Photo: Violet-green Swallow by Mick Thompson
April 12, 2022
Our intrepid group drove through hail and sleet to reach Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge in Thurston County, and our day ended prematurely when another hailstorm hit in early afternoon. However, despite the chill and ice, we enjoyed several hours of good birding. There still were hundreds of wintering ducks and geese, but they were joined with legions of Tree, Violet-green, Barn and Cliff Swallows swarming above. A Eurasian Green-winged Teal was the rarest bird, and two people saw a Hermit Thrush. Other passerines included Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Brown Creeper. We were joined by former Pilchuck board member Kathleen Snyder and her husband John from Olympia.
58 Species (Approx. Qty.)
Attendees: Virginia, Graham, Phil, Dianna, Ken, Rex, Maureen, Bruce, Rick, Frank, Bev, Judy B., Victor, Judy L, Kameron, Susan, Dorothea, Kathleen, John S.
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Cackling Goose (500), Canada Goose (20), Wood Duck (4), Gadwall (12), Eurasian Wigeon (3), American Wigeon (200), Mallard (20), Northern Shoveler (200), Northern Pintail (50), Green-winged Teal (50), Eurasian Green-winged Teal (1), Ring-necked Duck (4), Bufflehead (10), Common Goldeneye (5)m Hooded Merganser (2)
LOONS, GREBES: Pied-billed Grebe (1)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Great Blue Heron (2)
RAPTORS: Osprey (1)m, Bald Eagle (5), Northern Harrier (1), Red-tailed Hawk (1), American Kestrel (1), Peregrine Falcon (1)
RAILS, CRANES: American Coot (100)
SHOREBIRDS: Greater Yellowlegs (6)
GULLS, TERNS: Short-billed Gull (60), Ring-billed Gull (3), Glaucous-winged Gull (1)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Mourning Dove (1)
HUMMINGBIRDS: Anna’s Hummingbird (2), Rufous Hummingbird (1)
WOODPECKERS: Northern Flicker (1)
CORVIDS: American Crow (8), Common Raven (1)
LARKS, SWALLOWS: Tree Swallow (40), Violet-green Swallow (250), Cliff Swallow (40), Barn Swallow (100)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee (2), Bushtit (2)
NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Brown Creeper (3)
WRENS: Bewick’s Wren (3), Marsh Wren (2)
KINGLETS: Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1)
THRUSHES: Hermit Thrush (1), American Robin (8)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (8)
WARBLERS, CHATS: Common Yellowthroat (4), Yellow-rumped Warbler (20)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (2), Savannah Sparrow (1), Fox Sparrow (1), Song Sparrow (10), White-crowned Sparrow (5), Golden-crowned Sparrow (10), Dark-eyed Junco (2)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (12), Brown-headed Cowbird (1)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: American Goldfinch (1)