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.

Transcribed by Franny Drobny, Seattle, Washington,
fdrobny at cairncross.com, phone (206) 286-1695 evenings. Please contact
me by e-mail if you have any corrections, comments, or questions.
Mailbox previously checked on September 2, 1998, at 9:48 a.m.

September 3, 1998, Thursday, 9:44 a.m. Hello. This is Scott Atkinson.
I just want to report a passage of a RED-EYED VIREO through our place in
Lake Stevens. I had a bird, possibly two birds, over the last day or
so. So, bye-bye.

September 4, 1998, Friday, 8:53 p.m. Hi, Ed Deal. (206) 723-4742.
This morning at the jetty at Tokeland Marina, there was a single
BAR-TAILED GODWIT, along with 328 MARBLED GODWITS, 9 WHIMBRELS, and 5
WILLETS. Also at Tokeland on the ocean side, were 59 LONG-BILLED
CURLEWS. Also, later in the day up at the Ocean Shores Game Range, an
ambitious PEREGRINE forced 4 GREAT EGRETS to land in the Game Range
area. That's it. Good luck and good birding.

September 5, 1998, Saturday, 7:47 p.m. Hello, this is Shiva. My number
is (206) 623-0753. I was also birding in Discovery Park today and I was
actually trying to see that WHIMBREL that I saw last week. It was still
there and surprisingly, yes, I saw the bird today at the north end of
the North Beach in Discovery Park. It's probably the same one that I
saw last week. I though I should report this message. Thank you.

September 6, 1998, Sunday, 6:22 a.m. Hello, this is Dave Beaudette.
(206) 365-2083. This report for the 5th of September and King County.
At the south end of the Kent Ponds was a single BANK SWALLOW and
shorebirds at the Clay Street marsh in Auburn were WESTERN SANDPIPER -
15, LEAST SANDPIPER - 1, KILLDEER - 7, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER - 1, GREATER
YELLOWLEGS - 2, LESSER YELLOWLEGS - 1, and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER - 4.
Good-bye.

September 6, 1998, Sunday, 12:40 p.m. Hi, Scott Downes. 361-7073.
This morning I went down to North Beach in Discovery Park. The WHIMBREL
was still present. Also near the small wetland on the North Beach side,
had one first winter plumaged female LAPLAND LONGSPUR. That's it. Good
luck and good birding.

September 6, 1998, Sunday, 2:21 p.m.. Hello, this is Scott Atkinson and
reporting for today, this is the 6th of September. Ann Wenskie(?) and I
birded the Skagit Game Range along Mann Road just immediately east of
the entrance into the Game Range. A large swallow flock, 400-500 birds,
mostly BARN SWALLOWS, but 4 BANK SWALLOWS perched on the wires there. I
also had a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK take one of the BARN SWALLOWS at close
range, kind of interesting. At the Game Rage, highlights: first
returning RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, a couple FOX SPARROWS and good numbers
of the usual passerine migrants that you get this time of year. 2 or 3
WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, 1 HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER and 3 more empids that cannot
be identified because there was no call notes. Also at the Jensen
access, 4 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, and a
GOLDEN-PLOVER species. That's all.

September 6, 1998, Sunday, 8:21 p.m. This is Pat Coburn at (206)
527-2986. On Sunday, September 6th, I am very excitedly reporting one
CURLEW SANDPIPER on the beach at Discovery Park. If anyone would like
further directions, I'll be glad to supply them at my number. No
mistaking that shape of beak. It is a rare SANDPIPER for our area,
CURLEW SANDPIPER. Thank you.

September 7, 1998, Monday, 3:26 p.m. This is Gene Hunn at (206)
524-8112, just to report up in the mountains, up the Cle Elum river
valley, at Tucquala Lake, there was a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER drumming.
Above the campground at the north end of the lake and also a good sized
flock of BLACK SWIFTS apparently migrating or foraging high over the
lake, perhaps 25 of them yesterday the 6th of September.

September 7, 1998, Monday, 3:31 p.m. Hi, Scott Downes. 361-7073. Just
wanted to report a few good birds in south King County at Dumas Bay.
Among the many gulls there were 2 FRANKLIN'S GULLS, good numbers of
WESTERNS and KILLDEERS, and among them was 1 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, lots
of TERNS, COMMON. At least 200 AMERICAN WIGEONS, probably about 10
HORNED GREBES, the first I've really noted this year. At the Clay
Street marsh in Auburn, there was also 1 BANK SWALLOW, 1 LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, probably about a dozen WESTERN SANDPIPERS and 1 SEMIPALMATED
PLOVER there. That's it. Good luck and good birding.

September 7, 1998, Monday, 9:15 p.m. This is Pat Coburn at (206)
527-2986. On Labor Day, today early this morning, I retracted my report
on the CURLEW SANDPIPER at Discovery Park. But somehow this retraction
made early today did not get into the system. I'm sorry for those few
people who have called me disappointed that it wasn't a CURLEW
SANDPIPER, but with further study I discovered it was the WHIMBREL that
has been reported by other people. It was very obvious flying up and
down the beach yesterday, the 6th. Once again, I apologize for the
mistaken identification.


This transcription completed by Franny Drobny on Tuesday, September 8,
1998, at 11:36 a.m.