Date: 9/19/25 3:04 pm From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) monthly bird walk - 09-18-2025
Tweeters,
The cooler weather is here and the JBLM Eagle's Pride GC monthly birdwalk started cool, gradually warming (51degF-66degF) for the 15 of us that strolled the route. Initially the walk had few birds, and the final tally of species was relatively low. However, we scored big for us with our first ever GREEN HERON. This species was on our "expected" list and Hodge Lake produced it (thanks to Tom for initially spotting it! The habitat on several of these ponds seems pretty ideal for Green Heron but with only once-per-month birding, finding it turned out to be problematic. As it was, the heron was only visible to us for less than 10 minutes. Timing worked out!
A FIVE woodpecker day was special with DOWNY, HAIRY, PILIATED, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, AND NORTHERN FLICKER attending. Two juvenile PIED-BILLED GREBES and one adult were at Hodge Lake. The young grebes likely were from the nest we found there last month. Other highlights include the following:
WOOD DUCK - 12 with one male in full color and several in eclipse.
BROWN CREEPER - 7, a nice total.
GREAT HORNED OWL - 1 seen briefly as it flew across a trail through a wooded area.
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER - 1 heard first, then seen. (Nice catch, Merlin!) We've only had this species three times before, all in May.
BELTED KINGFISHER - 1 and although not a rarity, we don't find one often despite the ponds on the course.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET - 2 FOS.
The only mammals identified were five Douglas squirrels and one eastern gray squirrel.
The JBLM Eagle's Pride GC birders meet the third Thursday of each month at 8:00AM except for November to February, when the start time is at 9:00AM. Starting point is the Driving Range building, Eagle's Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. (Turn left immediately after entering the parking lot to take the road leading to the driving range building.) Upcoming walks include the following:
* October 16
* November 20 (9AM start)
* December 18 (9AM start)
From the eBird PNW report:
35 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 6
Wood Duck 12
Mallard 7
Hooded Merganser 2
Band-tailed Pigeon 3
Anna's Hummingbird 4
Pied-billed Grebe 3 Young likely from nest spotted at Hodge Lake last month.
