Tweeters, Keith Brady and I got out this late morning for some birding in
the mist. Started at Luhr Beach just before 10:00 where the fog/mist
limited the view, but it was better than it has been. Best birds were:
2 Red-throated Loon
1 Red-necked Grebes
many Eared Grebes
2 Eurasian Wigeon

Next we sorted through a large blackbird flock at the plowed pumpkin field
along the Nisqually Cut-off RD. No Rustys present, but it looks like it
could produce something decent this late fall (Longspurs, R/T Pipit,
etc...). Saw a few Brewer's Blackbirds mixed in with the Red-winged
Blackbirds and Starlings. Also many American Pipits were around in this
field.

Further along the road at the Hatchery we saw the NORTHERN SHRIKE that has
been around for the last few weeks (look towards Nisqually refuge in the
shrubs out in the field). Also a few Ravens were heard. No Kestrel but it
has been around the last few times I've checked.

Retracing back to the highway we took a left after the farm to look for the
Shrike. I call it Buff-Breasted Sandpiper RD (I can't remember the name of
the road, says Hartman? on Mapquest but can't be sure). There were a number
of sparrows in the Blackberry so we popped out to see what it contained.
There were:
flyby American Pipits
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow

and Keith spotted one SWAMP SPARROW in the grape vines across the road.
This bird was quite tame and allowed extended viewing after some short
pishes. It just kept coming back to see what the noise was about, at one
point perching on the short fenceline for crippling views. The breast was
not anywhere near as streaky as showed in Sibley, but all the other field
marks were easily seen. Keith decided to go back for the camera and when we
tried pishing again later it took off across the road (only time it called
was now) and went into the cattails (like it was supposed to). It still
popped up during the short pishing but was not as photogenic on this side of
the road.

I stopped at Capitol Lake around 2:00 and found the 2 REDHEADS (male/female)
in with the large scaup flock on the north end of the lake (near the bus
stop). Their feeding style was noticeable in that they did great leaps up
and down when diving while the scaup were just slightly jumping...kind of
high jump vs. hurdles. ?
Also nearby was the EARED GREBE. Also counted about 70 Ruddy Ducks. Only a
few Ring-necked Ducks were seen, these were on Percival Cove.

Good birding,
Jason Paulios
Jpaulios at earthlink.net
Olympia, WA