Hotline: Lower Columbia Basin
Date: January 21, l999
Compiler: Bob Woodley
Transcriber: Ruth M. Fischer <lfischer at bentonrea.com>

Birds Reported:

Mew Gull, Winter Wren, Brown Creeper, Greater White-fronted Goose
Merlin
Snow Bunting
Long-eared Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Brown Creeper, Common Snipe,
Northern Shrike, Brewer's Blackbird, Bald Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk,
Savannah Sparrow
Snow Goose (blue phase)
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Varied Thrush

Transcript:

This is the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society Bird Alert for January 21,
l999. For questions regarding LCBAS call Mike Lilga at 946-8966.

To skip the message, push the star button on your phone and give your name,
phone number, and sightings after the tone.

On January 12, Ruth Fischer and Nancy LaFramboise found three MEW GULLS,
one in the river across from the Columbia Park Golf Course and the other
two among the gulls that congregate on Clover Island. They also observed
three WINTER WRENS and a BROWN CREEPER along the Audubon Nature Trail in
Columbia Park, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE with the Canada Geese on the
Columbia Park Golf Course and another GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE near the
boat ramp at the east end of the park.

The following day, I (Bob Woodley) saw a MERLIN atop one of the power poles
across from the park golf course.

On January 16, Dennis Rockwell and participants in the LCBAS field trip
found two SNOW BUNTINGS along Cemetery Road in the Horse Heaven Hills.

Ruth Fischer, Laurie Ness and I (Bob Woodley) did not relocate the Snow
Buntings on January 18, but in the pine trees at the Columbia Crest Winery,
we found a LONG-EARED OWL, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL and a BROWN CREEPER. At
Crow Butte State Park, we saw two COMMON SNIPE, an immature NORTHERN SHRIKE
and a flock of BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS. While at Whitcomb Island, a BALD
EAGLE, a very melanistic ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and a pair of uncooperative
SAVANNAH SPARROWS were seen.

On January 20th at the McNary National Wildlife Refuge, I found among a
large flock of Canada Geese, near the junction of Humorist and Union Loop
Roads, at least six GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and one blue-phase SNOW
GOOSE.

Lastly, today, January 21st, Duane Faletti reported a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
at his feeder and a VARIED THRUSH in his Richland yard.

To report your own sighting, please give your name, phone number and
sightings after the tone. Thank you.



Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
Richland, WA
wlafra at oneworld.owt.com