Columbia Estuary Report - 10/4/98

Scott Rea reports that a juvenile RUFF spent a good bit of Thursday
afternoon working the ponds of The SJCR.

The Lower Columbia Birders took their monthly trip out and about
on Saturday. 4 different SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS were seen (at on
point we had 3 birds more or less in sight at the same time.) A
MERLIN was harassing the flocks of CEDAR WAXWINGS along the bike
path near Battery Russell. We managed to find 7 kinds of shore-
birds at the South Jetty shorebird ponds including the season's
first DUNLIN and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER. As many as six LAPLAND
LONGSPURS are still being seen around the ponds.

A single ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was still in the willows near
parking lot C this morning. Two late VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were
flying over the dunes. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS have peaked for
the season. Many Myrtle-types are conspicuous.

A MARBLED GODWIT, 16 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and a single unidentified
GOLDEN-PLOVER were on the river beach. SOOTY SHEARWATERS are
still going by over the ocean (about 750/hr). An adult PARASITIC
JAEGER, 2 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and a conspicuous movement of
HERRING GULLS (at least 4) were seen during a 30 min seawatch.


--

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