Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually yesterday
Date: Jun 30 09:31:50 2008
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit513 at msn.com


Hello Tweeters,
It seems that Nisqually is becoming my only destination lately.But this
place seems comfortable to me right now with the gas prices and also my mood
I feel,it seems comfortable right now.
Since the heat would be a problem I started out at McAllister Creek.Most of
the little birds where the Common Yellowthroats,there was calling every
where.But the highlight came as I heard a loud clicking call from the marsh
close to the road.It finally downed on me,that it was the Virginia Rail.The
call persisted than from the left I saw 2 young Virginia Rails coming out
going where the call coming from,there was in full view.Than after the young
was save another calling started,my eye was glued to the spot where the call
was coming from,than I saw the Adult presuming the female coming out first
slowly and than running to the left coming back with one more juvenile
Virginia Rail using the same path.This was so exiting to see,one bystander
the first time he saw one of this birds ever.
Almost to the end there where two Killdeer and one Spotted
Sandpiper.Mallards where from 8 Young to this two left.Earlier during the
week I saw two River Otters on the canal,so there had easy meals by so many
baby Mallards.On the blind I had two Green -winged Teals,this was the only
Ducks beside all the Mallards.
Many Willow Flycatchers with three calls fits-bew all in good few.Further
down on McAllister I saw this one Northern Rough-winged Swallow sitting so
still for taken many photos,this was the most cooperating bird of the day.On
the mudflats I had three Bald Eagle with 19 Blue Heron,this birds finding
another roost way out to the right in the distance ,but still coming to feed
on the mud flats.I counted over 30 COMMOM MERGANSERS. A repeat for several
sightings where the two pairs of Hooded Mergansers with two big brutes ,this
is always a highlight to see,this birds was further down avoiding the area
where the River Otters where breeding.
the other birds where many WILSON WARBLERS, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE,PACIFIC SLOPE
FLYCATCHERS
WARBLING VIREO,and two SWAINSON'S THRUSHES flying fast over the trail and
than singing in the shungle type forest.A pair of Black-headed Grosbeaks
where singing high in the trees.All together I counted 40 species.it really
got hot in the last stretch on the trail.


Cheers Ruth Sullivan