Columbia Estuary Report - 12/20/2000

There are still at least 2 SNOWY OWLS on the river beach SJCR.
I say at least two, because neither of these birds looks like
the bird I saw on Sunday (I only saw one, Todd Thornton saw two).
Both individuals seen today match the description of birds seen
on Monday, however. They both are barred on the breast and
back with black on the wings and black flecking in the crown.
They could be twins. Neither is as heavily barred as the Looney
Lane bird in the Valley.

The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW found by Todd Thornton on the CBC Sunday
was still at King Av today though now on the main road consorting
with HOUSE FINCHES. It appears to be a first-winter bird. I will
post my details later today. Todd also plans to post his details
from Sunday.

17 SNOW GEESE flew over the SJCR this morning and BLACK SCOTERS
were (finally) viewable on a much calmer ocean bringing the
Columbia Estuary count week total up to 6.

Today's rain route species total was 57 and can be perused at
http://birdnotes.net under recently added counts.


--
Mike Patterson Alas, to wear the mantle of Galileo,
Astoria, OR it is not enough to be persecuted
celata at pacifier.com by an unkind establishment,
you must also be right.
---Robert Park
http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html