This morning between 0830 and 0900 I observed a juvenile Buff breasted
Sandpiper in fields south of Nisqually NWR. The bird was found in the
recently plowed fields along Hartman Rd, which is off of the Nisqually
Cut-off Road (actually it might be Steilacoom Rd at that point) south of the
Nisqually Refuge and south of I-5. To reach the site, take the exit as for
Nisqually Refuge (turn left if approaching from the north, right if from the
south), go straight through the traffic light and onto Nisqually Cut-off
road. Hartman Rd is the first road on the right, perhaps a mile or more
from the freeway. If you reach the salmon hatchery across McAllister/
Medicine Creek, you've gone too far. The bird was feeding in the dry plowed
field near the beginning of the road on the NE side. It can be quite
difficult to see as it disappears into the furrows and behind clods. Scan
from the edge of the road. The bird was generally solitary, though there
were about a dozen Killdeer in this same field. Kieth Brady went to the
area later and was able to re-locate the bird after about an hour of
searching, it can be quite difficult to see. Good Luck.
Bill Shelmerdine, Olympia (mail to: georn1 at msn.com)