Hi Tweeters,

I birded at Nisqually NWR this afternoon until around 5:00. I did not relocate the kingbird that had been reported a couple of days ago. I did run into Jim Pruske near the Twin Barns on the way out to the dike trail. He had been alerted by another birder that a GRAY CATBIRD had been seen in the blackberry brambles nearby. Jim had found it (a lifer for him) a few minutes prior to my arrival. We looked for a few minutes, but the bird had gone into skulking mode and remained in hiding, so I continued along the dike trail. Species seen included 10+ WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, a couple of which sang in very brief, quiet bursts; nice to see them this time of year; DUNLIN, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, 1 GREAT EGRET (on the far side of McAllister Creek), 1 A. BITTERN (by the Visitor Center pond), and many of the expected species for this time of year. On my return, Jim flagged me down as I approached the barns once again. The Gray Catbird was now active in thickets near the overlook, mostly eating old blackberries and what I think were dogwood berries. It popped into view several times allowing Jim to get some excellent photos. We also saw a LINCOLN'S SPARROW from the overlook in the exact same elderberry bush that I had seen one in nearly a month ago. Nice to get out there in the crisp fall weather after being stuck inside working all week.

Good birding,

Lonnie Somer
Olympia
wheelermombi at comcast.net