Jim Pruske and I walked around the Nisqually Refuge this morning. The
weather was just great a walk. Here's a few species seen and heard
today.

Swainson Thrush - heard several along the Nisqually River trail giving
the "whit" call.

Ring Necked Pheasant - 1 called from the grassy field near the twin
barns.

Warbling Vireo - 1 along the Nisqually River trail.

Western Tanager - 2 heard along the Nisqually River trail.

Whimbrel - 4 on the mud flats at the reach.

Greater Yellowlegs - 1 on the mud flats at the reach.

Long Billed Dowitcher - 16 in the NW corner pond.

Pectoral Sandpiper - 9 in the NW corner pond.

Solitary Sandpiper - 1 in the NW corner pond.

Sora - 3 heard along the McAlister Creek trail.

Western Sandpiper - 10 in the pond at the corner of McAlister Creek and
the center trail.

Blue Winged Teal - 1 pair in the pond at the corner of McAlister Creek
and the center trail.

Greater White Fronted Goose - 1 in the field by the twin barns.

Horned Grebe - 1 in full breeding plumage in the newly created front
Willow pond.

Also, at the end our walk, 4 Pectoral Sandpipers flew into the newly
created front Willow pond. They landed in the mud nearest to the parking
lot. We assumed that these were part of the flock we had in the NW
corner.

Dave Hayden
Lakewood, WA
dtvhm at nwrain.com