Subject: [Tweeters] Red-naped Sapsucker at Brady Loop Rd.
Date: Apr 16 20:05:54 2005
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweets,

This afternoon my mother and I checked along the Brady Loop Rd. complex despite unstable weather conditions specifically for any new arriving migrants. Our main highlight was a single Red-naped Sapsucker observed along a dense greenbelt along the southern edge of Brady Loop Rd.(west of the public fishing access and north of the Chehalis River). The bird was very elusive and nervous flying from tree to tree and was eventually noted flying towards the Chehalis River from an extensive woodlot along Brady Loop Rd. To our knowledge there are less than 5 records for Grays Harbor Co. with the only other record we know of observed by Mike and MerryLynn Denny at the Johns River on March 28th,1997. It seems that April appears to be a noteworthy period when Red-naped Sapsuckers show up in western WA lowland as migrants with our other nearby record of a single bird at the Black Lake Meadows during the mid 1990's in late April that we located and viewed by 2 other birders. It seems possible other Red-naped Sapsuckers may show up in upcoming weeks throughout western WA and nonetheless was an unexpected sighting for us! A single Chipping Sparrow was also observed at the same location as the Red-naped Sapsucker and thus was a personal new species for us for the location.

We walked the wooded area accessed from the public fishing area that proceeds west trailing along the Chehalis River. Conditions were far less productive than our visit made on the 13th,but prevailing winds persisted which may have kept many of the passerines hunkered. From our short walking from the public fishing area a few notable sightings were encountered including a single Black-throated Gray Warbler amongst a small group of Yellow-rumped"Myrtle"Warblers near the same exact location than on the 13th. An erratic group of 145+ Am.Pipits were observed in the bordering grassy field,as they flushed and continued over Brady Loop Rd.

Our other highlight along Brady Loop Rd. was our first Short-billed Dowitchers of the season with up to 13 birds tallied with 18 Long-billed Dowitchers and 25 Greater Yellowlegs in flooded stubble areas along the eastern portion of the Brady Loop Rd. complex just south of Gillis Rd. Up to 5 Lesser Yellowlegs were tallied with a gathering of 18 Greater Yellowlegs in the flooded stubble fields at the intersection of Foster Rd. and Brady Loop Rd.,which may increase in numbers though April. Other highlights from the Brady Loop Rd. complex include the following highlights:

1 pair of Wood Ducks
1 male Eurasian Wigeon
1 Greater Scaup(with 2 Lesser Scaup and 5 Ring-necked Ducks in the flooded area just south of Gillis Rd.)
5 Turkey Vultures
3 Northern Harriers
4 Bald Eagles
4 Am.Kestrels
2 Merlins
1 pair of Ring-necked Pheasants
8 Black-bellied Plovers
48 Greater Yellowlegs
8 Dunlin
28 Band-tailed Pigeons
7 Northern Rough-winged Swallows
1 Hutton's Vireo
3 Orange-crowned Warblers
1 Lincoln's Sparrow
3 Purple Finches


Prior to checking along Brady Loop Rd. we made a stop at the Schouweiler Rd. wetland near Elma,which was quite slow due to windy conditions. Our main highlight was the discovery of a female Four-spotted Skimmer and a noteworthy date for this dragonfly species. Small numbers of Swift Forktails,which were most active in the sunniest,warmest spots. A pair of Ospreys were noted on their distant nestsite bordering the large wetland area,as well as a single Cinnamon Teal and up to 6 Northern Rough-winged Swallows.

Other species of note encountered en route to Brady Loop Rd. included the following:

Turkey Vulture
2 along Hwy.8 at Rock Candy Mountain Rd.,Thurston Co.
1 along Hwy.8 at McCleary
3 along Hwy.8 just west of Elma
2 along Hwy.12 at Satsop

Am.Kestrel
1 along Hwy.8 at the Grays Harbor/Thurston Co. line



Good birding,

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