Subject: [Tweeters] Re: Nisqually 4/10--Good, Better, Best
Date: Apr 11 13:49:45 2009
From: Carol Stoner - stonefam at gte.net


After several weeks of backyard-only birding, the rain (too wet to
garden) sent me to Nisqually. It was good to see the first Barn
Swallows of the year along with the VGs and Trees, and the Northern
Rough-Wing Swallows were flying a low pattern across the trail to
McAllister that gave me the best look I've had in some time. Also,
several Common Yellowthroats were good enough to pause in the open so I
could admire them. There was a pair of Hooded Mergansers along with the
usual waterfowl--Am Coots, Ring-necked Ducks, Am. Wigeon, Mallards, No.
Shovelers (displaying), G-W Teal, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Canada &
Cackling Geese. When I came back to the Visitor Center and headed out
toward the Twin Barn, it just got better and better. There was a female
Rufus Hummingbird feeding in the willows along the boardwalk and Wood
Ducks in the pond. There was a Brown Creeper near the river, a
hummingbird on her nest along the slough, brilliant dueling Rufous males
in the salmonberry, an GH Owlet visible in the snag, a female Northern
Harrier carrying what looked to be nesting material, and BEST of all two
of my nemesis Hutton's Vireos, which I could compare with nearby R-C
Kinglets. My mantra for the day was "It doesn't get much better than
this" and then it did, over and over and over.
Carol Stoner
Renton WA
stonefam at gtedotnet