Subject: Hanford Reach sightings
Date: May 2 17:58:13 2001
From: greg_mazer at urscorp.com - greg_mazer at urscorp.com


A float this past Saturday (4/28) of the upper portion of the Reach
produced some great birding. A small party of us floated from the Vernita
Bridge to an access point just downstream of the White Bluffs, where we
camped for the night. The camping spot was near a marshy tributary. Since I
was too busy bailing, paddling, and dealing with strong winds to take
precise notes, only a general estimate of numbers can be given for the
birds seen during the float.

During float:
American white pelicans (at least 5)
Common loon (1 - possibly!?)
Canada goose (>6)
Bufflehead (2 pairs)
Common goldeneye (1 pair)
Long-billed curlew (1)
Gull - Ring-billed or California? (>10)
Northern harrier (2)
Cliff swallow (>40 puddling at rest area near Vernita bridge)
Violet green swallow (several)
Bank swallow (several)
Caspian tern (>3)
Ring-necked duck or scaup?? (2 pairs)
Great blue heron (>3)
Raven (>3)

At camp:
Avocet (2)
Least sandpipers (7)
Northern shoveler (1 pair)
American coot (1)
Mallard (1 pair)
Spotted sandpiper (1)
Killdeer (1)
Bank swallow (several)
Great blue heron (1)
Marsh wren (1)
Kestrel (1 pair)
Song sparrow (1)

Greg Mazer
Seattle, WA