Columbia Estuary Report - 05/23/1999

The spring migration has finally arrived. Good numbers of
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, WESTERN TANAGERS, WARBLING VIREOS,
YELLOW WARBLERS and OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS have been moving
through all week. A movement of EVENING GROSBEAKS was evident
this weekend and a WESTERN WOOD PEWEE flew over my house on
Sunday morning.

Up to 98 WHIMBREL have been hanging out during high tide on
Wireless Rd.

A NORTHERN GOSHAWK and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK were taking advantage
of the same thermal near the Neawanna Wetland in Seaside on
Saturday. There's quite a size difference.

Two GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS and an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER were
seen on the SJCR about 300 meters west of the three rocks. A
very young HARBOR SEAL was on the beach and a Actitis-type
sandpiper matching some of the fieldmarks of a COMMON SANDPIPER
was seen about 100m from the three rocks. All on Sunday.

There was a good movement of PACIFIC LOONS and SOOTY SHEARWATERS
off the mouth of the Columbia River. At least 5 ARCTIC TERNS were
fishing on the ocean side of the jetty. There are still impressive
numbers of BONAPART'S GULLS and BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES as well.


--
Mike Patterson I don't swear for the hell of it.
Astoria, OR Language is a poor enough means of communication
mpatters at orednet.org and we've got to use all the words we've got....
Besides, there are damn few words anybody understands
Henry Drummond in "Inherit the Wind"

http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html