Columbia Estuary Report - 12/21/2002

A single SNOW BUNTING was working the dune edge just south
of the Wreck of the Peter Iredale at Fort Stevens today.

I watched the ocean for about 20mins and saw lots of PACIFIC
LOONS flying in both directions, but no fulmars or shearwaters.
I also saw only a single BROWN PELICAN. The ocean was fairly
calm today with no wind.

I walked the beach for about 300m south from Peter Iredale
and found the following strom causalties:
Red-throated Loon 1
Pacific Loon 1
Northern Fulmar 5
SOOTY SHEARWATER 1
Brandt's Cormorant 1
Common Murre 1
Red Phalarope 4

Photos of the SOOTY SHEARWATER can be seen at:
http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/temp/sosh20021221.html

This is why winter dark-bellied shearwaters should not be
assumed to be Short-tails unless they are well seen...


--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

A child who becomes acquainted with the birds about him
hears every sound and puzzles out its meaning with a cleverness
that amazes those with ears who hear not.

-Neltje Blanchan

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