Subject: [Tweeters] Southworth to Theler Wetland Birding
Date: Apr 1 19:37:40 2007
From: hughbirder at earthlink.net - hughbirder at earthlink.net


It was a cool, cloudy day and was raining when seven birders met at the Newport Hills P&R at 7 a.m. for this East L. Wash. Audubon (ELWAS) field trip. We were joined by another one at the Fauntleroy ferry dock. While waiting for the ferry we saw SURF & WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, ROCK PIGEON, BUFFLEHEAD, PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, HORNED and RED-NECKED GREBE, and COMMON MERGANSERS. The rain stopped while on the ferry. From Southworth we drove to the Harper access where we saw our first of many AMERICAN WIGEON, BARROW'S & COMMON GOLDENEYE. A GREAT BLUE HERON flew over and a number of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were in the cattails at the wetland. MEW GULLS were present with GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS. A BELTED KINGFISHER alerted us to its presence with a rattling call. At Yukon Harbor we had excellent viewing of a number of species. A pair of BALD EAGLE were perched in a fir tree (we saw a total of 8 during the day). A large flock of SANDERLING was feeding on the shoreline mudflats with a lone DUNLI!
N was foraging with them. Nearby was a group of about 20 BLACK TURNSTONES and another large flock of BONAPARTE'S GULLS gave us an opportunity to check out the various plumages. A couple of WESTERN GULLS were seen, one on shore and one taking a bath. Our next stop was the boat launch ramp at Manchester where the usual flock of BRANT were south of the dock. There were at least 200. We also always see a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW here and saw a HOUSE FINCH and a number of EUROPEAN STARLING. A few WESTERN GREBE were far out in the bay. At Manchester State Park we saw BUSHTITS, both CHICKADEES, and SPOTTED TOWHEES. Both Horned and Red-necked Grebes were seen in beautiful breeding plumage. We stopped at a number of places along Sinclair Inlet. We always see HARLEQUIN DUCKS along here and we weren't disappointed. DOUBLE-CRESTED and PELAGIC CORMORANTS with their white rump patches showing were flying over the water. A large raft of about 50 PACIFIC LOONS were swimming together. A few C!
OMMON LOON were also on the water. One group of about 30 American Wige
on resulted in us being surprised to find three EURASIAN WIGEONS. We got to the Theler Wetlands by noon, just in time for lunch. We next walked the 1-3/8 mile dike trail to the end and back. Many VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were cruising for insects. In the estuary we saw GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAIL and MALLARD. A number of GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS were feeding on the trail and after much searching a SAVANNAH SPARROW was found perched on blackberry bushes. A beautiful Audubon's (yellow-throated) YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER gave excellent views. One TURKEY VULTURE was soaring overhead. The area at the end of the trail is good for RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS. We drove home by way of Case Inlet and in North Bay there was on OSPREY on the nest on a power pole in the middle of the bay. We stopped on the Purdy Causeway and viewed another OSPREY on the nest north of the causeway. We were surprised that we had not seen any RED-TAILED HAWKS, but we made up for that with seven being seen at variou!
s places from I-5 on the way back to the P&R.

Hugh Jennings
Bellevue, WA
hughbirder AT earthlink.net.