Hotline: Lower Columbia Basin
Date: October 27, 2002
Phone: 509-627-BIRD
Compiler and Transcriber: Bill and Nancy LaFramboise, wlafra at owt.com

BIRDS REPORTED

Surf Scoter (3)
Little Blue Heron
White-throated Swift
Common Grackle
American Pipit
Black-crowned Night-Heron

TRANSCRIPT

This is the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society Bird Alert for October 27,
2002. For questions regarding LCBAS, please leave a message.

To skip the announcement, push the star button on your phone and give your
name, phone number, and sightings after the tone.

In keeping with an invasion of sea ducks in eastern Washington, northern
Idaho, and British Columbia, there was a SURF SCOTER seen by Nancy
LaFramboise from Columbia Point in Richland on October 9. On October 11,
she and Bill saw 2 SURF SCOTERS at the Yakima Delta. But the exciting find
was 21 SURF SCOTERS in the Columbia River off Two Rivers Park in Kennewick
during the Big Sit led by Dennis Rockwell on October 19. Since some sea
ducks are still north of us, it is worth keeping an eye out for Surf and
White-winged Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks.

On October 9, John Mundall reported a possible LITTLE BLUE HERON along
Highway 395 at Milepost 28. As John knows, this is an unexpected species
and should be reported to the WA Bird Records Committee. There was a
Little Blue Heron documented in Ellensburg this year.

On October 15, Annet and Jim Dittmer reported a very late WHITE-THROATED
SWIFT over the cemetery at 10th and Union in Kennewick.

Dennis Rockwell had a COMMON GRACKLE at his Kennewick feeder on October
19. It is likely this bird is feeding and roosting in the vicinity of Two
Rivers Park. Any sightings should be called into this alert.

Approximately 15 AMERICAN PIPITS were on the burn area above the Benton
City home of Jack & Murrel Dawson on October 20.

Chris Simonen reported 5 adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS at McNary
National Wildlife Refuge on October 22.

To report your own sightings, please give your name, phone number and
sightings after the tone. Thank you.