Tweets,

Today 6 of us did the full loop at Nisqually under clear, sunny skies. It
was cool at 8:15 when we started and pretty warm when we finished at 1:00.

Highlights of the day occurred early as we walked to McAllister Creek. We
had a GREEN HERON fly over the trail as we got to the willows at the end of the
first ponds. It landed and gave us brief views before it took off over the
brush. As we cleared that area we spotted a LONG-TAILED WEASEL scurry across
the trail ahead of us staying in front of a mower cutting the grass on the side
of the trail. The GREEN HERON popped into view again, this time being chased
by a couple of CROWS. It landed in a small tree just off the trail as the
crows flew on. This time we had great view of the heron. About then two weasels
ran across the trail closer to us and we watched the grass move as the came
closer to us. The tall grass happened to run out right in front of us and
both weasels took turns popping out of the grass to look back at the mower. At
this time they were about 10 feet from us. They decided it was safer on the
other side of the trail so they both ran across the road right beside us and
took off into the brush. Nice way to start the day!

Other highlights included several species of shorebirds: LEAST and WESTERN
SANDPIPERS, KILLDEER, SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and
about 35 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS near the photo blind on the McAllister Creek
side. We also saw lots of WOOD DUCKS and PIED-BILLED GREBE.

Swallow numbers were way down with lots of young birds about. Warblers were
also scarce, Perhaps they were smarter then we were and stayed out of the sun.

There were lots of CANADA GEESE and RING-BILLED GULLS near the mouth of
McAllister Creek, but the tide was way out and we couldn't see much out on the
mud flats.

Mammals seen included the weasels and HARBOR SEALS, including a young seal
on the mud on the Nisqually River out past the ring dike. I guess mom was
fishing and told junior to stay put until she came back.

All told we had 42 species for the day with nothing new for the year, so we
remain at 129 for the year.

Until next week...

Phil Kelley
Lacey, WA
360-459-1499
scrubjay323 at aol.com

"We were few and they were many. Now we are many and they are few."
Confucius