Hi,

Marcia and I walked the boardwalk at Nisqually on a beautiful overcast
Mother's Day. Highlight was 9 White Pelicans coming in to catch the
thermals over the ridge and slowly circle up out of sight, gaining altitude
for the arduous trip across the Cascades.

A dozen Double-Crested Cormorants swam through the blue-gray sky.

Also enjoyed a lone Cackling Goose nibbling amongst the Canadas (the Canada
goslings were almost as big as the Cackler) near the ponds before the
boardwalk.

Had a Pied Billed Grebe swimming with the Mallards, Gadwall and Shovelers
in the ponds, a female Yellow-Headed Blackbird hopping around, a pair of
Cinnamon Teal burnished by the sun, a pair of gorgeous Blue-Wing Teal, and
Green-wing Teal as well. A Common Merganser was being closely shadowed in
the river by a hopeful Ring-Billed Gull, their dance punctuated by the
head-first splashes of a couple of noisy Caspian Terns. Two Kingfishers
were also trying their luck.

On the Twin Barns loop trail (river-side) two different hummingbird nests
were visible via scope or camera on tripods thanks to generous-minded bird
friends; one had 2 young bills poking out. Two tiny, graceful female Hooded
Mergansers were also spotted gliding through downy water thanks to the
cottonwood drift.

Saw all 6 swallow species: Bank, Cliff, Barn, Tree, Violet-Green, Northern
Rough Wing and even a couple Purple Martins -- one of the naturalist
volunteers helped ID them and said he had helped mount gourds near Tacoma
earlier this year.

Lovely day brought back lovely memories of birding with Mum.

--
Becky Galloway
Seattle, WA
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