I am filling in for Phil's usual report as he is busy fishing this week.

Thursday morning 9 of us started out in 59 degree temperatures and mostly cloudy.
The parking lot was hopping with birds, GOLDFINCH, NORTHERN FLICKER, HOUSE FINCH, RUFUS HUMMINGBIRD, CEDARWAX-WING, young TREE SWALLOWS awaiting breakfast and SAVANNAH SPARROWS. Along the trail to McAlister Creek we were very fortunate to hear and see, WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, KILLDEER, COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, YELLOW WARBLER, great looks at display flight and winnowing from a COMMON SNIPE one bird landed in the grass as one bird displayed.. We heard only a VIRGINIA RAIL. And heard more then one AMERICAN BITTERN, we had a great close-up look at one, and he was nice enough to also fly right in front of us across the trail. Two SORA'S flew after we had located their approximate location from them calling back and forth. WOOD DUCK and young were feeding in the slew.
At McAlister's Creek, we spotted a female BULLOCKS ORIOLE, just fledged STARLING being fed by a parent, and TREE SWALLOWS breeding. At the end of the creek trail there was a calling RED-TAILED HAWK. On the way back to the visitors center we were graced by a large and noisy flock of CASPIAN TERNS right over our heads. And on the way to the Twin Barns overlooks we had a WILSONS WARBLER, BEWICKS WREN singing very loudly. A brand new BUSHTIT nest hung above our heads on the boardwalk and the parents were busily bringing the chicks breakfast, there was a female WESTERN TANAGER, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES feeding begging young. On the cross over trail we saw BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES feeding young, and a WESTERN WOOD PEEWEE.
At the Nisqually River overlook there was a great view of a COMMON MERGARSER mom with 9 adorable fluffy ducklings. Also a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was trying to take a closer look at the ducklings, but mom let her know there would be no looking at her young as they tried to gather under her tail while still on the narrow log. Some of us also saw a SPOTTED SANDPIPER flying up river.
BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were seen on the Ring-Dike Trail and at the end we saw a mother raccoon and a small baby following like a shadow. We investigated knocking sounds and were treated to a great look at a RAVEN. The SAP-SUCKER nest was in full swing with both parents flying in and out of the nest hole as the young were peeping for all they were worth. Maurie left early and heard a OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER "singing quick three beers" . At the end of our walk Eric saw a male BULLOCKS ORIOLE right around the corner from the visitors Center.


Dawn Bailey
Eatonville, WA
mailto:dawnsdog at rainierconnect.com

If fate doesn't make you laugh, then you just don't get the joke.