The Washington BirdBox is a voice mailbox sponsored by the Washington
Ornithological Society. To leave a message about a notable sighting, or to
listen to the messages from the last seven days, call (206) 281-9172 and
follow the prompts.

Rachel Lawson is system administrator. She can be reached at
rachellawson at qwest.net.

Please address any corrections (such as errors in place names or observers)
to the transcriber, Rebecca Galloway, cametobe at home.com, 206-525-9102.

Tuesday, 10/23 8:14 p.m. This is Rachel Lawson, 206-282-5593. Today I went
up to Vancouver, and at the Iona Ponds, there were 2 SHARP TAILED
SANDPIPERS, together with 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. The birds were on the
northwest pond within the sewage treatment plant and were in the northwest
corner of that pond. If you are crossing the U.S./Canada border make sure
that you are carrying proof of citizenship. That's it, good birding.

Friday 10/26 8:05 a.m. Hi, this is Tom Aversa, 206-782-7342 reporting on a
trip down to the Ridgefield Area yesterday, birding with Steve Gerstle. The
highlight was a JUVENILE EMPEROR GOOSE at the Vancouver Lake. There was
also a couple of WHITE FRONTED GEESE there, in that general area. There was
also a SHORT EARED OWL, 6 BARN SWALLOWS, a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. There was
also another COMMON YELLOWTHROAT at the Carty Unit of Ridgefield. During
the day we had 3 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and five GREAT EGRETS. I guess
that was the main highlight. Also an early TUNDRA SWAN at the River "S"
Unit, Ridgefield. Thanks.

Friday, 10/26 3:04 pm. Hi this is Alan Knue, 206-706-2550. This afternoon
between 1:30 and 2:00 I saw what was probably the HOBBY at Discovery Park,
near the old church in the south field area near south bluff. The bird
flew north west towards the sewage treatment plant and the north bluff area,
so the bird probably ranges fairly widely. I am actually heading back there
right now so if any other birders want to join the search, they are welcome
to do so. Good luck and good birding.

Friday, 10/26, 6:01 pm. Hi, this is Alan Knue at 206 706 2550. A follow-up
to my report at 3:00. I returned to Discovery Park from 3:30-5:30 and was
unable to locate the HOBBY. The bird that I saw between 1:30 and 2 was
almost certainly the HOBBY. It was very long winged and long tailed, very
elegant and buoyant in flight, almost reminiscent of a kite. It had an
unbarred upper tail surface and was fairly plain in the back. There was a
distinct white cheek spot surrounded by dark. I was unable to get a very
good look at the underparts. The bird was much further away, but it seemed
to be streaked underneath and darker towards the tail. I could not make out
any color, however. Like I said, the bird was very elegant looking, long
tailed and long winged, and it flew just west of the church which is just
west of the south parking lot, and it flew in a north west direction towards
the sewage treatment plant. Other birds of note at Discovery Park this
afternoon: I saw an AMERICAN PIPIT, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, there are at least
3 MERLINS, one nice white adult male, one female or immature bird, one very
dark bird. All had very barred looking tails from above and below. There
was also one PEREGRINE FALCON present as well. I think that's it, good luck
and good birding.

Saturday, 10/27, 5:10 pm. Steven Mlodinow. Today a couple friends and I
birded northern Skagit and Whatcom counties. Highlight was a juvenile BROAD
WINGED HAWK on Hillaire Road in the Lummi flats. There are some hybrid
cottonwoods planted on the west side of Hillaire Road. The bird was perched
low down, maybe 10 feet up, in these cottonwoods, and allowed close
approach. Other highlights today: up at Blaine we had 5 MARBLED GODWITS but
no other godwits, At Lake Tarrow Wildlife Management Area in Whatcom Co we
had 4 SLATE COLORED JUNCOS among the many OREGON JUNCOS, and had a SPOTTED
TOWHEE that exhibited all the marks of one of the eastern Washington races.
On the Lummi Flats we also had a HARLIN'S HAWK and we had a HARLIN'S HAWK
and another SLATE-COLORED JUNCO on the Samish Flats. That's it, good luck
and good birding.