Tweets,

A gorgeous at Nisqually today, clear skies and cool temps. A great day for a
walk of the full loop that two of us did.

Highlight of the day was an EGYPTIAN GOOSE we saw on the Nisqually River
near the Nisqually River Overlook. It had to be an escapee, but had no leg bands
or other markings. It sat on a log across the river associating with some
MALLARDS.

Other highlights included BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and WESTERN SANDPIPERS out on
the mudflats near the Sound and SURF SCOTERS and COMMON LOON out on the
Sound. There also was a RING-NECKED PHEASANT on the trail out toward the
observation tower. There were at least two juvenile MERLIN out on the McAllister
Creek side of the refuge associating together and hunting. It was fun to watch
them turn the tables on a worry of CROWS that were harassing them.

Waterfowl are becoming more prevalent with increasing numbers of MALLARD,
AMERICAN WIGEON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Still scads of CEDAR WAXWINGS and
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS about.

Mammals for the day included a LONG-TAILED WEASEL near the Nisqually
overlook and several HARBOR SEALS out on the Sound.

Total species for the day was 48 with the COMMON LOON and BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER being new for the year for a total of 131 species for the year.

Today was kind of a last chance to view the sound from the refuge as the
outer trail will close for the rest of the year starting the 16th of this month
and no telling what the weather will be like next Thursday....

Until then.

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