Subject: [Tweeters] Centralia area to Nisqually NWR birding 8-02-07
Date: Aug 3 12:55:33 2007
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan - godwit513 at msn.com


Hello Tweets,

Yesterday(August 2nd)we birded from the Centralia Steam Plant area in northern Lewis Co. to the Nisqually NWR in northern Thurston Co. Overall we encountered a wide assortment of species,but our emphasis was made primarily on shorebirds. We also encountered several dragonfly and butterfly species during the day,including a few notable species. Our main bird highlight and most unexpected species was a WESTERN KINGBIRD observed in an open field south of the residence of 1645 Tono Rd. This location is accessed just east of the Centralia Steam Plant along Tono Rd. The bird was observed mostly flycatching from a dead snag in the middle of the field,where a few poor quality photos were obtained through our Leica spotting scope. This represented our first August record of Western Kingbird in western Washington,so we can only imagine perhaps this bird may have oversummer here or somewhere nearby,but it could also be an early migrant. Another highlight along Tono Rd. included 2 BANK SWALLOWS were noted along Tono Rd. amongst several other swallow species. In addition 8 Turkey Vultures soared low over fields along the eastern portion of Tono Rd.

The Centralia Steam Plant produced a few shorebird species in the pond that held the most muddy areas that were all visible from Big Hanford Rd. Shorebird species here included 6 Least Sandpipers, 2 Western Sandpipers and 14 Long-billed Dowitchers. This location also hosted a good assortment of waterbird species including the following notable species: 15 Cinnamon Teal, 2 Blue-winged Teal, 3 Northern Shovelers, and 9 Am.Coots(with young). Overhead, 1 adult male and 2 female Purple Martins called loudly,as they foraged with other swallow species and 2 female-type Northern Harriers hunted overgrown fields north of the pond area. An additional female-type Purple Martin was observed flying along Big Hanford Rd. west of the Centralia Steam Plant.


Further west along Big Hanford Rd. a single female Bullock's Oriole flew across the road just east of the intersection with S.R.507. A short visit to Schafer County Park along the Skookumchuck River produced 3 hatch-year Black-throated Gray Warblers. After 3pm we headed north to the Nisqually NWR,where we surveyed the shorebird area along the McAllister Creek trail at the southwest corner of the refuge. Here, we waited a short time as the high tide increased helping drive shorebirds inland. By 4:30pm good numbers of "peeps" congregated in the muddy areas just north of the McAlister Creek Overlook and lighting conditions were superb. Overall we encountered a similar account of species and diversity than the previous afternoon including the adult PECTORAL SANDPIPER and juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. Both of these species more or less loosely associated with the other "peeps" and didn't remain in view for very long,but were seen well in our spotting scope. Additionally, we were able to locate up to 5 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS,which were all juvenile birds.

As we scoped over the flocks of Western Sandpipers we noticed an increase in juvenile birds than the previous day,but still quite a few adult birds too. Western Sandpipers still continued to over number Least Sandpipers,but not all the shorebird habitat is visible from the trail. Other shorebirds species during our visit were represented by 3 Greater Yellowlegs, 27 Long-billed Dowitchers, and 3 Wilson's Snipes.

A list of other species observed at he Nisqually NWR included the following:

4 Cinnamon Teal
7 juvenile Wood Ducks
9 Bald Eagles
2-3 Northern Harriers
1 Purple Martin
6 Northern Rough-winged Swallows
1 Pileated Woodpecker(heard only calling along McAllister Creek)
1 Western Wood Pewee
7 Willow Flycatchers
2 Yellow Warblers


Our notable dragonfly species encountered during the day included the following:

2-3 Black Saddlebags, Common Whitetails and 8 Common Spreadwing at the Centralia Steam Plant
3 River Jewelwings along the Skookumchuck River at Schaefer County Park
Pacific Forktail(including several breeding pairs), Boreal Bluet, Common Whitetails, Common Green Darner, Blue-eyed Darner and Paddle-tailed Darner at the Nisqually NWR

Butterfly species of note during the day included the following:

Woodland Skippers at the Nisqually NWR
Western Tiger Swallowtail,Ochre Ringlet, and Western Sulphur at the Centralia Steam Plant

Common Wood Nymph at Schaefer County Park




Good birding,

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