Hi Tweets:

Birding in the snow wasn't what East Lake Washington Audubon birders
expected at Nisqually NWR on Saturday, April 19th. Regardless, 62 species were
seen, plus 3 more along route, including the Sharp-shinned Hawk over the
Wilburton P&R early in the morning. Highlights included the Pileated Woodpecker,
Brown Creeper, several singing Black-throated Gray and Orange-crowned Warblers
along with the numerous yellow-rumps and Common Yellowthroats. One Lincoln's
Sparrow was coming into focus when the group heard a booming American
Bittern. It didn't take long to find and follow this large and elegant bird. A
Peregrine Falcon seemingly spooked hundreds of geese from the flooded fields.
There was a large flock of Greater White-fronted Geese as well as several
Cackling Geese. A Greater Yellowlegs was scoped, along with Cinnamon and
Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian and American
Wigeon, Wood Duck, among others. One Turkey Vulture emerged from the snow clouds.
A Long-tailed Weasel was seen emerging from the river, a most unusual sight.
Later there was a deer near the twin barns and a muscrat foraged among some
reeds. The weather didn't turn out to be as ominous as originally thought,
at least not until the heavier rain started in mid-afternoon. It was time to
retreat and find some coffee, dry off and head home.

Joyce Meyer
_meyer2j at aol.com_ (mailto:meyer2j at aol.com)



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