Columbia Estuary Report - 6/14/98

I ran the Nicolai Mt Breeding bird Survey on Friday. 66 Species were recorded
which is about average. Notable miss was Great Blue Heron.

PURPLE MARTINS are nesting at the Ziak Refuge in Brownsmead. I should also
note that at least one of the resident EMPEROR GEESE is capable of free flight
(but you still can't count it). A winnowing COMMON SNIPE was in the same area
it was recorded last year on Barendse Rd.

SOOTY SHEARWATERS, a PARASITIC JAEGER, loads of loons and a RED-NECKED GREBE
in alternate plumage are still being seen from the South Jetty of the Columbia
River.

Six SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and 2 LEAST SANDPIPERS were on Trestle Bay near
parking lot D on Saturday. Anybody want to speculate on whether this is the
tail end of the spring migration or the front end of the fall migration?



--

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.html