Hi Tweeters,



I led a field trip for Seattle Audubon on Saturday, 11/17 and here is my
belated trip report. Although the weather was poor (it was pouring rain for
much of the day), we had a good trip and ended up with some very good views
of some good birds.



Highlights were:

* We had a very good look at an AMERICAN BITTERN, off the trail to
McAllister Creek. The bird was noticed when it flew up and landed in some
reeds, and we were able to scope it and enjoy it for several minutes before
it disappeared

* Across the road, an EARED GREBE in basic plumage was swimming the
pond along the trail to McAllister Creek. A HORNED GREBE was later spotted
in the Nisqually River, along with some playful Harbor Seals.

* We had an interesting look at a pair of BALD EAGLES being repeatedly
dive-bombed by a pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS along the riverside trail! This
was behavior none of us had seen before

* Later on, we noticed a MERLIN being chased by a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
just a bit south, also along the trail along the Nisqually River

* A NORTHERN SHRIKE was spotted along the trail to McAllister Creek

* We had an excellent view of an AMERICAN KESTREL, sitting on a tree
swallow box from the platform by the twin barns

* We were greeted by a large flock of CACKLING GEESE by the parking lot
by the visitors center

* The pair of SNOW GEESE was still there, in the fields south of the
visitor's center

* A PILEATED WOODPECKER was sighted several times, flying among the
trees near the Nisqually River

* A female PURPLE FINCH briefly landed in a treetop near the visitor's
center, and was spotted from the viewing platform



Good birding,



Christine Vadai

Kirkland, WA

cvadai at verizon.net