Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I enjoyed a fairly rewarding day walking the entire Nisqually NWR "loop" between 10am-3pm. We encountered several highlights within the 81 total species observed,but probably our most significant returning passerine migrant was a Yellow Warbler observed along the northern loop trail bordering the Nisqually Delta. We were most impressed with the shorebird habitat noted from the NW corner of the refuge that shows great potential this spring for shorebirds due to the vast areas of exposed muddy area and wet,vegetated areas,but further south along the McAllister Creek trail the areas become more flooded,but still show some muddy areas for shorebirds. We encountered up to 9 species of shorebirds during the day with Western and Least Sandpipers being the most abundant shorebirds species and noted at almost every muddy area with a fairly large flock"pure" flock of Western Sandpipers observed from the Nisqually Delta overlook during outgoing tide. Away from large numbers of "peeps" our main shorebird highlights encountered during the day were up to 2 separate Solitary Sandpipers with one bird remaining in the flooded area immediately west of the main parking lot and south of the McAllister Creek trail,which was observed during our morning visit as well as returning from our loop hike in the afternoon. This bird was very difficult to see at times staying very close to thick vegetation along the southern edge of the flooded area and remained very skulky and cautious,but alert so patience may apply in looking for this bird. The other individual Solitary Sandpiper was observed briefly in the flooded area west of the Twin Barns overlook platform before moving into thicker vegetation and appeared obviously much paler overall than the previous bird. Our other notable shorebird highlight for the Nisqually NWR was up to 7 Lesser Yellowlegs noted from various points during the day with the most birds noted from the NW corner of the refuge with single birds noted elsewhere in appropriate habitat.

As mentioned we were most impressed with all the available shorebird habitat that exist specifically in the NW corner of refuge along with habitat that is noted from the Twin Barns overlook and all areas should be checked through May for migrating shorebirds,as most areas will eventually dry up during the summer controlled by refuge management. Shorebird habitat along the McAllister Creek trail immediately west of the main parking lot is good too,but may dry up quicker than other areas especially north of the trail with more flooded areas with thicker vegetation noted south of the trail. The densest flocks of "peeps" were actually noted from the NW corner of the refuge with smaller numbers noted from the Twin Barns overlook/McAllister Creek trail,which may be more tide controlled than other areas. Away from shorebirds we noted very few passerines with main efforts made on any warbler movement(s),so perhaps much of the Yellow-rumped Warblers have already passed through this location,as noted in past weeks. Orange-crowned Warblers were the most common warbler after Common Yellowthroat,as noted yesterday on our trip to Bottle Beach of single birds noted from several locations.Despite the fairly good numbers of people hiking the trails due to the good weather we did run into several birders,which we exchanged sightings,etc. A list of our most noteworthy species observed at the Nisqually NWR include the following:

1 Western Grebe(McAllister Creek)
3"Cackling"Canada Geese
11 Wood Ducks
5 Blue-winged Teal
22 Cinnamon Teal
1 male Eurasian Wigeon(observed from the Nisqually Delta overlook platform)
1 Turkey Vulture
6 Northern Harriers
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
1 adult Peregrine Falcon
1 Ring-necked Pheasant(heard only along the McAllister Creek trail)
2 Virginia Rails(heard only)
5 Sora(heard only)
32 Greater Yellowlegs
7 Lesser Yellowlegs
2 Solitary Sandpipers
328+ Western Sandpipers
145+ Least Sandpipers
72 Dunlin
5 Long-billed Dowitchers
5 Wilson's Snipe
85+ Bonaparte's Gulls
27 Caspian Terns
1 Pileated Woodpecker
5 Northern Rough-winged Swallows
2 Common Ravens
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
10 Am.Pipits
16 Orange-crowned Warblers
1 Yellow Warbler
14 Yellow-rumped Warblers(11 "Myrtle" race,3"Audubon's" race)
17 Golden-crowned Sparrows
5 Purple Finches


On our way home from the Nisqually NWR this afternoon we observed a single Vaux's Swift flying over I-5 at Tillicum(Pierce Co.),which was our first of the season.



Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit at worldnet.att.net




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