Theler Wetlands via Southworth (5/6/06) Highlights

We caught the 7:40 ferry from Fauntleroy. Jan Alferness, previously an Eastside Audubon member now living near Port Orchard, joined us at Theler Wetlands for lunch and our walk on the river trail dike.

We started out seeing Common Goldeneye, Pigeon Guillemot and Western Grebe from the Fauntleroy ferry dock. At Harper, we got good looks at Rufous Hummingbirds, Orange-crowned Warblers, Steller's Jay, House Finch and Red-winged Blackbirds, but the only shorebirds were Killdeer. Yukon Harbor had Bald Eagle on pilings giving good views through the scope.

We saw a total of 4 Bald Eagles on the trip. A single Bonaparte's Gull was resting on a rock. Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Loon and Common Merganser were present. We also saw a Horned Grebe in breeding plumage. At Manchester we saw our first Harlequin Ducks. On the way to Manchester State Park we saw Hooded Mergansers on a small lake. At the park was a flock of Pacific Loon on the water. In the nearby woods we heard a Wilson's Warbler and saw Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Spotted Towhees.

Along Sinclair Inlet we got closer looks at Harlequin Ducks, and saw a number of Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorants. On a rocky point a flock of Sanderling were feeding. At the last stop we were surprised with a pair of Western Tanager. The sun began breaking through the clouds as we stopped for lunch at Theler Wetlands. A Mourning Dove flew by during lunch. The over 2-1/2 mile walk on the dike trail was pleasant. There were a number of Tree, Barn and Violet-green Swallows flying over the pond and marsh. We saw not one, but two, Green Herons. We heard Ring-necked Pheasants and finally got to see one fly over the trail.

A Turkey Vulture soared overhead. On one mudflat were our only shorebirds. The small flock included about 5 Western Sandpipers, 1 Least Sandpiper and 1 Dunlin in breeding plumage with its black belly. We saw our first Pacific-slope Flycatcher of the spring, heard Warbling Vireo, Marsh Wren and Common Yellowthroat. Golden and White-crowned Sparrows, and a Brown-headed Cowbird. We heard and finally located a singing Purple Finch. On the way back, by way of Purdy. we saw Osprey on two different nests. Six birders and 70 species.