Subject: [Tweeters] Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in Pierce Co.
Date: Oct 13 21:08:34 2005
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweets,

While conducting a survey of the Nisqually Restoration Site this afternoon in Pierce Co. a juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was observed amongst a flock of 12 Long-billed Dowitchers and represents the first record that we personally know of for Pierce Co. The actual location lies immediately next to the Nisqually NWR and borders the Thurston Co. line only by the Nisqually River. There are ample amounts of estuary-type habitat at this location with plentiful vegetated-lined sloughs and tributaries,as well as extensive areas of Salicornia. The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was observed during incoming tide,as it flew outward from Red Salmon Slough,which is one of the main slough a the restoration site and the lighting was superb with great contrast on the bird. It is possible the bird could show up anywhere along the Nisqually Delta,but access is very limited and by this weekend the outer dike at the Nisqually NWR will be closed to the general public for hunting purposes. Eventhough actual access onto the Nisqually Restoration Site is private and only accessible during surveys we wanted to post of out sightings since some of the species could be possible at the nearby Nisqually NWR.

During our 3 hour study of the restoration site between 12pm-3pm we encountered good numbers of Green-winged Teal,which is the primary species study for the site. We counted upwards of 750+ Green-winged Teal and nearly 150+ Northern Pintail with much smaller numbers of other waterfowl including Mallard,Am.Wigeon, and Northern Shoveler. Other species of note observed at the Nisqually Restoration Site included the following:

28 Greater White-fronted Geese(with only 8 birds counted on the actual site)
250+ Cackling Geese
2 Bald Eagles
4 Northern Harriers
2 Sharp-shinned Hawks
2 Cooper's Hawks
5 Red-tailed Hawks
3 Peregrine Falcons
2 Greater Yellowlegs
4 Dunlin
19 Long-billed Dowitchers
6 Wilson's Snipe
8 Barn Swallows
13 Am.Pipits
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
5 Purple Finches

Our amphibian highlight during the survey were up to 4 Red-legged Frogs observed in thick grass bordering the Nisqually River.


After the survey and with continued good afternoon weather my mother and I birded a small portion of the Nisqually NWR between 3:30pm-5pm. We made a walk to the McAllister Creek Trail Overlook,then back to the main parking lot and ending with a walk to the Twin Barns. Our main highlight of our visit was a immature Northern Shrike,which was observed perched atop a bush just west of the Twin Barns and was our personal firsts of the season,despite other recent sightings reported further north. Other highlights noted during our visit to the Nisqually NWR included the following:

450+ Cackling Geese
3 Northern Harriers
1 Am.Kestrel
1 Merlin
2 Peregrine Falcons
13 Black-bellied Plovers(observed flying southward from the Nisqually Delta before turning around just north of the Twins Barns and returning in a northward direction)
1 Red-breasted Sapsucker
4 Steller's Jays
13 Am.Pipits
4 Savannah Sparrows
14 Purple Finches



Good birding,

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