Hello Tweets,

This afternoon my mother and I checked a few locations in Thurston Co.,specifically at the Nisqually NWR and Luhr Beach at Nisqually Head,which the latter location produced up to 2 dark-morph Northern Fulmars flying amongst a very large flock of Bonaparte's Gulls off the Nisqually Reach. We observed the 2 Northern Fulmars off and on separately during our visit at 1:15pm flying amongst the fairly rough waters off Nisqually Reach in the direction of Ketron Island and observed in both Pierce and Thurston Cos. The birds seemed to be most attracted to the very large flock of Bonaparte's Gulls,as we scoped the birds with one individual Northern Fulmar flying in the lighter colored water line just off the mouth of the Nisqually River.Perhaps the birds arrived during the extremely windy conditions overnight yesterday,but fairly stiff southerly winds were still apparent today. This may possibly be the first record for Thurston Co.,as we had presumed this species may occur this season due to several observations noted further north in Pierce Co. in early to mid October.Other notable highlights at Luhr Beach included:

1 Pacific Loon
1 male Harlequin Duck
800+ Dunlin(observed on the Nisqually Reach)
7 Common Murres
1 Rhinoceros Auklet

Earlier we checked the Nisqually NWR from 12pm-1pm,specifically with a walk made to the Twin Barns,then along the McAllister Creek trail from the main parking lot. We immediately located the 2 Ross' Geese as we were approaching the Twin Barns,then observing and photographing them at the same location that Jason Paulios observed them yesterday morning. The 2 Ross' Geese were well observed amongst a very large flock of "Cackling"Canada Geese grazing in the large mowed field immediately north of the Twin Barns,as well as observed from the large green metal gate next to the Twin Barns,which accesses the field to refuge personnel. We agree with the age of the birds that Jason mention in his Tweeters posting yesterday with there being one adult bird and one juvenile bird,which the latter bird showing far more dusky areas,especially on the head,neck and mantle area along with showing a dark bill. Nevertheless,a notable sighting for this area. Both birds remained in close association to the "Cackling"Canada Geese and within 15 minutes of viewing the birds at the Twin Barns the entire flock lifted and flew to the south and landed just north of the McAllister Creek trail,where they remained for another 15 minutes,then again lifted along with the "Cackling"Canada Geese and flew to the west and later relocated in a large mowed field north of the McAllister Creek trail,where the remained until a Northern Harrier and immature Red-tailed Hawk flew over and agitated the entire flock. The entire flock lifted yet another time and flew north(including the 2 Ross' Geese)in the same large mowed field,but out of our view. It seems the Ross's Geese move around somewhat,but seem to favor the vast areas of mowed areas of the Nisqually NWR. Other highlights observed at the Nisqually NWR during our visit included the following:

1 "Aleutian"Canada Goose(observed amongst the very large flocks of "Cackling"Canada Geese)
3 male Eurasian Wigeon
7 female Northern Harriers
4 Red-tailed Hawks(including presumably the same dark-morph adult bird reported by Jason Paulios yesterday)
1 Wilson's Snipe
4 Brown Creepers(observed in the large Big Leaf Maple tress at the Nisqually NWR headquarters)
45+ Cedar Waxwings
1 adult Northern Shrike

On our way to the Nisqually NWR we observed 2 Western Scrub Jays along 100th Street in Lakewood,Pierce Co.(west of South Tacoma Way)


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
godwit at worldnet.att.net