Tweets,

Did my new (relatively) weekly walk at Nisqually NWR today from 8:30 to
12:00. Rained the entire time, but at least it was warm. Biggest problem was
keeping rain off my optics and my glasses. Could have used a box of wipes today!

My route was/is out to McAllister Creek & back, then the boardwalk to the
Twin Barns, then out to the Ring Dike and back to the Visitor Center along the
Nisqually River trail. The entire loop is now open, but this is what I do for
consistency. I plan on doing this every Thursday morning starting at 8:15. I got
a late start today.

Nothing earth shaking out today. I saw 40 species giving me a total of 56 for
the year. New today were DUNLIN and NORTHERN FLICKER.

The NORTHERN SHRIKE was back out toward McAllister Creek today and there was
a flock of ~750 DUNLIN out beyond the Twin Barns foraging in the grass. When
they did their aerial acrobatics there were three STARLINGS that flew with
them. Quite a contrast.

The PEREGRINE FALCON was back across the Nisqually River near where they used
to roost a couple of years ago...may have had something to do with a juvenile
BALD EAGLE using the fir tree behind the Visitor Center that the PEREGRINE
had been using. Speaking of EAGLES, there were at least 7 present along the
Nisqually River at one time today, six being juveniles. At 11:15 today five
juvenile BALD EAGLES were in the field north of the Twin Barns.

Rain & all, a pretty good way to spend the morning.

I plan on being there at 8:15 next Thursday if any of you want to join in.


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