Hello Tweets,

This evening my mother and I spent a short while at the Nisqually NWR from
3pm-4:30pm,mainly walking and checking the areas along the entrance display
pond and the shorebird habitat south of the Twin Barns and along McAllister
Crek Trail west of the headquarters. The main highlight was a LONG-BILLED
CURLEW that flew over the large,open fields heading southeast over the
refuge headquarters towards Nisqually Cut-off Rd.. The observation was
brief,but all the main features were noted for this possible first Thurston
Co. record. The bird as observed was nearly entirely buffy-brown from below
as the underparts were well noted,especially the inner underwing linings.
The bird did not call,but similiar Whimbrel in comparision was considered
but quickly ruled out by the overall consistant buffy tones in overall
coloration,and NO darker tones that are noted in the latter species,and a
quick look at the head also revealed NO crown striping. It is possible the
bird may be foraging/roosting in the many open fields in association with
Nisqually Cut-off Rd., but further searching on our way home proved
unsuccessful.

One of the two SOLITARY SANDPIPERS still persists, with one bird foraging
with 2 Least Sandpipers along the edges of the vegetated pond east of the
headquarters. Other notable highlights during our visit included:

4 "Cackling"Canada Geese
1 pair of Wood Ducks
1 male Cinnamon Teal
1 Turkey Vulture
1 Osprey
1 Ring-necked Pheasant(heard only)
2 Sora(heard only)
32 Western Sandpipers
14 Least Sandpipers
3 Northern Rough-winged Swallows
1 pair of Chestnut-backed Chickadees
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Am.Pipit
1 Warbling Vireo
7 Orange-crowned Warblers
105+ Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 Lincoln's Sparrow


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net