Hello Tweets,

My mother and I checked the Luhr Beach access of Nisqually Reach in northern Thurston Co. this afternoon between 3pm-3:30pm and although we encountered fairly good numbers of waterbirds,specifically waterfowl we encountered NO Ancient Murrelets. We carefully scanned the open waters of Nisqually Reach viewable from the Luhr Beach boat launch to the north and the the west,bue were unable to locate any Ancient murrelets,but encountered a few noteworthy species to be listed below. Good numbers of Surf and White-winged Scoters,Buffleheads and Common Goldeneyes were among the most abudant waterfowl noted with scattering numbers of other waterbirds. We also noted a good concentration of Dunlin foraging along the limited shoreline on the Nisqually Delta,as viewed in our spotting scope along with a few other spcies. It seems it may still be possible for Ancient Murrelets to show up in northern Thurston Co. with enough searching,but this would most likely be the extreme limit for them to wander this far soouth into Puget Sound. Updwellings and currents off Nisqually Head and vicinty don't seem to be as apparent and notceable as much further north which this species seems to favor,but it may still be worth checking in the next few weeks. A list of our notable highlights during our short visit include:

5 Red-throated Loons
4 Eared Grebes
1 Brant
1 male Eurasian Wigeon
2 Western Gulls
1 Common Murre
7 Pigeon Guillemots

On route to Nisqually this afternoon my mother and I encountered an adult Peregrine Falcon perched atop a dead tree along Lakewood Drive at the Flett Basin in Lakewood,Pierce Co. We also had a pair of Anna's Hummingbirds courting in our yard earlier in the day that were photgraphed.

Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
godwit at worldnet.att.net