There is a large nesting colony of Bank Swallows on the north ends of the
Mt. Saint Helens ash/mud pile that was dredged out of the Toutle River
along I-5.
Scott

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> From: Gerald Hamilton <gerald at e-z.net>
> To: Washington Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Bank Swallows?????
> Date: Monday, July 27, 1998 7:47 PM
>
> ..............Just a question: Does anyone know if Bank Swallows are
> normally seen in the area from Vancouver, Wash. west to Long Beach
> Peninsula, and north to Olympia, Wash.??? The wildlife listing phamplet
> s for Ridgefield NWR and for Willapa Bay NWR dOn't even list this
> species. and the brochure for Sauvie Island Oreg. State WR lists them as
> 'rare'.Bird manuel says they exist everwhere except in the deserts, and
> in the rain forests of the Pacific NW.
> ...............The reason why I am asking is that, while I was pedaling
> my bike around Puget Island near Cathlamet, Wash. I saw zillions of
> Swallows Barn Swallows, Cliff Swallows, Tree Swallows, and some
> Rough-winged Swallows. I know that Bank Swallows look similiar to
> Rough-wings, but I saw Swallows that were smaller than all the rest
> lined up, and had the brown on the upper part of the head, and the
> distinct band of brown across the upper breast. What I saw looked
> exactly like the pictures of 'Banks' in the bird guide. Since other
> info. says that 'Banks' shouldn't be in this area, maybe I was
> hallucinating!!!!!!{I knew I should quit eating those mushrooms!!!!!!!}
> .................Turkey Vultures were common along with a few Ospreys,
> and two female Yellowthroats, a Brewer's Blackbird, and several Mourning
> Doves, along with the uaual assortments of Wrens, Sparrows, Finches,
> Starlings, Robins, Crows, etc. etc. etc. Also a medium-sized flock of
> large Canada Geese,........along with a whole plethora of noisy,
> 2-legged individuals riding their jet skis and motorboats on the
> Columbia River. And.....one Whitetail Deer bounding across the yards of
> several residents.
>
> Gerald Hamilton
> Brush Prairie, Wash.
> gerald at e-z.net