Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqaully NWR - 04/16/05
Date: Apr 16 19:43:10 2005
From: Maurie Kirschner - outdoorchickeroo at yahoo.com


My husband and I had some errands to run up in the Tacoma area today. I took the binoculars dispite the aweful weather this morning...just in case. I was really glad I did!

This afternoon the clouds lifted a bit and the sun warmed everything up. While driving down I-5 I saw 6 Turkey Vultures circling over Tacoma. At the Chambers Bay fish trap I saw one lone first summer Bonapart Gull. The only other gull near by was a lone Western. As we drove away from this area a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew over the road.

My husband wanted to try for the baby owls again, since he still had not seen them, so we stopped at Nisqually. All three baby Great Horned Owls were lined up together on a tree to the south of the nest tree. I wonder how much longer they will be there. My husband wanted to watch them for quite a while. (He still has a silly grin on his face!) So while he monopolized the binoculars I chatted with other birders. While standing there I heard Orange-crowned Warblers singing, never did spot them though. After finally leaving the baby owls, we wandered about a bit and saw our first Canada Goose baby of the year. One gosling being closely protected by it's parents. What a cute ball of yellow fluff! We then saw Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, and Bald Eagle flying over head...probably all of them noticing that gosling, those parents have there work cut out for them. Along the trail to McAllister Creek we heard Virginia Rail and Sora calling. Also heard and saw a Bitt!
ern
calling. Out by McAllister creek we heard a song that sounded very much like a Warbling Vireo that didn't end with an up-note. I never did find the bird, so I am unsure if it was the Vireo or not. We also had great looks at four different species of Swallows, and a pair of Cinnamon Teal were quite close to the trail, the male glowing in the sunlight!

We lingered in the sunshine as long as we could, enjoying a very peaceful, birdy time at Nisqually. I sure am glad I don't leave home without the binoculars very often!

Happy Birding,

Maurie Kirschner
Olympia WA
outdoorchickerooatyahoo.com

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