Subject: Columbia Estuary Report - 10/11/98
Date: Oct 11 17:44:12 1998
From: mike at compass - mpatters at orednet.org


I attempted a seawatch on Saturday, but was frightened away by the rumbly
thunderclouds. Two GREAT EGRETS were heading south off shore as were various
species of unidentifiable ducks. There are also pretty good numbers of loons
of all three types hanging out in the ocean.

A single, gimpy BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was on the South Jetty shorebird flats on
Saturday. Thirteen BLACK-BELLIES and 64 DUNLIN were on Trestle Bay Sunday.

LAPLAND LONGSPURS (up to 30 were reported by Scott Rea) can still be found at
SJCR. Four longspurs were on the bike path near parking lot A. There's still
a SCRUB JAY in the area loosely associated with the roving flock of STELLER'S
JAYS. A late-ish SWAINSON'S THRUSH was wooking away amid many YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS, HERMIT THRUSHES and FOX SPARROWS. A band of 15 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS
is filling up the trees near bike path as well.

MEW GULLS arrived in number this week. MERLINS and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS are
following the AMERICAN ROBIN flocks. CASCARA and OREGON CRABAPPLE crops were
excellent this year and the robins are apparently easy pickings.

--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
mpatters at orednet.org