Tweets,

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I have to cook the turkey we walked
Nisqually NWR today. Three of us started out about 8:15 under overcast skies with
a prediction of wind and rain. We're sure glad the weatherman lied. We never
did have much wind and the rain held off until 10:30 and then only brief
showers for the next hour or so.

Bird wise we had a better day then we expected. Things got off to a good
start with 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE right at the start of the trail to
McAllister Creek off the parking lot. While waterfowl species were up total
numbers seemed to be down. Perhaps that is because there is much more water
available on the refuge and the birds may be scattered. We had 14 species of
waterfowl total including RING-NECKED DUCK, HOODED MERGANSER (female), LESSER
SCAUP, GADWALL, and EURASIAN WIGEON. We also had CANADA and CACKLING GEESE,
MALLARDS, PINTAIL, SHOVELERS, AMERICAN WIGEON, and BUFFLEHEAD.

There were lots of NORTHERN HARRIERS about and a pair of BALD EAGLES were in
the old nest tree. We did not see any activity at the new nest. We also saw a
couple of RED-TAILED HAWKS and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK near the Nisqually
overlook. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was observed from the Twin Barns overlook. The
PEREGRINE FALCON must have gone home for Thanksgiving as he was not around today.

We had a couple of mixed flocks of songbirds that included both CHICKADEES,
BROWN CREEPER, both KINGLETS, HUTTON'S VIREO, and DOWNEY WOODPECKERS. We also
had a couple of VARIED THRUSH with one of these flocks off the boardwalk near
the Twin Barns. We had an AMERICAN BITTERN that flushed from under the
Freshwater Marsh Overlook and landed in the open on the other side of the pond
where it posed for us for several minutes.

Mammals seen included WESTERN GRAY SQUIRREL, MINK, HARBOR SEAL, and
BLACK-TAILED DEER.

Total species for the day was 48 with nothing new for the year, so we still
have 136 species for the year.

I will be out of town next Thursday but Dawn Bailey and Eric Slagel will be
walking at the usual time. I will be back Thursday the 8th of December.

Have a great Thanksgiving and see you when I return.

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