Columbia Estuary Report - 3/26/2000

This was a week for migrant arrival, so far, all right
on time...

A TURKEY VULTURE was at the Neawanna Wetlands on 3/20. The
Hwy 101 OSPREY was at the nest site on 3/21. The year's first
BAND-TIALED PIGEONS were also seen on 3/21.

The neighborhood VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS arrived on 3/22
and were checking out the nestbox on the side of my house by
the next day. TREE SWALLOWS have already claimed boxes at
the Astoria Mitigation Area.

Four CINNAMON TEAL were at the Astoria Mitigation Area on
3/26. There were also several talkative VIRGINIA RAILS in the
wetlands.

Michelle and I managed a short (20min) seawatch from the
SJCR observation deck on 3/25. There was a good movement of
SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. Many of the flocks had BRANT
mixed in with them. Also seen were 2 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS,
a still in winter plumage COMMON MURRE (weird, huh?) and
2 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. We also saw an ORCA and several
GRAY WHALES.

--
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