Birdbox Transcription: April 30-May 2, 1998

The Washington BirdBox is a voice mailbox sponsored by the Washington
Ornithological Society. To leave a report about a notable sighting or
to listen to the most recent reports from other birders, call
(425)454-2662 and follow the prompts.

Birdbox previously checked by Franny Drobney about 3:45 PM, April 30th.

Thursday, April 30, 8:30 PM: Hi, this is Martha Taylor (206) 523-4677. This
morning at Westerday? Park I heard a loon call and found 2 COMMON LOONS in
breeding plumage out on the lake which was a nice treat.

April 30, 10:41 PM: Hi, this is Stephen Mlodinow, this evening I went to the
pond on Ebey Island off Home Acres Road and there were THREE! SOLITARY
SANDPIPERS. I believe these are new arrivals and do not include the 2 birds
that were there a week or so ago. There was also a scattering of peeps and
both species of YELLOWLEGS. At the flooded areas just to the north of the
Everett Sewage Ponds between the ponds and the road, there were good numbers
of WESTERN SANDPIPERS - three or four hundred - some LEASTS some LESSER
YELLOWLEGS and there was one TEAL that appears to be an EURASIANxAMERICAN TEAL
hybrid. That's it, good luck and good birding.

Friday, May 1, 12:04 PM: This is Bob Benton. I would like to report that
Becky and I at the Mont Lake Fill on the 30th of April found a BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER standing along the bank of the first lake coming in from the Urban Hort
Center. I don't remember seeing one down there before so I just simply wanted
to call and report it. The time of day was some time between 6 and 6:30 in the
evening. The plover was there for a long time, primarily standing on the shore
but on a couple of occasions it flew away when chased by a CROW and then
returned to the same spot. We also found probably a dozen LEAST SANDPIPERS and
a number of other very interesting species. That's all now, Thanks.

May 1, 1:44 PM: This is Bill Shelmerdine in Olympia, 866-9106. Today at the
Montland (?) Road Ponds in Olympia there was a SOLITARY SANDPIPER. Yesterday
there were 3 there and they were at the first pond. There were also a couple
of BLUE-WINGED TEAL and a number of other shorebirds.

Saturday, May 2, 7:37 PM: This is Gary Sogard (253)460-0745. I took a trip up
to Johnson Marsh on Fort Lewis yesterday May 1st and saw some interesting
things. There was a MANDARIN DUCK around there with some WOOD DUCKS. A pretty
male. It's fun to look at regardless of its origin. There were 3 YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRDS, 2 males and a female. In the woods nearby, I saw 2 CASSIN'S VIREOS
foraging in the trees and one was singing as they went along. The PURPLE
MARTINS are also back occupying the nest boxes there at Johnson Marsh. I also
wanted to mention that a couple of weeks ago, this is late, but a couple of
weeks ago out at the Nisqually Refuge, I ran across the strange sparrow
reported earlier and apparently a hybrid between GOLDEN-CROWNED and WHITE-
CROWNED and it seemed to favor the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW more. It had most of
its actions, size, etc. It was just that the head that was much more like a
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW with the exception of a little tinge of yellow. And
that's it for now, thank you.

Transcribed by Bob Norton, Joyce (near Port Angeles), Washington,
norton360 at aol.com, (360) 928-3053. Please notify me of any mangling of names
etc. Birdbox last accessed about 9PM, May 2nd.
A special commendation goes to Franny Drobny who has transcribed from
February 13th through April. It is not an easy job. I would urge all who call
in to the Birdbox to slow down when giving their name, phone number and place
directions and make every effort to speak distinctly. You can rattle on with
the bird information as that is more easily understood.