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 accessed about 9:50 AM, Saturday, May 16.

Saturday, May 16, 10:35 PM: Hi. George Gerdts reporting (206) 842-8138. I've
just returned from Ocean Shores. At 5:30 PM on Saturday the 16th, I had one
BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW at the base of Damon Point just across from the
concrete water tower with 4 MARBLED GODWITS on the sand. A PEREGRINE FALCON
flew in and it [the Curlew] flew across heading west and dropped down in the
salicornia by the sewage plant. The bird was relocated with a Whimbrel. Had a
fantastic comparison with the BRISTLE-THIGHED, Got close enough to see the
bristle feathers coming off the thighs. Watched the bird from about 5:30 to
6:30 Saturday. Good birding.

[Editorial insert after some soul searching on my part] (Ruth Sullivan sent
me, I presume in my role as transcriber, an email saying she was with George
and believes both birds were WHIMBRELS. She took photos and will show them to
Dennis Paulson).

Sunday, May 17, 12:59 AM: This is Alan Grenon at (206) 329-6005. Saturday at
the base of the Columbia River Jetty south, that is in Oregon, the two
BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEWS were still present from at least 10 AM to 1 PM and,
when not they're not being harassed by photographers, they're being very
cooperative. So, if you don't want to chance it at Ocean Shores, you might try
those.

May 17, 1:19 AM: Hi. This is Dave Beaudette (206) 365-2083. On Saturday, May
16 went birding in southeast King County. A singing DUSKY FLYCATCHER was seen
at Federation Forest State Park. The bird was at the east end of the park at
the edge of the tall trees by the picnic ground along the White River. From
State Route 410 continue east past the main entrance to the park to where the
highway follows the river. A short road heads south into the park to a gate.
Walk south around the gate several hundred feet. The bird was on the right.
Further back in the forest were several HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS. Also several
interesting birds were at the bog about 15 and a half miles up Forest Service
Road number 70 about 1.5 miles east of Greenwater on State Route 410 turn left
or east on Forest Service Road number 70, go up the road about 15 and a half
miles to Forest Service Road 260 and park. The bog is bordered on the south by
Forest Service Road 70, on the east by Forest Service Road 260, on the north
by the Naches Wagon Road and on the west by Forest Service Road 7080. There is
snow here several feet deep but the road is clear. A male RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER
was in the snags at the east end of the bog and a singing CASSIN'S FINCH was
on the north edge of the bog about halfway between roads 7080 and 260. Also in
the bog were BLUE GROUSE, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, SLATE-COLORED FOX SPARROWS and
HERMIT THRUSHS. Forest Service Road 70 is rough and steep in places but a two
wheel drive can easily make it. Make sure your tires, however, are in good
shape. Also look for the reroute around the slide about 6 miles up Forest
Service Road 70. The reroute is about one and quarter miles in length and
takes off to the right at the sign on Forest Service Road 70 that indicates
the end of Forest Service Road maintenance. This spot is about 6 miles up
Forest Service Road 70. It's worth the trip! Thank you.

May 17, 10:41 AM: Steve Dang, (206) 368-6887. Birded Nisqually yesterday with
Elizabeth Strickland, Rick Romea and Ann(?) Stricker(?). We sighted two WHITE
PELICANS, also had two PHALAROPES; one a female WILSON'S. They were on the
large pond about a mile south of the barn. Also near the barn; one GREAT
HORNED OWL chick, but the highlight of the day was probably two adult VIRGINIA
RAILS with at least 5 chicks. They can be seen on the pond just west of the
main north-south trail that runs from the parking lot - about a half mile from
the parking lot.

May 17, 5:52 PM: Hi. This is Jim Flynn (206) 772-5568. Yesterday, May 16, I
was on a Birdathon Trip to the Moses Lake area and there was one adult
FRANKLIN'S GULL seen from the Moses Lake State Park. And another of our
Birdathon trips for our chapter encountered two BLACK TERNS at the Clay Street
Marsh in Auburn which is reached via Clay Street going north from West Main
Street in downtown Auburn. I went there this morning but did not see the BLACK
TERNS, but you never know.

May 17, 7:12 PM: Hello. This is Kraig Kemper, (206) 789-9255 reporting for a
birding trip to Skagit County, May 16, 1998, Saturday with Gary Bletsch and
Bob Coons(?). Among 112 species sighted that day, we observed BANK SWALLOWS
with NORTHERN ROUGH- WINGED SWALLOWS near the Corkindale Power Line which
cross Highway 20 just west of Marblemount. On a fencepost along the river
there, we observed one LEWIS' WOODPECKER. The other bird of the day was at
Rosario Head where we observed one breeding plumaged WANDERING TATTLER just
northwest on the rocky outcrop island there. Thank you and good birding.

May 17, 8:45 PM: Hi. This is Bill Tweit with a report from Nisqually National
Wildlife Refuge on the 17th. The WHITE PELICANS were still present. We also
had a HARRIS' SPARROW on the outermost part of the dike near the double
benches

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 Sunday, May 17, 10:15 PM.