Tweets,

Five of us walked parts of Nisqually NWR this morning. We started out in
sunny weather, but it soon turned cloudy with occasional showers. The recent
rains showed with more ponding on the refuge, but more rain is needed to get
things back where they need to be.

All told we saw 44 species, the highlight of which was a GREAT EGRET flying
up McAllister creek toward I 5. We also had a flight of 5 STELLER'S JAYS
working their way across the refuge near the trail toward McAllister Creek. In the
woods along the boardwalk toward the Twin Barns we had a nice mixed winter
flock of passerines. In this flock we saw YELLOW WARBLER, GOLDEN-CROWNED
WARBLER, WARBLING VIREO, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, and BROWN
CREEPER. There were COMMON YELLOWTHROAT everywhere and lots of MALLARD and
WOOD DUCKS.

The only shorebirds we saw were GREATER YELLOWLEGS and KILLDEER. There were
other shorebirds reported out on the mud flats, but we didn't get that far. We
also saw VAUX'S SWIFTS out near McAllister Creek.

The only mammal for the day was a MUSKRAT in the pond behind the visitor
center. We did see a TREE FROG in a small tree. First one I've seen that wasn't
on the ground.

The GREAT EGRET and VAUX'S SWIFT make 128 species for the year.

Until next week...

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