Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 10/28/04
Date: Oct 29 07:29:20 2004
From: Scrubjay323 at aol.com - Scrubjay323 at aol.com


Tweets,

Three of us walked Nisqually yesterday morning. When we started it was cold
and overcast and besides the waterfowl it was pretty quiet. About the time we
got to McAllister creek it started to drizzle and continued to rain until we
got back to the Twin Barns. The sun actually broke through about the time we
go to the ring dike.

Yesterday was a raptor day for sure. When we arrived at the Visitor Center
there were two PEREGRINE FALCONS in the area. One was in the doug fir behind
the Visitor Center and the other fly over the tree calling as it flew. Later
in the day a RED-TAILED HAWK flew into that tree and spooked a PEREGRINE out
of the tree. That PEREGRINE circled and lit in the snag the RED-TAIL had taken
off from. Hmmm....changing spaces?

We also saw several NORTHERN HARRIERS, a BALD EAGLE, an AMERICAN KESTREL,
out near McAllister Creek, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, flying over the Ring Dike.

Things were pretty slow until we came off the overlook behind the Twin
Barns. When we got to the picnic area things just exploded. We had a terrific
mixed flock of passerines that included BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, both KINGLETS, at
least 4 BROWN CREEPERS, 2 DOWNEY WOODPECKERS, a HAIRY WOODPECKER. 2
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER. Suddenly a
slow day was slow no more.

Both McAllister Creek and the Nisqually River were pretty high so not muck
was at either location. The ponds and sloughs are filling up and there are lots
of waterfowl on the refuge. We did see both HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS and
RUDDY DUCK along with the usual suspects.

Outside the Ring Dike there was a lone MOURNING DOVE hunkered down all
fluffed up in a small tree and we had a PILIATED WOODPECKER working on a snag
between the Ring Dike and the Nisqually overlook.

All told we had 49 species for the day. The TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was the only
new species for the year, giving us 132 for the year. No mammals for the day.

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