Today I took a group from the Mountaineers down to the Nisqually Delta for
hike/birding trip. The "default birds" of the day were SWALLOWS. The
new Visitor Center has only been open since October, but the birds have
found nesting spots. We spied two swallow nests - both occupied by hungry
baby birds. One nest was occupied by three nearly grown Barn Swallows and
the other nest appeared to be home to about four very young Violet Greens.
An unoccupied Robin's nest was also found in the eves of the Visitor Center.
We got off to a late start, but the weather was calm, not too warm - not too
cold.

Here's a listing of what we saw.....

BALD EAGLES - about six, some immature, hanging out on the mudflats and on
driftwood and root balls
GREAT BLUE HERONS - at least ten!
FLYCATCHERS - Willow?
AMERICAN GOLD FINCHES - about 3
MARSH WREN - 2
BEWICK'S WREN - heard one, saw one
BARN SWALLOWS
VIOLET GREEN SWALLOWS
CLIFF SWALLOWS
YELLOW WARBLER
CEDER WAXWINGS
SONG SPARROWS
KILLDEER
Dunlin or Western Sandpiper sort of birds out on the mud
BELTED KINGFISHERS - about four or five. Two were cussing and chasing after
each other like mad creatures!
ROBIN....oh yawn.
CANADA GEESE The folks in my group didn't know there are "good" Canada
Geese and "bad" ones. Not all are lawn pooping pests. "Really?" So I told
them about the Aleutian, Cackling and other smaller races of geese.
Lots of Gulls, couldn't tell what kind.

And two critters

A CHIPMUNK of some sort. I didn't know we had lowland chipmunks. I thought
they only lived at campgrounds and picnic areas in the mountains....raid
your backpacks kind of chipmunks. This one at least was acting like a wild
animal and not a furry panhandler.

A rabbit.....EASTERN COTTONTAIL? It was small and brown with a white cotton
puff for a tail.

Oh, and the visitor center had an art show.....The artist's passion has been
the Nisqually Delta and most of his paintings were inspired by the birds and
critters of the delta, and his name rings a bell. Is Ed Newbold a member of
Tweeters?



Lydia Gaebe In Kent, WA USA
lgaebe at msn.com
Until I get a new website up, be sure to visit my artist friend's site:
http://joy.songbird.com/zisa/