Tweets,

Today five of us walked the open portions of Nisqually on a fairly nice day.
There were lots of birds out....as well as lots of people.

The MALLARD convention of last week seems to have continued, but PINTAILS
seem to have joined them while WIGEON numbers were down. Jim Pruske alerted us
to 2 TRUMPETER SWANS that had landed behind the Twin Barns about 9:00. We
observed them from several locations until that flew off toward the sound about
10:30.

We had a two BITTERN day, one out near McAllister Creek and the other near
the willows on the pond north of the trail to McAllister Creek near the parking
lot. We also saw the NORTHERN SHRIKE reported by Bill Shelmerdine. It was
out near McAllister Creek and showed itself quite well. Maybe that was why
sparrow numbers were down in that area.

We also had a good day for raptors. We saw several NORTHERN HARRIERS,
RED-TAILED HAWKS, a KESTREL near the Twin Barns (near the new eagle nest), a
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK near the Ring Dike, and a pair of BALD
EAGLES adding to the new nest and on occasion resting in the nest. The new nest
is in the cottonwood trees next to the Twin Barns and can be viewed from the
Twin Barns observation platform. We also watched a PEREGRINE FALCON fly out
over the field behind the Twin Barns.

We also had several mixed winter flocks of both CHICKADEES, both KINGLETS,
BROWN CREEPERS, and DOWNEY WOODPECKERS. Along the boardwalk near the
hummingbird sign we also had a HUTTON'S VIREO, a HAIRY WOODPECKER and a pair of
PILIATED WOODPECKERS, as well as a NORTHERN FLICKER. But alas, no RED-BREASTED
SAPSUCKER.

No mammals were seen today, but a walker said he saw 6 RIVER OTTER on the
Nisqually River near the Ring Dike. They were gone when we got there.

All told were saw 50 species with the TRUMPETER SWANS and HUTTON'S VIREO
being new for the year. Those and the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE we saw three
weeks ago gives a total of 135 species for the year.

Until next Thursday.

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