Tweets,

Ten of us took a leisurely walk around Nisqually this morning under overcast
skies with cool temperatures. The area is still very dry, but some of the
fields have been hayed. Water levels continue to drop.

Over all we had a pretty good day with a total of 49 species. Highlights
included an immature AMERICAN BITTERN on the last wetland area on the left out
toward McAllister Creek that we watched for several minutes as it fed close to
the trail. We also saw a juvenile HOODED MERGANSER on McAllister Creek and saw
both WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS. A GREEN HERON was at the end of the pond
behind the visitor center, just before we entered the woods.

Many of the young birds are out and about, begging food from their parents.
We did see a COWBIRD chick hounding its SONG SPARROW parent that was scurrying
back & forth to feed it. We also saw a fledged BULLOCK'S ORIOLE in the
riparian area just off the Nisqually River overlook. It was foraging in the willows.
Never did see the parents.

We also saw a small flock of BUSHTITS in the small trees on the way back from
McAllister Creek. MARSH WREN and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT were numerous and we saw
a GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER feeding its young and had YELLOW and WILSON'S
WARBLERS as well.

Mammals included a couple of NUTRIA and some FIELD MICE.

Only new bird for the year was a couple of EVENING GROSBEAKS. After adding
the birds off the January 31st field trip we now have 119 species for the year.

Until next week,


Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at aol.com
Lacey, WA
360-459-1499

"We were few and they were many, now we are many and they are few."
Confucius