Steve Nord and I did a quick run through Luhr Beach (can't actually run
here) and Nisqually NWR (parking lot to Twin Barns). Nothing great today,
but nice to see some of the returning winter species back.

Luhr Beach (rising tide, quite high):
9 Common Loon
10 Horned Grebe
2 R/N Grebe
A. Wigeon
G/W Teal
Surf Scoter
W/W Scoter
1 Peregrine Falcon
4 B/B Plover
2 Whimbrel
2 Bonaparte's Gull

We were surprised to hear gunshots coming from the Pierce County/Reservation
side of the Nisqually River and then confirm seeing two groups of hunters in
the area. It turns out that this weekend was the Youth Hunting weekend for
waterfowl so it was legit. Just as I was getting used to all the salmon
fisherman traffic here now I'll have to learn to deal with the hunters. If
the birds would stop showing up at Luhr then I could just move on to more
scenic locales.

Nisqually NWR:
1 Mourning Dove
1 R/B Sapsucker
1 Hammond's Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
R/C Kinglet
G/C Kinglet
A. Pipit
O/C Warbler
Yellow Warbler (most common warbler)
Common Yellowthroat
1 Western Tanager (and 1 at my house)
Savannah Sparrow
5 G/C Sparrow
W/C Sparrow
1 Lincoln's Sparrow
1 B/H Grosbeak
Evening Grosbeak

Jason Paulios
Jpaulios at earthlink.net
Olympia, WA