Subject: Odds and sods from Pierce County, July 25
Date: Jul 30 15:47:48 2003
From: Wayne C. Weber - contopus at telus.net


Tweeters,

Here are a few sightings from Pierce County, made on my way back from
Mount Rainier on July 25, that may be of interest.

Near the east end of the Alder Reservoir, about 0.8 miles west of Elbe
on Highway 7, I stopped to scan the extensive mudflats. The most
unexpected sighting (to me, at least) was a flock of 8 female/young
HARLEQUIN DUCKS which were actively diving in the shallow water of the
reservoir. Presumably, these were birds raised somewhere in the
Nisqually watershed that were on their way to salt water.

Also of note here was a flock of 26 CALIFORNIA GULLS (21 ad., 5 imm.)
and a single imm. RING-BILLED GULL on the flats. There were lots of
shorebirds scattered over the flats, but I could find only 3 species--
40 KILLDEER, 40 LEAST SANDPIPERS, and 3 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS.

Near the north end of Ohop Lake, north of Eatonville, I heard single
COMMON NIGHTHAWKS at different points about a mile apart; one of them
was "booming" as well as giving the usual call-note. I suspect that
they are nesting in nearby recent clear-cuts. How scarce is this
species in Pierce County?

My final bird observation of the day was a BARN OWL which landed on
the telephone wires at dusk along the Kapowsin Highway about 3.4 miles
east of Highway 7.

That's all for now!

Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net