Tweeters, got out for a few hours this morning (7:30-9:30) to bird Nisqually
NWR and the Luhr Beach boat launch. I walked to the Twin Barns and back at
Nisqually with no real surprises. Was nice to see 7 Northern Harriers
working the area north of the barns, but no S/E Owls present. The PEREGRINE
was in the usual spot high up in the tall Fir behind the visitors center. I
heard the Eagles but never saw them today. Lots of waterfowl on the ponds:
Cackling Geese galore, Bufflehead, Shoveler, Wigeon, Mallard, G/W Teal,
Pintail, and 1 R/N Duck. One nice flock of 40 or so Dunlin flew around and
Mew and R/B Gulls on the ponds too. Hardly any passerines around;
chickadees and Juncos were about it. I did listen to one Winter Wren
singing near the parking lot which I don't often hear at Nisqually.

Luhr beach was nice with calm water close in and a decent chop out in the
Reach. I had visions of Ancient Murrelet and Y/B Loon, but it was not to be.
I was rewarded with one amazing male BLACK SCOTER in with the usual
W/Wingeds and Surfs. This is only my second Thurston county record of this
species in over three years which is quite sad. I was also happy to find a
female LONG-TAILED DUCK in with another group of scoters. This is also my
second encounter with this species in the county. I was quite hot now and
was assuming the Harlequin would be right behind to form the trifecta of
difficult Thurston County waterfowl, but it never showed.

Jason Paulios
Jpaulios at earthlink.net
Olympia, WA