Subject: Luhr Beach and Capitol Lake 11/04
Date: Nov 4 12:18:51 2003
From: Jason Paulios - jpaulios at earthlink.net
Finally was able to leave the house today so I decided to check up on the
Redhead status at Capitol Lake and to see if the Goldeneyes were back yet at
Luhr Beach access (both Thurston County). I started at Luhr where the tide
was out. There were thousands of A. WIGEON and probably at least 1,000
DUNLIN working the edge of the Nisqually reach. Also here were my first
Goldeneye of the fall with 3 male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE swimming right past the
boat launch and about 15 COMMON GOLDENEYE around the oyster bed (?) area.
They, and a few SURF SCOTER, were doing the
pull-the-head-back-with-beak-in-the-air move to one another...not sure if
this is related to breeding at all. Also of note at Luhr:
4 R/T LOON
possible BRANT way out past the reach (bad lighting and heatwaves)
8 R/B Merganser
1 Hooded Merganser
1 Varied Thrush singing
I only checked the north part of Capitol Lake for ducks. Ran into Phil
Kelly and we eventually found a pair of REDHEADS (male and female) in close
to the NE side of the lake (on the bathroom side). Also here were two
female-type CANVASBACK and a ratty looking male COMMON MERGANSER. Lots of
SCAUP and good numbers of BUFFLEHEAD and RUDDY DUCKS. Some nice looking
GADWALL as well, really puffing up that crown.
Good birding,
Jason Paulios
Jpaulios at earthlink.net
Olympia, WA