Tweets,

Nine of us enjoyed a nice walk at Nisqually yesterday starting in ciil,
overcast conditions that changed to sunshine later in the day.

The birds were more active than they were on the hotter days earlier in the
week.

Highlights included a GREEN HERON in the slough beyond the ring dike, a
CASSIN'S VIREO seen in the riparian area off the parking lot across from the
visitor center, and a male CINNAMON TEAL in basic plumage at the ring dike. The
red eye was very prominent on the CINNAMON TEAL.

We also had a couple of mixed flocks in the woods between the Nisqually
overlook and the ring dike. In these flocks we had both CHICKADEES, BUSHTITS,
BROWN CREEPERS, BEWICK'S WREN, and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS. We also saw a
juvenile WESTERN TANAGER in one of these flocks. We saw COMMON YELLOWTHROAT,
but never spotted any of the "yellow" warblers.

Raptors continue in good numbers. We saw several NORTHERN HARRIERS, a couple
of RED-TAILED HAWKS, BALD EAGLES, an OSPREY, a TURKEY VULTURE, and a couple
of COOPER'S HAWKS.

Out on McAllister Creek we saw LEAST SANDPIPERS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS,
KILLDEER, and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER. No shorebirds on the refuge as no much water left
after our dry summer.

The only mammal we saw was a BLACK-TAILED DEER.

For the day we had 47 species, with the CASSIN'S VIREO being new for the
year. That gives us 130 species 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