Tweeters,

Made my first complete circuit of the Nisqually Delta Refuge
yesterday. Amongst all the other birds, I saw an Anna's (I believe)
hummingbird doing its aerial displays. Zooming straight up forty or
fifty feet, hanging there, zooming back down, with a final horizontal
run. Sounded a bit like a buzzbomb. Maybe 10 or 12 such runs in
total. I wish I could have just once managed to get him in my binocs.
Also saw a female hummingbird in its nest along the dike. Even after
the bird left, it was impossible to suppose that that little bit of
lichen was a nest for anything.

Also saw two greater white-fronted geese (I believe), hanging out
with a crowd of Canada geese, near dark.

Also saw three otters, one of them harrying a northern harrier. As
well as two turtles, sunning themselves. Other hikers said that they
were Western box turtles. They each had a red streak on the back
of the head.

I think it's nice that they maintain a dry, level, gravelly road
around the place there, but the noise of someone walking on that
gravel disturbs many species of birds for at least 100 yards in every
direction, especially near the end of the day. And it certainly
precludes sneaking up on any birds, although sometimes the margins of
the road allow for sneaky walking.

The River Loop trail is closed. Does anyone know when it will be
open again?

Bob Mauritsen
rhm at ms.washington.edu