Hotline: Lower Columbia Basin
Date: March 6, 2005
Phone: 509-627-BIRD
Compiler and Transcriber: Bill and Nancy LaFramboise, wlafra at owt.com

BIRDS REPORTED

Varied Thrush
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Tundra Swan, Greater White-fronted Goose
Greater Yellowlegs, Dunlin
Tufted Duck (Vantage)

TRANSCRIPT

This is the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society Bird Alert for March 6,
2005. 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, date, and sightings after the tone.

It won't be long now. Birds are moving and sightings will pick
up. Sandhill Crane are already making their way north. Long-billed Curlew
will be arriving soon. Look for Mountain Bluebirds, Say's Phoebes, and
swallows.

Scott Dietert reported 2 VARIED THRUSH in his North Richland yard on
February 20. As these birds over-winter, it is not clear if they were
moving through or just found his yard.

On February 24, Mary Lilga found a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER at the corner of
Fuller Street and Hudson Avenue in North Richland. This is the second
observation of this species in North Richland. The first Benton record was
also in North Richland in January, 2004. Previous to that, the only other
Tri-Cities sighting was in Chiawana Park in December, 1994. It is quite
possible that sapsuckers over-winter more than we realize as they are quite
secretive.

Lucie Fritz reported 5 TUNDRA SWAN at Madame Dorian Park near Wallula Gap
on February 27. She also observed approximately 150 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE along the McNary ponds bordering Route 12.

Shorebirds were observed with the presence of mud on the Yakima Delta last
week. Bob Woodley found 6 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 24 DUNLIN there on March 2.

A bit distant but worth noting is a TUFTED DUCK in the vicinity of Wanapum
State Park near Vantage found by Denny Granstrand on February 20. From
I-90, exit to Huntzinger Road and go south past the park. Look for a large
flock of Greater Scaup. The Tufted Duck has been associating with
them. Sometimes the group splits and some of the birds can only be seen
from the park which has a $5.00 entrance fee. There have been Gray-crowned
Rosy-Finches, Long-tailed Duck, Harlequin Duck, Violet-Green Swallows, and
Rock and Canyon Wrens in the area also.

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

Bill & Nancy LaFramboise
wlafra at owt.com
Richland, WA