Hi Tweeters-



Today was the monthly survey day for the refuge.?? Thirteen of us started the usual?walk.? Shep and Dave?left around mid-morning to survey the outer boundary of the refuge and the new dike, respectively.???The rain held off, the temperature was mild and we had times of sunshine.? Overall, it was a very good?day.? Warblers were way down from last week, but?a three?falcon day and other great sightings ?helped make up for it.? Duck and shore bird numbers for the refuge?are?clearly increasing.? Construction on?several inner dikes and other smaller projects?continues.? The new boardwalk is to be completed?later this fall, most likely November.



The beginning of the walk at the visitor center was very productive.? We had a PILEATED WOODPECKER and a MERLIN fly by twice.? A BELTED KINGFISHER also flew over.? We saw a?NORTHERN FLICKER and a couple CEDAR WAXWINGS.? Earlier, a GREEN HERON had been seen near the boardwalk.



As we started down the boardwalk, we sighted a male COMMON YELLOW THROAT, BEWICK'S WREN, GOLDFINCH and SAVANNAH SPARROW (many of these sparrows were seen?throughout the walk).? From the barn overlook, we had WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, LINCOLN SPARROW and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS.? We also had a small flock of unidentifed sandpipers fly by,?that included?a single SNIPE.



The highlight on the way to the river overlook was a female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD.? The river overlook was a bit of a hot spot.? Sightings included AMERICAN KESTREL, COOPER'S HAWK,? TURKEY VULTURE and two RAVENS.? We also had a fly by of six STELLER'S JAY.



As we walked the dike to the?new boardwalk under construction we saw GREAT BLUE HERON,?LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and?NORTHERN SHOVELER.? We also saw a PEREGRINE FALCON, NORTHERN HARRIER, and RED-TAILED HAWK; and heard a GREATER YELLOWLEGS.? The only new bird on the way back to the visitor center was a BROWN CREEPER.



Shep's highlights and?new birds?from the boat survey included NORTHERN PINTAIL, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPER.? Moving along the old dike foot print he saw EARED GREBE, CASPIAN TERN,? and CALIFORNIA GULL.? He also saw several PEREGRINE FALCONS hunting a sandpiper, and watched them chase a curious immature BALD EAGLE away.? A mixed?flock of several hundred AMERICAN WIGEON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL flew into the refuge.? Shep also sighted a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.? Additional highlights included BONAPARTE'S GULL, three COMMON LOONS and in the sound?beyond the mouth of McAllister Creek, a MARBLED MURRELET.



Dave walked the full dike beginning at the south dike along the entrance road and ending near the river overlook.? Highlights and new birds for this part of the survey included DUNLIN, HOODED MERGANSERS, MARSH WREN, KILLDEER, RING-BILLED GULL,? HOUSE FINCH, FOX SPARROW, and VIRGINIA RAIL.



Phil Kelly will be back next week to lead the walk.



Total species for the day:? 64



Mammals:? Harbor seal and Eastern gray squirrel



Eric Slagle, Olympia

hannaslagle at comcast.net