The Washington BirdBox is a voice mailbox sponsored by the Washington
Ornithological Society. To leave messages about a notable sighting, or to
listen to messages from the last seven days, call (425) 454-2662 and follow
the prompts. Hal Opperman, system administrator, personal phone (425)
635-0503. Transcribed by Christy Anderson. Please contact me at
christya at gte.net if you have any corrections, comments, or questions.
Mailbox previously checked on Tuesday, April 4, 1999, at 9:20 p.m.

Tuesday, April 13, 6:29 pm. Hello this is Scott Atkinson, and just moments
ago I finished watching a first winter cumliuns (?) -type ICELAND GULL, at
the west slope of the 2 circulating ponds here at the Everett Sewage
Treatment Plant. These 2 ponds are to the south of the 2 large ponds where
most of ducks are. Very distinctive birds, showed the tail spots, and other
well known features for Icelands. Birds took off in the direction of the
Snohomish River, but I believe it will come back. I watched it come and go
for about a half an hour. Also about an hour and a half ago, on the Kingston
Edmonds ferry I had a CLARK's GREBE at the Kingston ferry landing. And there
were large numbers of gulls along the route, about 1000 BONAPARTE'S GULLS
right at Kingston Harbor. A couple HERRING GULLS. That's all.

Tuesday, April 13, 6:19 pm. This is Dick Nelson at Point No Point. At the
Northeast tip of the Kitsap Peninsula. Yesterday an adult LITTLE GULL was
present here. at about 11:00. This bird is in alternate plumage. The bird
was also seen this morning at about 7:00. Thank you. Good bye.

Saturday, April 10, 9:33 am. This is Bill Shelberdein (?), Olympia.
866-9106. This morning there were 2 MOUNTAIN QUAIL at the South Port Orchard
airport. There was a MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD at the Mason County fairgrounds right
next to the Shelton airport. Good luck.

Thursday, April 8, 3:38 pm. This is John Kearny. Saw my first OSPREY of the
season today 3:30 at the Purdy Spit. In Pierce County. Also I think I saw
one other in the nest up in the power line. It's hard to see from that
distance. But anyway, one good sighting. Thank you.

Wednesday, April 7, 2:15 pm. This is Dan Lindsay. 425-455-5782. Reporting on
a trip this morning to Nisqually Delta, I was there from about 7 in the
morning till about 10. Saw about 50 species of birds. 9 ducks, 20
passerines, a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, and a breeding plumaged HORNED GREBE were
probably the most interesting except for a mystery duck that I'd like some
help identifying. The size of and associating with a bufflehead, a diver.
Looks like a miniature female goldeneye, but with no white on the breast.
And the neck ring very narrow. Body is a medium gray, slightly darker toward
the rear, the head dark reddish-brown. The profile to the tip of the bill is
very gradual, not as flat as a canvasback, but much more gradual than a
bufflehead. The bill is dark, the feet are yellow, the eye is yellow. I did
not see the bird fly. Anybody who can give me any help on this I'd
appreciate it. The bird was at Nisqually at about 9:30 this morning. In
ponds by the reed beds between the barns and the new headquarters building.
I hope somebody can help me out.

Tuesday, April 6, 6:19 pm. Hi this is Steven Mlodinow. I got a message from
Michale Patton, who is visiting from Southern California on April 2nd he had
an EMPEROR GOOSE on the Leadbetter Peninsula. The bird was on Sandridge
Road, near the Cranberry Museum, which is as I recall near the southern end
of the peninsula, somewhat close to due east of Ocean Beach. That's it.

Tuesday, April 6, 12:31 pm. Hello this is Scott Atkinson. At about 4:45 pm
yesterday, there was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK soaring over Capitol Hill in
Seattle, with a RED-TAILED HAWK. A rather unusual location for one.
Currently a migrant.

Monday, April 5, 9:25 pm. Hi this is John Kearny. This report is for April 3
at 3 pm. at the Theler Wetlands in Mason County, along the Hood Canal. Only
1 single male WESTERN BLUEBIRD. But nice to see them for the second week
there. Possibly nesting. As well as a SWAINSON'S THRUSH, WHITE-CROWNED
SPARROW and many AUDUBON'S WARBLERS, YELLOW THROATS, some TOWNSEND'S and
YELLOW WARBLERS. As well as several species of woodpeckers. Very good
birding.

Sunday, April 4, 9:12 pm. HI this is Steven Mlodinow. Today Jim Flynn and I
birded Whidbey Island and Samish Flats and the Skagit Game Range. Highlights
included a ROCK SANDPIPER, in mostly breeding plumage, apparently of the
cusi (?) race, at Penn Cove. There was also a RUDDY TURNSTONE there which
appears to be a migrant. And 2 EARED GREBES. At the Samish Flats we had a
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK which is getting to be a little on the late side, and at
the Skagit Game Range headquarters area we had 6 TREE SPARROWS and a very
early SWAINSON'S THRUSH. Also in the town of Bayview in a cedar we had a
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.

Transcript logged at 8:44 pm, April 13, 1999.




Christy Anderson
Bellevue WA
christya at gte.net