Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 10/21/04
Date: Oct 21 22:36:04 2004
From: Scrubjay323 at aol.com - Scrubjay323 at aol.com


Tweets,

Three of us walked Nisqually this morning. Two of us started at 8:15 in
overcast conditions and headed toward McAllister Creek. About 8:45 we got caught
in a pretty good downpour and we were out in the open. The third member of
our party got caught in traffic and missed the walk in the rain but not the
best birding.

The amount of water on the refuge is increasing and so is the number of
waterfowl. Highlights included at least two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in with
the CACKLING GEESE near the trail to McAllister Creek and a lone, late
SWAINSON'S THRUSH on the trail between the Nisqually overlook and the Ring Dike. We
also saw at least 6 BROWN CREEPERS, always in pairs in three different
locations. We saw about 50 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, but none that would turn into a
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE.

There were several mixed flocks of CHICKADEES, KINGLETS, BROWN CREEPERS, and
DOWNEY WOODPECKERS on the refuge. We did see a PILIATED WOODPECKER in the
woods along the Nisqually River and the PEREGRINE FALCON was seen near the start
of the boardwalk and harassing the ducks between there and McAllister Creek.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen along the trail to McAllister Creek before we got
there and again later in the day. I guess it was out for coffee when we got
there. Oh well, there is always next week.

The only mammals we saw were two GRAY SQUIRRELS in the woods near the
Riparian Overlook Trail.

For the day we had 44 species with nothing new for the year, so we are still
sitting on 131 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