Ruth and Tweets,

Last weekend I went to the Gray's Harbor Shorebird Festival. Although very
wet on Friday, Sat. was quite decent. Birding was good with most all of the
previously noted species seen plus Tufted Puffins in breeding plumage but the
highlight was my stop by Nisqually NWR on the way home on Sunday. Some of
the highlights at Nisqually were the pair of Solitary Sandpipers (can they be
solitary if there were two together?) and a Spotted Sandpiper at the "back"
of the wetland adjacent to the Visitor's center (on the way to the Twin
Barns); a Yellow Warbler (my first this year) and a female Rufous Hummingbird
on her nest both where the trail from the Visitor's Center meets MacAllister
Creek; and last but certainly not least was the American Bittern inside the
Ring Dike around 6:00 pm. It was sitting in the open preening in the warm
late-day sun pausing occasionally to "unk-a-lunk." While this is the
location where I most often get to see the Bittern at Nisqually, I have never
seen this amazing display before, anywhere. The looong neck of the Bittern
became very short as it filled with air like a balloon before making its
call. Although I was in high gear to get back to the parking lot to keep a
commitment to my wife to cook dinner on the grill, I couldn't leave this
sight for 15 minutes. Then I had to walk away leaving the Bittern basking in
the sun and with the "unk-a-lunk" calls continuing as I completed the walk
around the ring dike. This was truly the highlight of the weekend and a
sight to remember. Ruth, I share your excitement and amazement.

It's truly an amazing world, if you stop to notice.

Good Birding to All,
Bruce Jones
Shoreline