Hi Tweeters:

There were ten of us on the regular Thursday walk. We were prepared for rain, but instead enjoyed sunshine the entire route. The sightings at the visitor center included a PIED-BILLED GREBE, BUFFLEHEAD and AMERICAN WIGEON.

There were many NORTHERN SHOVELER and NORTHERN PINTAIL on the McAlllister Creek trail. These were the greatest in number of all the duck species. We also got a great look at a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. Flocks of WHITE-CROWNED and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS were in several locations on the trail. A EURASIAN WIGEON was also sighted. At the creek there were several COMMON GOLDENEYE and a female HOODED MERGANSER. A RED-TAILED HAWK was in the eagle nest tree.

It was pretty quiet on the boardwalk to the twin barns, with the exception of several BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and RUBY and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS. The highlight at the twin barns overlook was a flock of about twelve WESTERN MEADOWLARKS. A small flock of DUNLIN also flew past the barns.

Three woodpeckers were sighted on the trail between the river overlook and the ring dike: RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, PILEATED, and NORTHERN FLICKER.

Total species for the day: 46

Eric Slagle, Olympia
hannaslagle at comcast.net