Subject: [Tweeters] Swainson's Hawk over Nisqually NWR
Date: May 12 17:54:25 2006
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan - godwit513 at msn.com


Hello Tweets,

Today we enjoyed an exciting day at the Nisqually NWR between 9am-2pm by again walking the entire loop trail around the perimeter of the refuge. Our day was filled with many highlights and great weather as we began during the morning for passerines along the Nisqually River,then worked our way around to the west side of the refuge for shorebirds,etc. Our main highlight of the day actually occurred near the end of our walk along the McAllister Creek trail west of the main parking lot. While gazing up into the partly cloudy sky and watching for any raptors a single raptor was viewed drifting from the south then circling overhead 3 times before continuing on to the north. As the raptor drifted northward the body appeared all dark with lighter areas from the upper breast contrasting to relatively whitish undertail coverts,as well as showing fairly narrow and obvious pointed wings and a narrow tail. A classic adult dark or intermediate-morph SWAINSON'S HAWK and in Thurston Co.! The bird was very high,but good enough looks within a 10 minute view were obtained in our Leica spotting scope for confirmation,as the bird continued on a steady drift northward over the refuge. Overall very few raptors were noted during our 5 hour visit to the refuge,although conditions seemed best as we left for home.

Secondly,we located 2 shorebird highlights both observed from the inner dike at the northwest corner of the refuge beginning with a single WILSON'S PHALAROPE and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER. Both birds were observed alone at separate locations,as we thoroughly scoped the shorebird habitat from the main trail. We actually encountered far fewer shorebirds today than our past 2 visits to this same location,so it appears the birds are coming and going. Our timing for shorebird viewing at the Nisqually Delta was poor due to outgoing tide,so all our efforts were made from the inner dike from several vantage points and having our great Leica scope came in handy!

Thirdly, our day began with a good assortment of passerines beginning with a singing NASHVILLE and a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER both noted near eachother in good riparian habitat along the boardwalk between the Twin Barns and the Nisqually River. Good numbers of Yellow Warblers were also very significant at this location and remained in good numbers along the entire trail bordering the Nisqually River north to the Nisqually Delta Overlook Platform. Our first 2 of 10 total SWAINSON'S THRUSHES for the day were encountered in riparian habitat just east of the Twin Barns with a single bird actually sitting perched for 5 minutes allowing good scope views. The remainder of he Swainson's Thrushes were heard only calling from typical habitat north to the Ring Dike Trail. In addition very good numbers of Vaux's Swifts were noted flying amidst various swallow species along the main trail from the Twin Barn north along the outer dike trail,which could have been all migrants. We estimated between 200-300 Vaux's Swifts observed during our visit,which is by far our most ever for the Nisqually NWR.

Fourthly,we encountered our first personal sighting of CALIFORNIA QUAIL for the Nisqually NWR,eventhough we were told of several sightings of the species recently from other observers. We observed a single pair along the McAllister Creek trail north of the photo blind,as they first foraged along the edge of trail before descending into thick brambles. It is a species that probably does occur more tan we think,but it was nice to finally see them at the refuge.

A list of our other interesting species for the day at the Nisqually NWR include the following:

12 Wood Ducks
4 Green-winged Teal
8 Northern Pintail
1 pair of Blue-winged Teal
2 pair of Cinnamon Teal
7 Northern Shovelers
3 Ring-necked Ducks
17 White-winged Scoters(observed with 40+ Greater Scaup and 8 Surf Scoters at the mouth of McAllister Creek)
25 Buffleheads(observed with 10 Common Goldeneyes in tight group along the Nisqually River immediately east of the Ring Dike Trail)
9 Hooded Mergansers(including 1 female with 3 young)
7 Common Mergansers
1 male RUDDY DUCK
3 Turkey Vultures
11 Bald Eagles
2 Northern Harriers
1 adult Peregrine Falcon
10 Sora(continuously heard calling with only one bird seen briefly from wetland areas at the northwest corner of the refuge)
3 Am.Coots
5 Greater Yellowlegs
1 Spotted Sandpiper
12 Long-billed Dowitchers
35 Band-tailed Pigeons
1 Red-breasted Sapsucker
2 Pacific-slope Flycatchers
20+ Northern Rough-winged Swallows
1 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
1 Brown Creeper
1 lingering Ruby-crowned Kinglet
15 Cedar Waxwings
7 Warbling Vireos
10 Orange-crowned Warblers
1 Black-throated Gray Warbler
7 Wilson's Warblers
10 Western Tanagers
2 Black-headed Grosbeaks
18 Golden-crowned Sparrows
2 Bullock's Orioles
4 Purple Finches
2 Evening Grosbeaks


Our mammal highlights of the day included 2 Coyotes from separate locations along the McAlister Creek trail north of the photo blind,as well as a lone River Otter from the same general location. Since conditions were much cooler than our past visits due primarily to wind we saw fewer dragonflies,but of all the same species as previously noted.


Good birding,

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