Hello Tweets,

Today we birded locally checking a few areas in Pierce Co. then driving south into Thurston Co. and birding a short time before it began to rain at 1pm at the Nisqually NWR. The weather began nicely in Pierce Co. with calm conditions with some sun too as we birded the Dash/Brown's Point area. We were unable to locate any alcids at Dash Point or Brown's Point,but we had very calm water conditions and we also figured that the food supply is not especially high in this area due to the overall lack of several waterbird species. While scoping the offshore waters from the public fishing pier at Dash Point,we observed 2 DALL'S PORPOISES,which were our first for this location and for southern Puget Sound. We had a nice visit along S.R.509 north of the Chinook Landing Marina,which produced a variety of waterfowl and 4 shorebird species. We headed south to American Lake and checked a few locations beginning at Harry Todd Park,then from the public boat launch near the south end of the lake(just north of Camp Murray). It was from Harry Todd Park we located our best highlight of the day being a single CLARK'S GREBE in typical winter plumage with a side by side comparison with a Western Grebe. The Clark's Grebe really stood out well,as it dove regular with the Western Grebe a short ways offshore. This was our 2nd personal record of Clark's Grebe from this Pierce Co. location and we were surprised not to see more than a half dozen Western Grebes on the lake itself.

After birding Am.Lake we headed south into Thurston Co. under cloudy skies,where we birded at Luhr Beach that hosted a variety of waterbird species including large flocks of Am.Wigeon foraging along the shoreline of the Nisqually Delta. We also watched as an immature Peregrine Falcon chased and pursed a scattered flock of Dunlin,but the bird was unsuccessful in it's attempts. We ended the day at the Nisqually NWR,as it began to rain lightly during a walk to the Twin Barns and back to the main parking lot. Highlights from the Twin Barns consisted of the lingering adult WHITE-TAILED KITE well north of the Twin Barns,where it perched somewhat concealed atop a bush. A single immature Northern Shrike was also noted in the same area,while watching the White-tailed Kite. A return walk from the Twin Barns produced 5 Long-billed Dowitchers amidst a scattered flock of various waterfowl species that all got flushed up by a nearby adult Peregrine Falcon. 1,000+ Cackling Geese were noted in a large,open field just north of the Twin Barns. Our last species of the day were 6 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were observed atop a bush along I-5(just north of MP 121)at Ft. Lewis in Pierce Co.,which was notable for the location and time of year.

A list of other notable species encountered during our short day in both Pierce and Thurston Cos. included the following:

Red-throated Loon
1 bird off Luhr Beach,Thurston Co.

EARED GREBE
1 bird at the south end of American Lake,Pierce Co.
2 birds off Luhr Beach,TH

Cackling Geese
150+ birds flying northward along the Port of Tacoma,PI
1000+ birds at the Nisqually NWR,TH

Eurasian Wigeon
2 males along S.R.509 near the Chinook Landing Marina,Pierce Co.

Barrow's Goldeneye
28 birds along S.R.509 south of the Tyee Marina,PI

Bald Eagle
2 adult birds hunting over Puget Sound in King Co. towards Dumas Bay,as observed from Dash Point. 1 bird came back towards the mainland with a fish in it's talons,while the other bird continued on towards Robinson Point on Maury Island.
2 adult birds at American Lake,PI
3 adult birds at the Nisqually Delta,TH

Northern Harrier
1 bird hunting over the Nisqually Delta,as observed from Luhr Beach,TH

Cooper's Hawk
1 immature at Dash Point
1 adult bird along S.R.509 near the Chinook Landing Marina,PI

Spotted Sandpiper
3 birds along S.R.509 between the Tyee and Chinook Landing Marinas,PI

Least Sandpiper
21 birds along S.R.509 south of the Tyee Marina,PI(including 1 bird with large white splotches allover it's body appearing as partially albino)
10+ birds at the Nisqually Delta,TH

Dunlin
1 bird along S.R.509 south of the Tyee Marina,PI
1,200+ birds at the Nisqually Delta,TH

Bonaparte's Gull
20 birds of the public fishing pier a Dash Point,PI
1 bird along S.R.509 south of the Tyee Marina,PI
75+ bird off Luhr Beach at the Nisqually Reach and Delta

Western Gull
1 bird at the Nisqually Delta,TH

Western Scrub Jay
6 birds near American Lake at Tillicum,Pierce Co.

Hermit Thrush
3+ birds along S.R.509 near the Chinook Landing Marina,PI

Yellow-rumped Warbler
50 birds(with 40+ Cedar Waxwings and 10 Purple Finches)along S.R.509 near the Chinook Landing Marina,PI. This location has been very productive in past winters for local numbers of both Yellow-rumped Warblers and Hermit Thrushes,where good amounts of bushes and trees occur along a steep hillside.

Pine Siskin
40 birds at Luhr Beach




Good birding,

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