Sorry, I hit my space bar twice and it sent my e-mail twice, for some reason, before I had completed my message.

Anyway, we walked to McCallister Creek and back. Much of the water was frozen over, concentrating the water fowl in a few areas. The peregrine falcon was on the tall Douglas fir near the visitor's center, as usual, when it was chased away by an immature bald eagle, which then landed on the spot vacated by the falcon. A minute late, an adult bald eagle came and chased away the immature eagle. Then the falcon return to the same spot.

The northern shrike was very visible and active on the right side of the trail walking toward the creek. The poor barn swallow that had been reported a couple of times on Tweeters was not there today. Other birds of note include at least 5 red-tailed hawks, 2 n. harriers, and 1 male kestril. A couple of days ago I birded the riparian area near the Nisqually River. Brown creepers were everywhere, and 4 downy and 2 hairy woodpeckers were flitting about and vocalizing. The colors on all of the birds seem to be very vibrant right now. Very pretty display.

Lonnie Somer
Olympia, WA
wheelermombi at comcast.net