Hello Tweets,

We correct ourselves belatedly in labeling the FISHER reported in this report a MINK,which we mistakenly posted. One nice person contacted us and made sure what we had,but we wish to publicly make the correction in case any of you were wondering.

Sincerely,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan


----- Original Message -----
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 8:07 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR sightings 5-2-06


Hello Tweets,

This afternoon we spent a few hours birding the Nisqually NWR by walking the "loop" trail to the Twin Barns,then along a portion of the McAllister Creek trail. Birding conditions were quite windy during our visit with little movement of passerines. Despite the wind we were able to locate a few good species for the nice afternoon. Many of the areas along the eastern portion of the McAllister Creek trail nearest the main parking lot and overgrown,but some shorebird habitat does exist primarily north of the trail. Areas near the Twin Barns that have produced shorebirds in past years are very overgrown and areas along the McAllister Creek trail north of the McAlister Creek Overlook are very full of water.

A list of the main highlights we encountered included the following:

1 Pied-billed Grebe
1 Am.Bittern(heard only)
4 Greater White-fronted Geese
25 Cackling Geese
13 Wood Ducks
5 Green-winged Teal
15 Northern Pintail
1 pair of Blue-winged Teal
28 Northern Shovelers
1 pair of Gadwall
88 Am.Wigeon(primarily noted during outgoing tide along McAllister Creek)
7 Ring-necked Ducks
1 Common Goldeneye
12 Buffleheads
15 Hooded Mergansers(including 1 female with 7 young)
6 Common Mergansers
2 Turkey Vultures
9 Bald Eagles
4 Northern Harriers
3 Virginia Rails(heard only)
3 Sora(2 heard only,1 seen)
1 Am.Coot
2 Greater Yellowlegs
67+ Least Sandpipers
2 Band-tailed Pigeons
2 Vaux's Swifts
3 Rufous Hummingbirds
5 Purple Martins
3 Northern Rough-winged Swallows
2 Brown Creepers
1 Hutton's Vireo
13 Orange-crowned Warblers
44 Yellow-rumped Warblers(both subspecies)
2 YELLOW WARBLERS(2 singing birds observed in the riparian area just south of the main parking lot)
1 Lincoln's Sparrow
18 Golden-crowned Sparrows
1 singing Purple Finch
2 Evening Grosbeaks


In addition to birds we encountered other animal species beginning with 2 mammal species consisting of 2 Muskrats and a nice,but brief look at a FISHER along the upper shoreline of McAllister Creek at the McAllister Creek Overlook. Reptile species included 2 Red-eared Sliders were along the boardwalk to the Twin Barns resting along the edges at the north end of the display pond. Dragonfly species included 15+ California Darners and many Pacific Forktails with both species noted along the sunniest areas along the trail. Butterfly species included a Satyr Comma(Anglewing)


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit513 at msn.com









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