Subject: Columbia Estuary Report - 2/8/98
Date: Feb 8 11:28:10 1998
From: Mike Patterson - mpatters at orednet.org




A first winter HEERMANN'S GULL managed to get me all worked up this morning.
I found it on the Heron Av dock in Warrenton. It was a beautiful, smallish
gull with absolutely smooth dark chocolate brown plumage. The only
distinctive feature was a dull yellow bill with a dark tip. I don't get
to see many first winter Heermann's Gulls in the winter.

The Lower Columbia Birders went to Brownsmead yesterday. High tide had
pushed 8 GREATER YELLOWLEGS into the fields along with most of the expected
species of ducks. A tundra-type PEREGRINE on Jackson Rd allowed us a good
long look and everyone got to see plenty of BALD EAGLES. We were unable to
locate the Red-shouldered Hawk seen last weekend (probably because the owners
of the property were working in the area). If any one else stopped by
Brownsmead this weekend looking I'd like to know if it was seen.

And no, those are not wild EMPEROR GEESE.

Later in the day, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, DUNLIN and COMMON SNIPE also made
a stop along Jackson Rd.

Bucky Barnett now has 4 ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS coming to his feeder. He also
managed to re-locate the OLDSQUAW near the east mooring basin.

Dan Fay has been watching a GREEN HERON (unusual this time of year) on
several successive evenings at the wetland near Fred Meyer.


--
*********************************
* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR *
* mpatters at orednet.org *
http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters