Subject: Nisqually NWR sightings
Date: Jan 1 17:09:50 2001
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweets,

Today Jim Pruske, Dave Hayden, and my mother, and I birded the Nisqually NWR
in northern Thurston Co., despite the limited visibility due to dense fog,
being heavy at times, with occasional brief clearing at 1pm. The most
notable highlight was 5 AM.TREE SPARROWS at two locations, with 2 along the
west trail to McAllister Creek at 11:55am, and 3 along the Ring Dike Trail
at 2:30pm. We hiked nearly the entire length of the refuge, although a geeat
portion of it is closed at this time, due to hunting, but in perspective, as
we tried for the immature RED-SHOULDERED HAWK on two extensive attempts with
NO luck during our 6 1/2 hour visit, but the bird could still be at the
refuge, but at a different location, or possibly not, until it is relocated
again. As mentioned before, visibility was quite poor, therefore a good
species was not possible to start out the New Year. Other notable highlights
that were encountered included:

1 RED-THROATED LOON
1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
1 adult dark-morph "HARLAN'S" RED-TAILED HAWK
65+ LEAST SANDPIPERS
40 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS
1 WESTERN GULL
1 partial albino Song Sparrow
3 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS
7 Purple Finches

Good Birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net