Subject: Eur. G.W.Teal at Brady
Date: Feb 19 17:07:53 2002
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I birded a few favored birding locations in eastern
Grays Harbor Co., including Brady Loop Rd., the Schouweiler Rd. wetland, and
a few other locations. The weather consisted of mostly isolated scattered
showers with occasional sunbreaks and minor wind at times. Our best
highlight of the day was a male EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL along the west
portion of Brady Loop Rd. amongst other dabbling ducks including
Am.Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, one Eurasian Wigeon, Northern
Pintail, and Northern Shoveler in a flooded corn stubble field. In general
most areas were quite productive,despite the weather.

We started our day in Olympia between McCormick and Fir Streets, where the
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was again present immediately upon our arrival at
10:45am, along with 4 Western Scrub Jays. The bird foraged loosely in
several brambles, and a Blue Elderberry next to the Olympia Transcription
Office, as well as forage in taller trees in the small lot immediately east
of the the previous location. The bird was noted attempting to sneeze or
cough as other observers have noted, but made NO vocalizations. Perhaps the
bird may be internally sick, bu the behavior could be normal.

After leaving Olympia my mother and I headed west towards the Schouweiler
Rd. wetland, with an American Kestrel noted along Hwy.8 east of Elma,perched
atop a lightpost. At the Schouweiler Rd. wetland we again encountered good
numbers of swallows despite the variable weather in addition to a few other
species noted on two visits during the day including:

4 Trumpeter Swans
3 Virginia Rails
10 Tree Swallows
2+ Violet-green swallows
14 Barn Swallows
8 Yellow-rumped"Myrtle" Warblers

At a location east of Montesano along Pioneer Ave. the overwintering
WILSON'S WARBLER was again observed as noted on the 2nd of January, as were
15 Evening Grosbeaks at the same location. The warbler was observed at the
same location loosely associating itself with a small fock of Oregon Juncos,
but somewhat keeping to itself and keeping close to a thick patch of ivey
growing amongst a small stand of Red Alder.

At Friend's Landing south of Montesano a quick stop produced 38 Greater
Scaup, one Hermit Thrush and two Varied Thrushes, which is another location
well described in Bob Morse's "A Birder's Guide to Coastal Washington". The
area looks excellent for migrating and seasonal passerines with extensive
trails that are well accessed from the general boat launch area along the
Chehalis River.

A fairly extensive check along Brady Loop Rd. on our way home produced
several notable species including the following:

58 Tundra Swans
9 Trumpeter Swans
15 "Dusky"Canada Geese
1 EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL
1 Eurasian Wigeon
8 Ring-necked Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Rough-legged Hawk
1 adult Peale's Peregrine Falcon
3 Black-bellied Plovers
1 adult Western Gull
6 Tree Swallows
1 Violet-green Swallow
14 Barn Swallows

A Western Scrub Jay was observed along Hwy.12 east of the Satsop River.

2 Tundra Swans were noted to and from destinations along Nisqually Cut-off
Rd. also visible from I-5(east of the Nisqually NWR)in a corn stubble field
foraging alone with a mixed flock of gulls.


Good Birding,

Ruth and Patrck Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net