Subject: Bank Swallows?????
Date: Jul 27 19:47:42 1998
From: Gerald Hamilton - gerald at e-z.net


..............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