Finally the rain clears and I have a shot at some local birding in the AM.
Headed to Nisqually NWR at about 9:45 where I was met with clear skies but
COLD winds. Luckily I remembered my hat this time, though I could have used
some long underwear too. Started off nicely with a flock of 73 AMERICAN
PIPITS on the McAllister Creek trail near the first ponds. These can be hit
or miss on the Oly CBC here at Nisqually, and I don't remember if they ever
get numbers like this, hopefully they'll stick around for a couple more
weeks. Caught a glimpse of the BARN SWALLOW seen by Bob Sundstrom and
Charlie Wright the last few days at the first pond (now renamed the
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper pond) west of the headquarters. No shorebirds or
falcons around this AM. Did have the NORTHERN SHRIKE towards the end of the
McAllister Creek trail. Was able to watch this bird for about 10 minutes
through the scope, very close looks at a species which I usually scare away.
Also at the end of the trail was a large flock of A. Wigeon and N. Pintail
with one male EURASIAN WIGEON mixed in. Heard a VARIED THRUSH here too.
Looked through one nice flock of 'cacklers' but didn't see the Ross's Geese
or the G. White-Fronteds. I didn't make it to the twin barns so they may
still remain in the ag. fields north of the barns.

Also at Nisqually:
3 G/B Heron
N. Shoveler
G/W Teal
6 R/N Duck
Bufflehead
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Bald Eagle (imm.)
4 N. Harrier (1 ad. male)
2 Red-tailed Hawk (again saw the dark phase bird)
A. Coot
R/B Gull
Mew Gull
Mutt-Gulls (not real species! I'll leave it to Charlie to call 'em.)

Then headed over to Luhr Beach (See map on page 210 of Birder's Guide to WA
for driving directions. Those who don't have the funds for the book don't
really need written directions since they can't afford the gas to get them
to the spot...spoken by a birder who lives somewhere below the poverty line
but still finds enough change to get his new bird Bible!). I didn't feel
the pull like I normally do when heading out to Luhr but sometimes you gotta
go anyway. Nice chop way out, got the gulls pretty excited. Saw decent
numbers of Mews and hundreds of BONAPARTE'S GULLS streaming along, some
coming in to the reach for a break. There were two gulls that I felt looked
good enough to call WESTERN, but I'll probably stick an * after the sighting
just to be a curmudgeon. In with a mixed scoter flock was one male
HARLEQUIN DUCK, most likely the same bird that the Sullivan's had (during
the Fulmar extravaganza) and maybe even the same bird from last winter at
this location. Also close in were a good number of C. Goldeneye and R/B
Merganser along with the usual Horned Grebe and 3 EARED GREBE. A couple of
C. MURRES flying by way out, which can be hard to get at this location
(though I've seen them quite a few times this month while looking for those
blasted Fulmars, maybe I just never bothered scoping that far out before).
The murres are a lot easier to see locally at Tolmie State Park (take Marvin
Rd exit off I-5, head north until the road hits a 't', take a right on 56th
Ave, follow the signs to the park), also usually get Western Grebes there
BUT you have to pay the state park fee. As I was leaving Luhr access the
vacant lot on 46th had a small flock of robins and 5 Varied Thrush.

Jason Paulios
Jpaulios at earthlink.net
Olympia, WA