Netta Smith and I kayaked off Nisqually this afternoon (4/23), and
the nature center at Luhr Beach was inundated with Purple Martins, at
least 10 birds flying around, landing on the boxes, sparring with one
another, and singing their heads off. There are also Tree, Cliff, and
Barn Swallows nesting on the buildings there and N. Rough-winged in
pipe openings on the sea wall. A Violet-green flew by, dipped to the
water, and really seemed to be drinking it, but this was at the mouth
of McAllister Creek, so it may be fairly fresh, at least on the
surface. Lots of Caspian Terns near the Nisqually River mouth doing
courtship flights - where will they nest? A small flock of geese near
the Nisqually Refuge headquarters looked as if it had two subspecies
of Canada and two of Cackling in it, as well as 6 Greater White-
fronted Geese. Where is Steve Mlodinow when we need him?

Neatest wildlife of the day by far was a beautiful Red Fox that
trotted out on the beach just north of the environmental center at
the mouth of McAllister Creek and stood there and looked at us as we
drifted in to shore about 50 feet from it and got frame-filling
photos. Wow! Other photo thrills for me included digiscoping in quick
succession a Brown Creeper and male Audubon's and Myrtle Warblers in
the woods along the dike trail. Love those sunny days of spring!
-----
Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115
206-528-1382

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