Tweeters,

On a cool, at times breezy, but DRY Sunday, four of us toured JBLM,
travelling essentially the same route I took last week, with a couple of
exceptions. The highlights included a well-seen male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
at Nisqually Lake; ID by voice (unfortunately not by sight) of a
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT just south of the Muck Creek bridge; six swallow
species; and several flycatchers (OLIVE-SIDED and PACIFIC-SLOPE, and WESTERN
WOOD-PEWEE). We had 68 species, with significant misses including Great
Blue Heron, gulls of any species, Rock Pigeon, Downy Woodpecker, Cedar
Waxwing, vireos, Bewick's Wren, and House Sparrow. Unlike the previous two
years at this time, we neither saw nor heard any Red Crossbills anywhere on
base.



After seeing BREWER'S BLACKBIRD near the commissary, we continued on
Pendleton Ave and noticed American Crows dive-bombing something that was on
top of one of the buildings. The recipient of the crow bombing turned out to
be a COMMON RAVEN, on a building directly across from one of the older
barracks buildings, right in the heart of what's a very industrialized area.
Not surprising, though, because ravens are now seen almost everywhere on the
Lewis portion of JBLM. We noted HOUSE FINCH and a lone CANADA GOOSE near the
Range Control office.



Training Area 4, along the Second Division Range Road, again proved out for
warblers (ORANGE-CROWNED, YELLOW-RUMPED, TOWNSEND'S, MACGILLIVRAY'S, and
WILSON'S), as well as other forest and edge species: PACIFIC-SLOPE
FLYCATCHER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, AMERICAN ROBIN, SPOTTED TOWHEE, CHIPPING
SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, WESTERN TANAGER, BLACK-HEADED
GROSBEAK, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, PURPLE FINCH, and PINE SISKIN. On the way to
the road, we spotted several CLIFF SWALLOWS gathering mud alongside Railroad
Ave. We also saw a BALD EAGLE flying overhead, heard a NORTHERN FLICKER, and
saw a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER in the distance.



This week we managed to scope Nisqually Lake, near the intersection of the
Second Div. Range Road and Story Road - no driving rain in our faces. We
initially saw many AMERICAN COOTS, PIED-BILLED GREBES, and several swallow
species, including several PURPLE MARTINS. Further scoping found a
RING-NECKED DUCK, three male MALLARDS, and several RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS. It
was during a scan for more ducks that we spotted the YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
at the front edge of a clump of willows. This cooperative bird held its
position there until all of us managed to see it - after which it retreated
further into the willows, and then flew off to the west out of our sight.
Other birds in the area included MOURNING DOVE, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, TREE,
VIOLET-GREEN and BARN SWALLOWS, SAVANNAH and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, and
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.



At the burned area opposite the entrance to OP 10, we again had several
singing HOUSE WRENS. In addition, we heard the "whit" and had a brief view
of a SWAINSON'S THRUSH, and also heard a NASHVILLE and YELLOW WARBLERS,
WESTERN MEADOWLARK, and WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE.



Along the south edge of Training Area 5 we spotted a BAND-TAILED PIGEON, and
finally got another raptor, a RED-TAILED HAWK. At the C-5 fuselage, at the
East Gate Road, we also heard and then spotted a KILLDEER.



The Muck Creek bridge area again produced ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, a very vocal and well seen (in the lower
branches of an oak tree) CALIFORNIA QUAIL, and a heard-but-not-seen
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. In addition, we saw RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, BUSHTIT, and
had a good view of an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, which was at least as vocal
and as persistent as the quail.



We continued on the paved road all the way to the bridge over the Nisqually
River, where we encountered quite a few WESTERN TANAGERS, but not much else.
At Lewis Lake, we saw many fisherman, including a feathered variety - an
OSPREY.



Brandenburg Marsh had more PURPLE MARTINS than last week, and more Tree
Swallows, too. In addition, we picked up MARSH WREN and STELLER'S JAY.
Continuing on to Avian Acres, we coaxed at least two VIRGINIA RAILS to call,
but alas, no Soras.



Another fine day in and around JBLM.



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

Mailto: avnacrs4birds at q.com