Hello Tweets,

This afternoon between 1pm-4pm we checked for shorebirds along the McAllister Creek trail at the Nisqually NWR. The incoming high tide helped push many shorebirds into the muddy areas along the trail that exist at the southwest corner of the "loop" trail. Our main highlights included 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS and 3 separate SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS that were noted we thoroughly scoping the muddy areas. There is still plenty of habitat that is not visible from the trail,but with a good spotting scope you are able to view most of the best feeding areas. Another highlight during our visit was a MERLIN that flew in from the southeast,as it passed over the shorebird area and flushed all the birds. Eventually many of the shorebirds retuned,but many scattered to other areas as the Merlin continued on towards the Nisqually Delta.

The best shorebird viewing areas include approximately 1/4 a mile north of the McAllister Creek Overlook with several vantage points along that route. As you continue north areas become far more flooded with no muddy areas. Areas for additional viewing include just east of the McAllister Creek Overlook,as you look northwards and are able to scope across the visible muddy areas. It doesn't seem like the muddy areas have increased from our last visit,but the feeding is still good for the shorebirds.

A list of other notable species during our visit include the following:

5 Pied-billed Grebes(including 1 adult and 4 juvenile birds)
1 Am.Bittern
13 Wood Ducks
2 Hooded Mergansers
2 Osprey
2 Northern Harriers
1 Cooper's Hawk
4 Bald Eagles(adult birds,2 juvenile birds)
3-4 Virginia Rails
10 Greater Yellowlegs
4 Spotted Sandpipers(2 adult birds,2 juvenile birds)
125+ Western Sandpipers
55+ Least Sandpipers
28 Long-billed Dowitchers
2 Rufous Hummingbirds
3 Willow Flycatchers
5 Northern Rough-winged Swallows
2 Purple Finches
1 RED CROSSBILL(noteworthy for time of year at this location)

During our sunny visit we also encountered good numbers of dragonflies along the trail including the following species that were identified:

Pacific Forktail
Common Green Darner
Common Whitetail
Eight-spotted Skimmer
Cardinal Meadowhawk




Good birding,

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