Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 8/17/06
Date: Aug 18 18:07:45 2006
From: Scrubjay323 at aol.com - Scrubjay323 at aol.com


Tweets,

Yesterday 9 of us enjoyed a productive walk under overcast skies in cool
temperatures.

Michael Hobbs joined us and must have brought some birds with him from
Marymoor Park. We started off with all five swallow species at the visitor center
and then really hit the jackpot in the riparian area across from the visitor
center behind the parking lot! We had great views of both RED-EYED VIREO and
CASSIN'S VIREO along with YELLOW WARBLER, CEDAR WAXWING, NORTHERN FLICKER,
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, and a BROWN CREEPER.

Not bad. We haven't left the parking lot and already we have 20 species! The
walk to McAllister Creek was slow, but we did see HOODED MERGANSER, SPOTTED
SANDPIPER, BELTED KNIGFISHER, and GREATER YELLOWLEGS at McAllister Creek.

At this juncture we decided to alter our route and continue along McAllister
Creek to the photo blind where many shorebirds have been sighted recently.
Wise move on our part. We managed to see 2 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, WESTERN
SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, WILSON'S SNIPE, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER, and
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. We also saw KILLDEER and 2 GREEN HERON. We also saw several
PURPLE MARTINS near a couple of nest boxes on the other side of McAllister
Creek near the bald eagle nest tree.

All told we saw 52 species for the day, although Michael picked up another 4
species as he walked the boardwalk after the rest of us left for the day. He
picked up PACIFIC SLOPE FLYCATCHER, LAZULI BUNTING, DOWNEY WOODPECKER, and a
BEWICK'S WREN.

New for the year were both VIREOs and the SOLITARY SANDPIPER.

The only mammals seen were several EASTERN COTTONTAIL RABBITS.

Until next week....

Phil Kelley
Lacey, WA
scrubjay323 at aol.com
360-459-1499

" We were few and they were many. Now we are many and they are few"
Confucius