Hi Tweets,

Today 6 of us started in a light fog at 8:20 AM on the weekly walk around
Nisqually. We were greeted by the usual cast of waterfowl on the pond across from
the parking lot and hit our first surprise behind the pond on the right of
the trail to McAllister Creek when we sighted a half dozen DUNLIN or so while
trying to get a better look at a teal on the back side of the pond. One was in
full breeding plumage. We had COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and MARSH WREN every place
there was water.

There was a single BARN SWALLOW over the pond closest to the parking lot,
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS at McAllister Creek and a few CLIFF SWALLOWS at
the Twin Barns, as well as TREE SWALLOWS and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS everywhere.

We had at least 6 GREATER YELLOWLEGS at three different location, including
the pond on the right on the way to McAllister Creek and behind the Twin Barns.
We also saw 4 pair of CINNAMON TEAL, one on the pond on the right on the way
to McAllister Creek and 3 from the Twin Barns observation deck. WOOD DUCKS
were also at several locations.

Of interest were the birds not seen: No raptors except a juvenile BALD EAGLE.
Nada, zip. No HARRIERS or RED-TAILED HAWKS all day.

We did have all three MERGANSERS and DOWNY & HAIRY WOODPECKERS as well as
FLICKERS and both GOLDENEYE.

Total species for the day was 50. New for the year were HAIRY WOODPECKER,
BARN SWALLOW, CLIFF SWALLOW and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE. Total for the year now
stands at 82.

Mammals of the day were a RIVER OTTER, that crossed the trail from the
Nisqually River at the ring dike, swam up the slough almost to the Nisqually River
Overlook and then crossed back into the Nisqually River, a MUSKRAT, near the
crossover from the Twin Barns, and a single DEER, inside the boardwalk off the
Nisqually River side.


Phil Kelley
Lacey, WA
360-459-1499
scrbjay at aol.com

"We were few and they were plenty. Now we are plenty and they
are few."
Confucius
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