Tweets,

Three of us started out at 8:20 AM in wonderful sunshine and 55 degree
temperature. Quite a change from last week's rain! Two other folks joined us a bit
later as we headed back from McAllister Creek.

The refuge was very dry despite last week's rain and the grass is getting
very tall so things are getting harder to find and see. The ponds across from the
parking lot are basically dry with little on them. The only waterfowl we saw
was a male BLUE-WINGED TEAL on the canal on the south side of the trail to
McAllister Creek at the end of the pond on the left. We did see a pair of
AMERICAN BITTERN land in the field beyond that pond as we returned from McAllister
Creek.

We did see BELTED KINGFISHERS on the creek and on the Nisqually River for the
first time in weeks. We had two COMMON MERGANSER moms with young. One had
three, while the other had 16! They need to talk!

We did have all 5 swallows as well as WILLOW FLYCATCHERS and WESTERN WOOD
PEEWEES, both new for the year. Total for the day was 38 and the total for the
year stands at 110.

We also saw 2 BLACKTAIL DEER, BULLFROGS, a RED-EARED SLIDER, and a RACCOON
foraging on the exposed mudflats on the Nisqually River at extreme low tide.

Well, I'm off to WOS. Until next Thursday....


Phil Kelley
scrubjay323
Lacey, WA
360-459-1499

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