Eight birders went on this Eastside Audubon field trip to the Olympic area. It was a fairly wet day that ranged from drizzle to light rain most of the time with few dry periods. We did end up seeing some good birds and a total of 47 species. We began at the Olympia Watershed Park trail head on Henderson Blvd. We heard a PILEATED WOODPECKER right away but could not find it. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES were common. A flock of 12 STELLER'S JAYS were raising quite a commotion at the top of some fir trees. We suspected and owl or hawk was in the area, but even with all of us searching we could not find what was the agitating the jays. We saw both BEWICK'S and WINTER WRENS, got good looks at a BROWN CREEPER, SPOTTED TOWHEES and SONG SPARROWS. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were heard. A large flock of 100+ PINE SISKINS were feeding in alder trees.



Our next stop was the McClane Nature Trail. The ponds had a number of RING-NECKED DUCKS, AMERICAN WIGEON, BUFFLEHEAD and MALLARDS with a lone PIED-BILLED GREBE. A GREAT BLUE HERON was present and a VIRGINIA RAIL was heard. This is where we also saw some CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES. >From there we went to the mouth of Perry Creek where it empties into Mud Bay. The usual large flocks of gulls were absent possibly due to the low tide. But, we did add COMMON GOLDENEYE, KILLDEER, BELTED KINGFISHER, NORTHERN FLICKER and DARK-EYED JUNCO to the list.



We had lunch at the Mud Bay causeway, but had to stay in the cars due to rain. The only new bird was NORTHERN PINTAIL. The next stop at Capitol Lake was a bonanza with RUDDY DUCK, GADWALL, GREATER & LESSER SCAUP, COMMON MERGANSER, CANADA GEESE, AMERICAN COOT and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS. There were MEW, RING-BILLED & GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS feeding on the grass. We also saw EUROPEAN STARLING & ROCK PIGEONS. The waterfront and marina along West Bay and East Bay had a number of the ducks already seen, but we did add RED-BREASTED MERGANSER to the list and also a River Otter.



Our final stop at Priest Point Park was rewarding by seeing a large number of GREATER YELLOWLEGS & DUNLIN feeding in the mud on the shore. Out in the bay were a large flock of SURF SCOTERS and two WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. We also did see a number of RED-TAILED HAWKS from the highway as we drove to and from Olympia.



Hugh Jennings

Bellevue, WA

h2ouzel AT comcast.net