Hi Birders:
A friend and I headed south at noon yesterday in a driving, dark rainstorm
to scout the areas around Nisqually. We thought we were crazy to go, until
we reached Tacoma and the sun came out! Very cool. Our first stop was
Nisqually NWR. A large Peregrine Falcon was perched above the pond at the
visitor center.
I talked to the visitor center personnel. They said that there are Barn
Owls that roost in the twin barns. The lady I talked to said there are
hundreds that boil out of there in clouds. I wonder about this observation.
??? There is a resident Great Horned Owl. He comes in to eat the Barn
Owls.
They have not been seeing the Great Horned Owl near the twin barns in the
daylight. He apparently roosts in the deep woods over near the Nisqually
river, and just north of the trail to the Riparian Forest. To reach that
area of the trail, go right on the trail system at the visitor's center.
When you reach the turnoff on your right to the small spur trail called the
Riparian Forest, don't turn right, just continue on the dike trail as it
turns north up through the woods. The owl is reported to be roosting in the
dense trees to the right as you walk north toward the Nisqually River
Overlook.
We did not look for the owl, as we were scouting nearby areas in Thurston
County. I finally found my way to Luhr Beach Boat Ramp which overlooks the
delta area and the sound. The view back east (it seems like north) to
Nisqually was superb, so good that a Fish and Wildlife officer at our
parking area was watching some hunters. The hunters had pulled a boat over
to Nisqually, and were sitting on some grass islands in their camos. I was
surprised, as I thought hunters could only hunt in the lands next to the
refuge, not at the refuge itself.
There is a covered overlook at Luhr Beach at the Nisqually Reach Nature
Center. It's a nice area. From there we scoped about 100 Brant over at
Nisqually. Several flocks of Dunlin were flying about and the tide was
high. We reached Luhr Beach by going north from Nisqually on Martin Way
which parallels I-5 (NOT I-5), and turning right (north) on Meridian Road.
(You can't exit I-5 onto Meridian.) Go about 3 miles north. Then you turn
right at 46th Ave at the sign that says public fishing.
We also visited Tolmie State Park which is west of the Luhr Beach area. It
is open, and since it was after the 1st of the year, we had to pay a $5.
parking fee. Ouch. The road down to the beach was not open, so we walked
down the 2-block long road and scoped Puget Sound. It was pretty quiet for
birds. A few Greater and Lesser Scaup and about 4 Loons were way, way out.
I thought most were Common Loon, but there may have been a Red-throated Loon
out there.
Sunshine gave way to rain, and we headed home in very-heavy rains. It was a
fine afternoon.
Yours, Carol Schulz
DesMoines
linusq at att.net