewarding to see someone find their "life" Black-legged
>Kitiwake.
>
>Bob
>Federal Way, WA
>taylorrt at foxinternet.net
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 01 Feb 1998 13:35:09 PST
>From: "Rob Conway" <robin_conway at hotmail.com>
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Weird bird day - Rufous Hummningbird
>Message-ID: <19980201213509.22155.qmail at hotmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain
>
>Tweeters,
>
>Went for my neighborhood loop early this morning and how strange it was.
>I saw quite a number of birds including my first RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
>(male) of the year (10 days earlier than usual). I had on a red shirt
>and he came right for me, then he scuttled off to a patch of
>salmonberries that had just a couple of blossoms coming on. Also saw
>both TOWNSENDS and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, RED BREASTED SAPSUCKER,
>BEWICKS WREN, COMMON RAVEN, BALD EAGLE, RED TAILED HAWK, PILEATED
>WOODPECKER, and BROWN CREEPER. There were SONG SPARROWS everywhere, and
>a single RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD that is evidently planning to take up
>residence at a "dead" stormwater pond (not a stick of vegetation in/on
>the margins of the pond). Also all of the usual suspects: DARK EYED
>JUNCO, RUBY and GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLETS, SPOTTED TOWHEES, BUSHTITS,
>STELLARS JAY, CROWS, STARLINGS (including one sounding just like a tree
>frog), BC and CB CHICKADEES and ROBINS.
>
>While I was walking I heard a terrible animal noise. Sounded like an
>injured cat (but big, was it a bobcat?). As I came down the trail I
>realized that the noise was just below me, in the creekbed. I scanned
>with my bino's and eventually saw a raccoon, partially hidden in the
>brush. It's back legs were twitching and it made a terrible screaching
>howl. I guessed it was either hit by a car and had drug it self up the
>creek or was suffering distemper or rabies. I felt very bad - until on
>my last look at the animal I realized it was actually two raccoons, and
>.... lets just say that if they were successful in their efforts we'll
>have more raccoons to contend with later this year. I laughed and
>laughed when I realized what was actually going on.
>
>Also a reality check for the weather, from my home station -
>
>Feb 1, 1998 7 am Temp 59 degrees, Clear skies, SE wind 20 mph
>Feb 1, 1989 7 am Temp 4 degrees, Heavy Snow, NE wind 45 mph
>
>Enjoy it while it lasts!!
>
>Good Birding to all,
>
>Rob Conway
>Bellevue, WA
>
>robin_conway at hotmail.com
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 01 Feb 1998 13:58:33 -0700
>From: Karen Fischer <merckdf at concord.televar.com>
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Bald Eagles in Eastern Washington
>Message-ID: <34D4E1E9.7167 at concord.televar.com>
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>Cheryl Essary,Othello,WA (merckdf at televar.com)
>
>Hi Tweeters....Just have to report that my sister & I were out for
>a Saturday jaunt (Jan.31) from Othello to Wenatchee and saw not
>one, but TWO Bald Eagles!!!!! The first one was spotted by my
>eagle-eyed sis at the I-90 rest area between Quincy and Moses Lake
>(westbound). It was about 1/4 mile away in a tree,but unmistakeably
>a baldie. We ogled him for awhile but it was cold & windy,so we
>proceeded on. Our next sighting was less than an hour later on
>Highway 28,just past Rock Island Dam. This Bald Eagle was again in
>top of a tree beside a golf course and right next to the road!!
>He was so close you didn't even really need binoculars to see him.
>After that thrill, we had to go to Leavenworth to calm ourselves
>down with some German food & beer...and a few hours later on our
>way home, we spied Golden Eagle on Hwy 2 between Cashmere &
>Wenatchee. It was my most memorable birding adventure ever, which
>isn't saying too much, since I really just started paying attention
>to birds in the last year or so. My inexperience accounts for the
>lack of specific descriptive information about the eagles we saw,
>but there is no doubt at all that they were Bald & Golden Eagles,
>'cause I've seen LOTS of hawks and these weren't no hawks.
> Thanks for reading!!
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 01 Feb 1998 14:06:55 -0800
>From: Diann MacRae <tvulture at halcyon.com>
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: turkey vulture arrivals
>Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19980201140655.0079e380 at mail.halcyon.com>
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>
>Hello Tweets,
>
>I almost hate to ask since I am now keeping an eye out for gray jays,
>kingfishers, swans, and what-all, however, I feel compelled since it's
>almost time!
>
>I would appreciate very much any sightings of northward-bound turkey
>vultures this spring. The first are usually seen in February so this
>seemed an appropriate date to ask. If, by chance, you know of any sneaky
>ones that have stayed the winter in some obscure spot, I'd like to know
>about those, too. There were a couple on Vancouver Island that forgot to
>leave the staging area last fall, and have heard of ca. 16 in Nova Scotia,
>and 1-2 in central Oregon, but that's been about it.
>
>So, if you see one of these handsome guys, it would be very helpful if you
>could notice weather, time, number of birds, and anything else of interest.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Diann MacRae
>Olympic Vulture Study
>Bothell
>tvulture at halcyon.com
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 14:33:54 -0800
>From: "Dan Logen" <pdl at whidbey.net>
>To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Subject: Re: Rusty Blackbird iris
>Message-ID: <199802012229.OAA00864 at islander.whidbey.net>
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>To add to this thread:
>
>The Birds of NA account (#200) states:
>
>Iris. Dark in Juvenal-plumaged birds (Hoffman and Hoffman 1981), turning
>light yellow in fall (Bagg and Eliot 1937) and becoming conspicuously
>yellow in adults (Henderson 1987).
>
>Dan Logen
>Stanwood, Wa
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 15:54:24 -0800 (PST)
>From: Tom Foote <footet at elwha.evergreen.edu>
>To: Norton360 at aol.com
>Cc: jschmitt at sprintmail.com, tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Re: CARACARA
>Message-ID: <Pine.ULT.3.91.980201155131.17607D-100000 at elwha.evergreen.edu>
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
>
>
>
>On Sat, 31 Jan 1998 Norton360 at aol.com wrote:
>
>[snip..]
>
>We tried the town dump but only had a RED-TAILED HAWK.
> ^^^^
>
> any day you get to watch a redtail, is a good day
> in my book... :)
>
> Tom
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 19:20:11 EST
>From: Pinguinus at aol.com
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Point-No-Point this AM
>Message-ID: <11b3e6cf.34d5113d at aol.com>
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit
>
>Hello Tweets,
>Spent this morning birding Point-No-Point on the Kitsap Peninsula. Thanks to
>high tide conditions, Marbled Murrelets were in close, with one pair cruising
>past the point no further than ten feet out. A total of four pairs and one
>single bird were seen. The single bird was well on its way to obtaining
>alternate plumage- still largely blackish above, but the mottled brown of the
>underparts was becoming very apparent. Also saw good numbers of Common Murres
>and Brandt's Cormorants.
>
>On the way home, I watched a Pigeon Guillemot, with just a tiny bit of white
>flecking showing on the breast and neck, feeding in the Kingston harbor...so
>regardless of whether the ground hog sees its shadow tomorrow, spring is
>definitely on its way...good birding to all.
>
>_________________________
>Alan J. Knue
>2642 NW 87th St
>Seattle, WA 98117
>
>pinguinus at aol.com
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 16:21:21 -0800 (PST)
>From: Maureen Ellis <me2 at u.washington.edu>
>To: Tweeters News Group <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Subject: 01-31-98 Des Moines Marina
>Message-ID:
<Pine.A41.3.95b.980201160742.111232B-100000 at homer20.u.washington.edu>
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
>
>Hello tweets,
>
>Just your average NW sunny, balmy January day! Two notable observations:
>
>(1) Horned grebes starting to show "color" indicative of alternate
>plumage.
>(2) A Spotted sandpiper (seen occasionally here) making its way along the
>shoreline south of the Des Moines Yacht Club. What is their incidence of
>wintering in the Puget Sound in recent years?
>
>Wintering water bird numbers have still not returned to the pre-storm
>levels seen early in November and December. Wigeons have disappeared;
>other local birders have seen a fair count on nearby quieter inland lakes.
>The ratio of Surf:White-winged scoters is about half and half; in recent
>past years the Surf scoters have been our dominant local wintering scoter.
>Total numbers were about 125-150 birds, less now after the storms and BIG
>water (at least for this area of the Sound.)
>
>Well, I'm ready for the spring migrants!
>
>Maureen Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu Univ of WA and Des Moines, WA
>
>"Finding the occasional straw of truth awash in a great ocean of
>confusion and bamboozle requires vigilance, dedication, and courage."
> -Carl Sagan-
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 16:51:25 -0800
>From: "S&C Richardson" <salix at halcyon.com>
>To: "Tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Subject: Re: 01-31-98 Des Moines Marina
>Message-ID: <199802020048.QAA24862 at smtp4.nwnexus.com>
>
>Maureen Ellis commented...
>> (1) Horned grebes starting to show "color" indicative of alternate
>> plumage.
>
>Yes. I was out at East Bay, Olympia, for a Black Hills Audubon walk on
Saturday
>and thought I noticed the same thing, a tinge of rust in the gray hindneck of
>the local Horned Grebes. I encouraged the Auduboners who joined me on the
walk
>to return in March to see the magically-transformed grebes in their sporty
>"summer" attire.
>
>Incidentally, the remainder of East Bay's waterbirds on Saturday were the
>"usuals" for the month: Greater Scaup, both goldeneye species, Black (a
couple)
>and Surf (a couple dozen) scoters, Buffleheads, a drake Red-breasted
Merganser,
>and, happily, a mini-contingent of Ruddy Ducks. A Greater Yellowlegs and male
>kingfisher added another dimension. More Mew Gulls than Ring-billed.
>Altogether, interesting variety.
>
>The weather made me think of swallows and martins, though it's a bit early to
>get into THAT mindset!
>--
>Scott Richardson
>northeast Seattle
>salix at halcyon.com
>
>Remember:
>Female Belted Kingfishers have a rusty "belt," which the males lack.
>Both sexes have a blue breast band.
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 18:11:59 -0800
>From: mprice at mindlink.bc.ca (Michael Price)
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Cc: <mbeck at paralynx.com>, subplot at juno.com, dpaulson at mail.ups.edu,
> <ntaylor at pacificrim.net>, <b.craddock at which.net>
>Subject: (JOKE) New Element Discovered!
>Message-ID: <E0xzBMc-0004hh-00 at dewey.mindlink.net>
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>Hi Tweets,
>
>Too good not to pass on; from the 'City Limits' column in Saturday's
>Vancouver Sun.
>
>M
>
>
>********************************
>
>New Element Discovered!
>
> The heaviest element known to science was recently discovered by
>physicists at the Yale Research center. The element, tentatively named
>'Administratium', has no protons nor electrons, thus has an atomic number of
>0; however, it does have one neutron, 125 assistant neutrons, and 11
>assistant vice-neutrons. This gives it an atomic mass of 312. These 312
>particles are held together in a nucleus by a force that involves the
>continuous exchange of meson-like particles called morons.
>
> Since it has no electrons, Administratium is inert; however, it can be
>detected chemically as it impedes every reaction with which it comes in
>contact. According to the discoverers, a minute amount of Administratium
>caused a reaction to take over four days to complete, when it would normally
>occur in less than one second.
>
> Administratium has a normal life of approximately three years, at which
>time it does not actually decay but instead undergoes a reorganisation in
>which assistant neutrons, vice-neutrons and assistant vice-neutrons exchange
>places. Some studies have shown that the atomic weight usually increases
>after each reorganisation.
>
> Research at other laboratories indicate that administratium occurs
>naturally in the atmosphere. It tends to concentrate at certain points such
>as government agencies, large corporations and universities, and can
>actually be found in the newest, best-maintained buildings.
>
> Scientists point out that administratium is known to be toxic at any
>level of concentration and can easily destroy any productive reactions where
>it is allowed to accumulate. Attempts are being made to determine how
>administratium can be controlled to prevent irreversible damage, but results
>are not promising.
>
>*************************
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 01 Feb 1998 18:35:01 -0800
>From: Bill and Nancy LaFramboise <wlafra at oneworld.owt.com>
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Cc: dennme at wwc.edu
>Subject: Red-shouldered Hawk in Benton County
>Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19980201183501.007d4660 at oneworld.owt.com>
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>Yesterday (1/31/98), Tony Greager found a Red-shouldered Hawk along the
>Yakima River in West Richland. Several observers were able to relocate the
>bird today.
>
>The bird appears to be a sub-adult, similar to the one that had been at
>Madame Dorian Park in Wallula last fall.
>
>If anyone is interested in seeing this bird, it can be located at the
>corner of Grosscup and Snively Roads, DeLorme page 29, T10N, R27E, sec 30.
>It is perching in trees along the river and can be seen from the bridges.
>
>
>Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
>Richland, WA
>wlafra at oneworld.owt.com
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 18:55:28 -0800
>From: "Ruth Sullivan" <GODWIT at worldnet.att.net>
>To: <taylorrt at foxinternet.net>, <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Subject: Re: Saturday's Neah Bay Trip
>Message-ID: <19980202030041.AAA17159 at hp-customer>
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>Hi Robret,
>Thanks for mention me as one of the Birders there Saturday.I went with Greg
>Tischner who din't see the Caracara the first time we went.After you left
>to Cape Flattery, we had the Caracara in real close few for THAT Photo.Also
>there was other Birders which arrieved late, we helped them find the Bird.
>I try to hike out to the Point at Cape Flattery, but i hurt my Foot, so the
>story goes. It certainly was a beautiful Day beeing out there with all the
>good Birders to see the Caracara and some of the other Birds.
>Ruth
>GODWIT at worldnet.att.net
>
>----------
>> From: Robert Taylor <taylorrt at foxinternet.net>
>> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>> Subject: Saturday's Neah Bay Trip
>> Date: Sunday, February 01, 1998 12:05 PM
>>
>>
>> A quick but a little more detailed report on a trip to Neah Bay.
>>
>> I responded to Richard Rowlett's e-mail posting for ride sharers to go to
>> Neah Bay. If you have a chance to bird with Richard, do. He is
>> knowledgeable, informative and helpful. The folks we met all requested
>> that he continue his postings in the manner that he does. He told me to
>do
>> this one and I am (reluctantly).
>>
>> Richard when you read this, please fill in my missed deatails -- there
>> are probably many.
>>
>>
>> Primary objective was to see the Caracara but also to enjoy the trip and
>> see what else would turn up. Caught the Edmunds-Kingston ferry before
>6AM
>> so it was too dark to see anything on the way over (reserved checking the
>> Sound for the return trip. Hah!! It was black then, too!) and headed up
>> the peninsula. It was past Port Angeles before it was light enough to
>see
>> much of anything!
>>
>> Once we started paralleling the shore we stopped regularly and checked
>for
>> everything. Got small groups of Oystercatchers (7, 5, 3, 6, and a couple
>> of 2's), all three scoters, Red-throated and Pacific Loons (if there were
>> any Commons, I don't recall them), fair numbers of Harlequin's, a few
>> Wigeon (no Eurasian), Buffleheads, Red-throated, Western, and Horned
>Grebes
>> and numbers of gulls scanned briefly without anything standing out.
>>
>> While we were stoppped at one point checking out the Straits, a male
>> Pergerine passed behind us with its leisurely flap-cruise-flap-cruise
>flap
>> and disappeared to the east. Bald Eagles were frequent perched, in
>flight
>> and a coule on the rocky shore/beach.
>>
>> Careful checking of the rocks also yielded Surfbird, Black Turnstone and
>a
>> lone Rock Sandpiper. Hey, and we found two River Otters! Also, along
>> this stretch we noted 2 male and a female kingfisher.
>>
>> Arriving in Neah Bay at 10 we were immediately honked at by a following
>> GOSHAWK (that is Ruth Sullivan's license plate) and met by Ian Mcgregor
>> (who had seen the Caracara that morning). Indications were that it was
>> best seen at or near the Senior Center. When we arrived there we found
>> that Ian had just located a Black-legged Kitiwake where the little fresh
>> water creek flows into the bay. The Caracara was not apparent but a very
>> scraggly immature Bald Eagle drew some attention and then a Glaucus Gull
>> was tweeked out of the gulls at the fresh water creek! Someone then
>> spotted the Caracara peched in a large tree about 4 blocks from the
>water.
>> Easy and clear scope view was had by the group that had gathered (about 8
>> of us?).
>>
>> Easiest way to describe the bird is "look in the NG Field Guide"! It
>left
>> there had moved to some alders for a brief stay and then flew further
>west,
>> returned and disappeared over the low hills to the west. It was clearly
>> seen and certainly no one was lacking a good look for ID purposes. The
>> Glaucus Gull then joined us near the closed off road to the spit.
>>
>> We headed toward Cape Flattery. We had been told that there were a pair
>of
>> dead cows in the area and perhaps a food source for the Caracara and
>watch
>> out for Trumpeters. (We did not see the Caracara again on Saturday.
>> Apparently, it is not known where it spends the rest of its time.)
>Before
>> we checked out an area that looked excellent for Cattle Egrets (without
>> luck), we investigated what looked to be large pieces of white plastic
>bag
>> trash --- a pair Trumpeter Swans. Also, got Hooded Merganser, Robin,
>> Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Finch,Song Sparrow, Marsh Wren,
>Bufflehead,
>> etc. In the field there is also a 'Georgia O'Keefe' cowskull! One more
>> male Kingfisher over the the tidal creek. Plenty of Starlings.
>>
>> At Cape Flattery, Richard remarked that if he went down to the Clumbia
>> River Jetties he would have been in all four corners of Washington satae
>> during the week! How many could say that?? The work that has been done
>on
>> the trail to the Cape is significant. For those that have not been there
>> recently (the last couple of years?). The trail has been smoothed. An
>> elevated walkway has been built. And WELL built. The split wood treads
>> have the rough grain going across the direction of travel that provides
>> skid resistance. The turns have been put together in a craftsman-like
>> manner. The steps are not too high or too shallow. There are handrails
>in
>> appropriate places. The lookout areas are not "poured concrete with
>steel
>> handrails"
>> but nicely shaped and well-positioned for seeing Tatoosh and the area.
>> This is truly a job "Well Done". If anyone has an e-mail address for the
>> Makah Nation so that a word of thanks can be forwarded to them I think it
>> would be most appropriate. Further, it should be used as an example of
>how
>> to do a job well for other County, State or Regional parks areas.
>>
>> Plenty of Western grebes and a scattering of others. About a dozen Black
>> Turnstones. Murres in the distance. Harlequins. Scoters. A good sized
>> River Otter. Sea lions. Harbor Porpoises. A possible Ancient Murrelet
>and
>> Richard had a bird that could have been a Fulmar.
>>
>> Went down the coast a bit -- to the Fish Hatchery and then back and
>> another try to go further down the coast resulted in running into an area
>> where several trenches had been cut acorss the road to bar further
>travel.
>> How do you get to Three Arches??? Found four more Trumpeters and on the
>> way Home got an exceptionally close view of the two Trumpeters closer to
>> Neah Bay. A last troll along the area where there should be Cattle
>Egrets
>> -- nop -- and then a long haul Home.
>>
>> Ferry was a few minutes late and we were among the very last cars aboard.
>>
>> Last Comment: WEATHER, best put as, "This must be June!" We had
>> generally clear skies, temps in the 50's, some wind but not harassing or
>> chilling. Birded from dark to dark.
>>
>> Richard, "Thank You for a great day." It was good to see people get a
>> good bird and rewarding to see someone find their "life" Black-legged
>> Kitiwake.
>>
>> Bob
>> Federal Way, WA
>> taylorrt at foxinternet.net
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 22:02:04 -0500 (EST)
>From: MurrayH at aol.com
>To: bellasoc at mail.isomedia.com
>Cc: Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Rusty Blackbird
>Message-ID: <980201220203_122296697 at mrin51.mx>
>
>Brian--many thanks. We did try for the birds today but little luck. Heard
>that the Rusty at Two Rivers was injured but still being seen. You'll
>probably get a better report from other birders also in the area this
>morning. You were very kind to reply so quickly -- regards
>
>Murray Hansen
>MurrayH at aol.com
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 19:09:50 -0800
>From: mprice at mindlink.bc.ca (Michael Price)
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Re: Weird bird day - Rufous Hummningbird
>Message-ID: <E0xzCGb-0005ou-00 at dewey.mindlink.net>
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>Hi Tweets,
>
>Rob Conway writes:
>
>>I saw quite a number of birds including my first RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
>>(male) of the year (10 days earlier than usual).
>
>Wow, a real gatecrasher!
>
>That would make your average arrival date there February 10? Hoo doggies,
>that means they cover the distance from their arrival sites in California to
>mid-Washington State in almost nothing flat, then take three weeks to go
>just 240 km (150 mi) further north to arrive--on average--in Vancouver BC in
>Week 1-2 March. Hmm, not impossible.
>
>>I had on a red shirt
>>and he came right for me, then he scuttled off to a patch of
>>salmonberries that had just a couple of blossoms coming on.
>
>That, I think, is the main constraint on their northbound movement. So
>everyone go out and get red shirts. '-) No, the rate at which salmonberries
>open, but do they typically open in Bellevue WA three weeks ahead of
>Vancouver BC?
>
>I can imagine Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus being extraordinarily
>early this year if this pattern of warm southern air being pumped up north
>continues. Time to look for the first Tree and Violet-green Swallows
>(Tachycineta bicolor and thalassina); been keeping an eye on the southern
>state RBA's for a northbound swallow arrival, but nothing yet. But *anytime*
>in the next week or two. "Made it through another on the northern range..."
>
>>While I was walking I heard a terrible animal noise.
>(snip)
>
>Bwahahaa! Great story!
>
>Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
>Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery and change;
>mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
> Aphra Behn (1640-1689)
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 19:26:24 -0800 (PST)
>From: borealis at borealis.seanet.com (Michael B. Brown)
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Car Talk
>Message-ID: <199802020326.TAA23239 at mx.seanet.com>
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>Thanks to all who have replied to me about their choice of cars.
>Interestingly enough, many recommended vehicles I already had under
>consideration- great minds think alike!
>
>The largest number of respondants mentioned Subaru Wagons- from used early
>'80s models up to the currently popular Outback.
>
>On the small pickup side, quite a few mentioned the Ford Ranger.
>
>I'm currently leaning toward the Ranger. Less than two months ago I bought
>an old Nissan Pickup to haul dirt, lumber, etc. Now that I'm looking at a
>car payment, I can't afford to carry insurance on two vehicles, but I still
>want to be able to haul stuff. So a small pickup appeals to me. Toyotas are
>nice too, but appear to be more expensive (remember when Japanese cars were
>cheap?).
>
>It's going to be another two weeks at least before I buy, so if any other
>suggestions, send them my way.
>
>Happy bird watching,
>
>Michael B. Brown
>Puyallup, Washington
>H-253-841-4281
>W-253-841-8733
>C-253-208-9588
>borealis at borealis.seanet.com
>Nature Trail- http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us/USR/firgrove/brown/trail.htm
>Home Page- http://www.seanet.com/~borealis/Resume.htm
>
>"...I found myself suddenly neighbor to the birds; not by having imprisoned
>one, but having caged myself near them."
>
> -Thoreau
> _ _
> (o!o)
> ((___))
> " "
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 98 19:33:21 -0000
>From: <jschmitt at sprintmail.com>
>To: "tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Subject: Caracara
>Message-ID: <199802020330.TAA20757 at mailgate22>
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
>Just a quick note: My mother and I went up to Neah Bay today, rain and
>all and were just about to give up and leave after not finding the
>CARACARA in any of the previously noted locations, when I decided to
>drive through the residential areas south of the beach. Low and behold,
>there it was perched in someone's backyard, with kids walking by
>obliviously under it! As we pulled out scopes, several other birders
>arrived. The house which belonged with the aforementioned backyard
>spouted a curious teenager out the window, wondering what everyone was
>looking at in his backyard. He yelled " What you all looking at?" When
>we replied that we were looking at a rare bird, he looked as if he was
>thinking that all whites were mad. After a few minutes his little
>brother came wandering out to take a look and we let him look through the
>scope---what a great response! He was thrilled. Soon big brother came
>out also and took a peek. He was shocked and thrilled. He said " I
>never seen a bird looked like THAT before! It came from Mexico? What's
>it doing here?" Don't we all wish we knew! My immense pleasure at
>seeing this bird was tripled by being able to share it with these young
>men. Soon after, it flew off towards the beach. We followed and found
>it perched at the very west end of the beach in an alder on the hill. We
>watched it for some time and spoke with the very nice people who first
>noticed it on the fourth. They have been observing it every day and
>mentioned that someone wanted to know if it was banded--it is NOT. We
>saw it's legs very clearly in the scope and they were clean of bands.
>
>Joanne Schmitt
>jschmitt at sprintmail.com
>
>"The earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs,
> but not every man's greed."
> - Mahatma Gandi
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 19:57:52 -0800 (PST)
>From: Eugene Hunn <hunnhome at accessone.com>
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: RE: Rusty Blackbird
>Message-ID: <199802020357.TAA19302 at accessone.com>
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>Male Red-winged Blackbirds freshly molted have extensive rusty margins to
>the body feathers, often obscuring the red wing patch almost entirely. They,
>of course, have dark eyes.
>
>Gene Hunn, Seattle, hunnhome at accessone.com
>
>At 04:57 PM 1/31/98 -0800, you wrote:
>>Hi All,
>>Recently Brian Bell described a Rusty Blackbird that he and others observed
>>at Two Rivers Wildlife Center. What caught my eye was the fact the the
>>eyes(of the first bird identified as a RUBL) were black. I had a rather
>>mysterious member of the blackbird family around our place in the late fall.
>>Most of its feathers terminated in a peachy/brownish red fringe. The rest of
>>the feathers were dark brown, definitely not black. It had black eyes. We
>>couldn't find any reference that describes the eye of the RUBL, even
>>juvenile as black. Everything I've found says yellow (or straw) with a black
>>center.
>>Is the eye of the sub-adult RUBL yellow? Black? Comments please.
>>Thanks for the help.
>>Gail Spitler
>>Johnsons Landing, BC
>>spitler at wkpowerlink.com
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 19:57:55 -0800 (PST)
>From: Eugene Hunn <hunnhome at accessone.com>
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Re: Rusty Blackbird
>Message-ID: <199802020357.TAA19309 at accessone.com>
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>But "juveniles in summer" in this case presumably refers to young shortly
>after fledging. How long would they keep the dark eyes. I doubt they would
>keep them into January.
>
>Gene Hunn, Seattle, hunnhome at accessone.com
>
>At 10:27 AM 2/1/98 -0800, you wrote:
>>Hi Tweets -
>>
>>Gail Spitler mentions that they couldn't find reference to anything but
>>yellow eyes for Rusty Blackbird. The second edition of the National
>>Geographic Guide states that "Juveniles resemble winter adults but have
>>dark eyes". In checking, I notice that the 1st edition doesn't have this
>>statement. Also, The Audubon Society Master Guide to Birding, vol. 3, p.
>>298 mentions that "Juveniles in summer may have dark eyes". When we
>>first saw the bird with the dark eye it considerably puzzled us, but all
>>the other features were consistent with Rusty. That was one of the
>>reasons we studied it thoroughly. Later, when checking guides we found
>>the reference to dark eyes for juveniles. It is a continual learning
>>experience isn't it.
>>
>>Brian H. Bell
>>Woodinville Wa
>>bellasoc at isomedia.com
>>
>>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 19:57:57 -0800 (PST)
>From: Eugene Hunn <hunnhome at accessone.com>
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Message-ID: <199802020357.TAA19313 at accessone.com>
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>Calling all tweets:
>
>We (an informal Breeding Bird Atlas promoter committee -- Hal Opperman,
>David Swayne, etc.) are trying to plug the "owl gap" in our BBA data, in
>particular, for King and Kittitas counties (but wherever). Since many owls
>are rather sedentary, e.g., Western Screech, Great Horned, Barred, Spotted,
>etc., and often establish territories beginning in February, we are
>interested in any reports you may have of owls that appear to be on
>territory, paired, or nesting. Please pass along any such reports to me with
>date (at least month & year -- yes, past reports are also welcome, back 10
>years or so), species, nature of behavior indicating POSSIBLE, PROBABLE or
>CONFIRMED nesting. Please indicate the location in terms of county plus
>township, range, and section (or, at least, "quad," that is the ne, nw, se,
>or sw quarter of the township). Of particular interest is whether the owl is
>calling, over what period of time it has been calling or continued to call,
>whether a pair is/was present, and any more certain evidence of breeding,
>e.g., nest occupied, young seen, etc. Observations during fall and early
>winter are less likely to indicate breeding, so late winter, spring, and
>summer records are of greatest interest. Thanks.
>
>Gene Hunn, Seattle, hunnhome at accessone.com
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 20:09:37 -0800
>From: "Andy Stepniewski" <steppie at wolfenet.com>
>To: <wlafra at oneworld.owt.com>, <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Cc: <dennme at wwc.edu>
>Subject: Re: Red-shouldered Hawk in Benton County
>Message-ID: <199802020411.UAA19028 at wolfenet.com>
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>Bill and Nancy,
>
>This Red-shouldered Hawk is getting dangerously close to Yakima County
>(home turf).
>
>Andy Stepniewski
>Wapato WA
>
>----------
>> From: Bill and Nancy LaFramboise <wlafra at oneworld.owt.com>
>> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>> Cc: dennme at wwc.edu
>> Subject: Red-shouldered Hawk in Benton County
>> Date: Sunday, February 01, 1998 6:35 PM
>>
>> Yesterday (1/31/98), Tony Greager found a Red-shouldered Hawk along the
>> Yakima River in West Richland. Several observers were able to relocate
>the
>> bird today.
>>
>> The bird appears to be a sub-adult, similar to the one that had been at
>> Madame Dorian Park in Wallula last fall.
>>
>> If anyone is interested in seeing this bird, it can be located at the
>> corner of Grosscup and Snively Roads, DeLorme page 29, T10N, R27E, sec
>30.
>> It is perching in trees along the river and can be seen from the bridges.
>
>>
>>
>> Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
>> Richland, WA
>> wlafra at oneworld.owt.com
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 01 Feb 1998 20:16:42 PST
>From: "Rob Conway" <robin_conway at hotmail.com>
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Rufous Hummingbird Arrivals
>Message-ID: <19980202041642.11146.qmail at hotmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain
>
>Hi Tweets,
>
>Michael Price writes (concerning my siting of a rufous hummer today):
>
>>Wow, a real gatecrasher!
>>That would make your average arrival date there February 10? Hoo
>>doggies, that means they cover the distance from their arrival sites
>>in California to mid-Washington State in almost nothing flat, then
>>take three weeks to go just 240 km (150 mi) further north to
>>arrive--on average--in Vancouver BC in Week 1-2 March. Hmm, not
>>impossible.
>
>This send me scrambling. Was my recollection that out of whack? I'd
>put Michael's knowledge of local birds up against almost anyones....
>So - I went and checked my records for first sitings of Rufous
>Hummingbirds. All of these sitings were in the same general location on
>Cougar Mountain.
>
>1990 - Feb 12
>1991 - March 1 (significant snow in mid-Feb if I recall)
>1992 - Feb 13
>1993 - Feb 10
>1994 - Feb 20
>1995 - Feb 16
>1996 - Feb 12
>1997 - Feb 14
>
>That makes ~Feb 16 as the average date. So this date is not 10, but 15
>days early - believe me, I was surprised as heck. In a previous house I
>lived right next to a big patch of salmonberries and could predict
>within a day or two when the rufous hummers would arrive by the date of
>the salmonberry flowers opening.
>
>Today I saw a purple plum (Prunus Cerasifera Altropupurea) completely
>budded out and with a few open flowers - something we usually see in
>this neighborhood the SECOND WEEK IN MARCH, when it isn't unusual for
>them to be dusted by a late snow. But then with temperatures in the mid
>to upper 60's for almost a week (with LOWS around 45) what plant
>wouldn't be confused - hope we don't get a blast of arctic air now.
>Another strange plant phenom that I noticed today was that pine cones on
>all of the ornamental plantings were "snap, crackle and popping" -
>warmish temps and low humidity with lots of wind were drying the cones
>out and they were opening and dropping seed.
>
>I also saw RUFFED GROUSE and RED CROSSBILLS after my earlier posting
>today - what a strange mix of birds.
>
>Rob Conway
>Bellevue, WA
>
>robin_conway at hotmail.com
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 20:53:40 -0800
>From: "Andy Stepniewski" <steppie at wolfenet.com>
>To: "TWEETERS" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Subject: Late January in the Lower Yakima Valley
>Message-ID: <199802020458.UAA29152 at wolfenet.com>
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>Tweets,
>
>Yesterday (31 January), I hiked to the summit of the Rattlesnake Hills
>north of home. It was warm and nearly windless and sunny. Quite a beautiful
>day and very atypical for January. There were lots of Salt and Pepper in
>bloom (Gene Hunn says they're Lomatium gormanii piperi) and the first
>storksbills in bloom
>(Erodium circutarium).
>
>Horned Larks were madly chasing one another about on the summit grasslands.
>They were in such a frenzy I couldn't determine if the Gang of Three were 2
>males vying for one female or 2 females desperate for a lone male (are
>there any other plausible permutations to this scenario?). The larks have
>actually been persistently singing for the past week, which seems a bit
>earlier than usual.
>
>Two singing Western Meadowlarks were also earlier than usual (mid-February
>on territory singing in the Columbia Basin this far up the Yakima River is
>more the norm).
>
>Along the canal by the house was a single Orange-crowned Warbler (amongst
>honeysuckle and dodder that cover the brambles as is their favored winter
>cover in these parts). Out the front door was a Hermit Thrush. Both the
>warbler and thrush are rarely recorded after the Christmas counts in the
>Yakima area. Is this because of decreased observer coverage in January or
>the usual outbreaks of arctic air that surely thin numbers of lingerers
>like these species (add Ruby-crowned Kinglets to this list)? At any rate,
>seeing the warbler and thrush is yet more evidence that it has been a mild
>winter east of the Cascades.
>
>Susan and I auto-toured the Toppenish Refuge (she broke her ankle last
>Sunday at White Pass, so she is reduced to car birding; things have been
>worse; luckily her trip to Sun Valley-where there's "real" snow-a week
>earlier was without mishap). We were impressed by the numbers of waterfowl:
>Canada Geese, Green-winged Teal, Mallard and N. Pintails. The refuge folks,
>in conjunction with the Yakama Indian National biologists, Ducks Unlimited
>and Pheasants Forever are to be thanked and commended for the very
>significant changes in habitat quality on the Toppenish Creek bottomlands
>over the past three years. It's amazing! The whole scene reminded me of
>winter in one of California's Central Valley marshes rather than what has
>been typical for the Lower Yakima Valley. I guess its a combination of
>habitat restoration and mild conditions.
>
>The thousands of waterfowl were attracting attendant Bald Eagles (4). We
>also saw N. Harriers (7+), Sharp-shinned (1), Cooper's (1) and Red-tailed
>Hawks (10+), American Kestrels and one Prairie Falcon.
>
>Andy Stepniewski
>Wapato WA
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 20:58:54 -0800
>From: mpatters at orednet.org (Mike Patterson)
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Re: Rufous Hummingbird Arrivals
>Message-ID: <199802020458.AA00672 at ednet1.orednet.org>
>
>
>
>The average arrival date for Clatsop Co. OR (Astoria) is Feb 21 and further
>south (Coos Bay) about Feb 14. Brookings/Harbour has already reported
>both Allen's and Rufous, but with the caveat that they were about 10 days
>early.
>
>This would Cougar Mt arrival dates singularly unusual.
>
>
>>
>>Hi Tweets,
>>
>>Michael Price writes (concerning my siting of a rufous hummer today):
>>
>>>Wow, a real gatecrasher!
>>>That would make your average arrival date there February 10? Hoo
>>>doggies, that means they cover the distance from their arrival sites
>>>in California to mid-Washington State in almost nothing flat, then
>>>take three weeks to go just 240 km (150 mi) further north to
>>>arrive--on average--in Vancouver BC in Week 1-2 March. Hmm, not
>>>impossible.
>>
>>This send me scrambling. Was my recollection that out of whack? I'd
>>put Michael's knowledge of local birds up against almost anyones....
>>So - I went and checked my records for first sitings of Rufous
>>Hummingbirds. All of these sitings were in the same general location on
>>Cougar Mountain.
>>
>>1990 - Feb 12
>>1991 - March 1 (significant snow in mid-Feb if I recall)
>>1992 - Feb 13
>>1993 - Feb 10
>>1994 - Feb 20
>>1995 - Feb 16
>>1996 - Feb 12
>>1997 - Feb 14
>>
>>That makes ~Feb 16 as the average date. So this date is not 10, but 15
>>days early - believe me, I was surprised as heck. In a previous house I
>>lived right next to a big patch of salmonberries and could predict
>>within a day or two when the rufous hummers would arrive by the date of
>>the salmonberry flowers opening.
>>
>>Today I saw a purple plum (Prunus Cerasifera Altropupurea) completely
>>budded out and with a few open flowers - something we usually see in
>>this neighborhood the SECOND WEEK IN MARCH, when it isn't unusual for
>>them to be dusted by a late snow. But then with temperatures in the mid
>>to upper 60's for almost a week (with LOWS around 45) what plant
>>wouldn't be confused - hope we don't get a blast of arctic air now.
>>Another strange plant phenom that I noticed today was that pine cones on
>>all of the ornamental plantings were "snap, crackle and popping" -
>>warmish temps and low humidity with lots of wind were drying the cones
>>out and they were opening and dropping seed.
>>
>>I also saw RUFFED GROUSE and RED CROSSBILLS after my earlier posting
>>today - what a strange mix of birds.
>>
>>Rob Conway
>>Bellevue, WA
>>
>>robin_conway at hotmail.com
>>
>>______________________________________________________
>>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>>
>>
>
>--
>*********************************
>* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR *
>* mpatters at orednet.org *
>http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 21:44:35 -0800
>From: mprice at mindlink.bc.ca (Michael Price)
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Re: Rufous Hummingbird Arrivals
>Message-ID: <E0xzEgL-00006i-00 at dewey.mindlink.net>
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>Hi Tweets,
>
>Rob Conway writes:
>
>>This send me scrambling. Was my recollection that out of whack? I'd
>>put Michael's knowledge of local birds up against almost anyones....
>
>Heh! Thanks! Wish I knew as much about the stock market... Seriously,
>there's lotsa people around compared to whom I'm still a beginner-to
>mid-range birder. It's the *patterns* that are so interesting, not just the
>finding and the ID's, and that tell us so much by putting the finding and
>ID's in perspective.
>
>>So - I went and checked my records for first sitings of Rufous
>>Hummingbirds. All of these sitings were in the same general location on
>>Cougar Mountain.
>>
>>1990 - Feb 12
>>1991 - March 1 (significant snow in mid-Feb if I recall)
>>1992 - Feb 13
>>1993 - Feb 10
>>1994 - Feb 20
>>1995 - Feb 16
>>1996 - Feb 12
>>1997 - Feb 14
>>
>>That makes ~Feb 16 as the average date. So this date is not 10, but 15
>>days early - believe me, I was surprised as heck. In a previous house I
>>lived right next to a big patch of salmonberries and could predict
>>within a day or two when the rufous hummers would arrive by the date of
>>the salmonberry flowers opening.
>
>Wowza! Feb 16! That's still nearly three solid weeks ahead of here, where
>the earliest ever was a Feb 27 male. There's something really interesting
>going on here. Normally north- and southbound arrivals are earliest at
>coastal sites, so this is *well* in advance of this coastal site just to the
>N. So perhaps Vancouver BC birders are looking in the wrong place for the
>northbound migration's first Rufous--maybe instead of being as far S as they
>can get in the checklist area down near the Canada/US border in Langley
>around Mar 8-15, they should be up high on a local mountain's south slope
>about *now*. Is your salmonberry on a S slope, Rob?
>
>Or maybe I should put on my bright red 'Moscow Mickey' t-shirt and stand in
>the open. '-)
>
>>I also saw RUFFED GROUSE and RED CROSSBILLS after my earlier posting
>>today - what a strange mix of birds.
>
>Heh! You want to talk strange mix? When Bob & Elaine Taylor were here last
>Sunday, we saw the Xhummer in the AM and the eider in the PM, and Bob
>cracked that this was the first time he'd been able to twitch from Baja to
>Barrow in the same day!
>
>Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
>Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery and change;
>mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
> Aphra Behn (1640-1689)
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Mon, 2 Feb 1998 10:43:02 -0800
>From: "Martha Jordan" <marthaj at premier1.net>
>To: "Tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Subject: wetland drained
>Message-ID: <199802020642.WAA11087 at premier1.premier1.net>
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>Hello,
> This is to inform anyone interested that all the wetlands north of the
>Oysterville Road (about 3 miles long and 1/3 to 1/2 mile wide) have been
>illegally drained into Willapa Bay sometime in the first 3 weeks of
>January. Person(s) as yet unknown of vandalized the dune/dam belonging to
>The Trumpeter Swan Society on their property just south of Leadbetter State
>Park off Stackpole Road. The habitat lost is substantial, so much wetland
>vegetation high and dry. Now the area is water flowing through "canals"
>out to the bay, no water is flowing north into the park or the Willapa NWR
>or through Stackpole Slough.
> We are seeking information from anyone who may have seen activity (Backhoe
>on truck, backhoe trailer parked, etc.) along the Stackpole Road about 2
>miles north of the Oysterville Road. A $5,000 (no typo) is being offered
>for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this
>cowardly act.
> We are also seeking assistance with anyone with expertise in wetlands
>evaluation and in water structure engineering. We need your assistance for
>helping restore the dune/dam as soon as possible. It appears that the
>political climate in Pacific County is not friendly to the restoration.
>
>Please e-mail seperately for more information. I will have a hand-out at
>the WOS meeting tonight.
>
>I you have any other ideas for gathering contituents to help resolve this
>situation please let me know.
>
>Martha Jordan
>marthaj at premier1.net
>(425)787-0258
>
>------------------------------
>
>End of TWEETERS Digest 1293
>***************************
>
>
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Slagboom, Web Manager
Birding Victoria, BC
Tel: (250) 658-0940 Fax: (250) 658-3640
Email: boom at islandnet.com
-------------------------------------------------------------