Tweeters,

We were basking in the glow of hearing and (finally) seeing a NORTHERN
BOBWHITE at the Muck Creek bridge, and were strolling south looking to get a
good view of a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, when Daoud (he that also spotted the
WESTERN KINGBIRD) said that there was a Common Yellowthroat in just below
the flycatcher (Willow) on a shrub about 200 yds SE of the bridge. "Funny,
peculiar sounding call if that was the yellowthroat," thought I as I set up
the player for a possible response from a Lazuli Bunting. The "yellowthroat"
sang again and nearly every one of the eight of us on the field trip to Fort
Lewis immediately said "YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT." Yep, that's what it was. We
watched it for several minutes while one of us (Tor) attempted to take a
photo. Unfortunately, the bird started to get "flighty" and wouldn't hold
still long enough to get a digiscoped shot. Finally, when it crossed over
the road and up into a fir, it sat and sang long enough for Tor to get both
a series of still photos as well as a video. For at least 10 minutes we had
excellent views of this totally unexpected, and quite gorgeous, uncommon
visitor to this part of the west side. NICE! (The possibility exists that
two Chats were in the area, but I'd have to go back to confirm that.)



The WESTERN KINGBIRD was spotted along Story Road, just west of Lake
Nisqually. We all had very good views of this bird as it perched, preened,
and sortied out for insects.



Earlier that morning, we had started at Range Control on Kaufmann Ave, where
we picked up VAUX'S SWIFTS, as well as some VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS over the
building.



Proceeding to the Second Division Range Road, we walked the junction between
the hillside and road along the east side of Training Area (TA) 4, which
again proved to have a variety forest and edge birds: WILLOW FLYCATCHER,
AMERICAN ROBIN, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT, SONG SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, CHIPPING
SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, CASSIN'S VIREO, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER,
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, WESTERN
TANAGER, CHESTNUT-SIDED CHICKADEE, BAND-TAILED PIGEON, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD,
KILLDEER, COMMON RAVEN, DOWNY WOODPECKER, RED-TAILED HAWK, TREE SWALLOW,
WESTERN BLUEBIRD, and SAVANNAH SPARROW. Further down the road, we found a
pair of AMERICAN KESTRELS, the female of which fed on what might have been a
jumping rat or mouse (don't know many of the fur-bearers on the Fort). (I
had expected to see this falcon pair here, but failed to find them on two
days this past week.)



Turning right on Story Road, in addition to the WESTERN KINGBIRD, we picked
up MOURNING DOVE, BALD EAGLE, and HOUSE WREN (at least three individuals of
this latter species). Backtracking along the bluff that edges the south side
of TA 5, we pulled atop Observation Post (OP) 8, where, on this absolutely
gorgeous day, we had spectacular views across the 91st Division Prairie to
the south, and at Mt. Rainier to the east. On the way up the hill we found a
CALIFORNIA QUAIL, while atop we spotted a BARN SWALLOW and a singing
BEWICK'S WREN.



Back on the range road, we headed east, finding a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK along
the way. Lunch was atop the bunker at OP 3, nearby to which we sighted CEDAR
WAXWING, PURPLE FINCH, and SPOTTED TOWHEE.



The Muck Creek bridge had the usual NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED, TREE, CLIFF (one
individual I sighted while looking for the Northern Bobwhite), and
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. Unfortunately, the only duck we found (all day) was a
lone male MALLARD. The WOOD DUCK and about 10 young I saw on Wednesday and
Friday were likely displaced by someone that was fishing well east of the
bridge. We also found RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.



We first heard the "secondary" call of the NORTHERN BOBWHITE, then the more
usual "bob-white" call. And I already mentioned the YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT,
but I'm happy to mention it again.



At Lewis Lake, the OSPREY was on the nest platform at the NE side of the
lake, and we had good looks at a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER that apparently has
a nest-hole in the cottonwood near the boat launch on the west side.



Brandenburg Marsh proved a bust for PURPLE MARTINS (PUMA), and we found no
other PUMAs at Chambers Lake or other areas. (I heard one at Johnson Marsh
on Friday.) Where the two pairs went that seemed intent on nesting at B'burg
Marsh I have no idea, but TREE SWALLOWS are the only occupants now. We had
responses from at least two close-by VIRGINIA RAILS (VIRA) here, as well as
a more distant SORA. While calling a VIRA, an obliging MARSH WREN popped up
and sang from atop a cattail. We also found a PINE SISKIN near the other end
of the continued waterway that flows into B'burg Marsh.



At Chambers Lake, we added a vocalizing PIED-BILLED GREBE.



The total species today: 60. Missing were such usual birds as Warbling
Vireo, Black-capped Chickadee, Wood Duck, and the aforementioned Purple
Martin.



Thanks to our super "spotter" Tiffany, who first nailed sightings (or
soundings) on a bunch of the forest birds, as well as to Henry, Helen, Alia,
and Jonathan, who, along with Daoud (the kingbird and chat catcher) and
supposed non-birder Tor (great photo of the Chat!), all seemed to have a
great outing on a great day at Fort Lewis.



For those who keep lists, here it is for the day:

Mallard

California Quail (I)

Northern Bobwhite (I)

Pied-billed Grebe

Osprey

Bald Eagle

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

American Kestrel

Virginia Rail

Sora

Killdeer

Band-tailed Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Vaux's Swift

Rufous Hummingbird

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Western Wood-Pewee

Willow Flycatcher

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Western Kingbird

Cassin's Vireo

Steller's Jay

American Crow

Common Raven

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

N. Rough-winged Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Barn Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick's Wren

House Wren

Marsh Wren

Western Bluebird

Swainson's Thrush

American Robin

European Starling (I)

Cedar Waxwing

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Wilson's Warbler

Yellow-breasted Chat

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Black-headed Grosbeak

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

Mailto: avnacrs4birds at q.com