Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 12/22/05
Date: Dec 22 16:28:42 2005
From: Scrubjay323 at aol.com - Scrubjay323 at aol.com


Tweets,

Today seven of us braved rain, wind, rain again.....and some sunshine at
Nisqually. The weather was really variable, but we were rewarded with a
beautiful rainbow that started just inside McAllister Creek and finished inside the
refuge near the photo blind on the McAllister Creek side. It was the first
time I ever saw a complete rainbow including both ends at the ground!

While the weather was funky, the birds were not. We started with about a
dozen SNOW GEESE just off the parking lot, found a BARRED OWL in the first clump
of trees on the way out to McAllister Creek, and got good scope looks at a
SNOWY OWL from the twin barns overlook. The BARRED OWL was on a branch about 5
feet above the pond just off the trail about 8:30 this morning. We all got
great looks and two of our members got good pictures. Other folks also saw the
owl but it was gone when we returned to the area about 10:00.

The SNOWY OWLS apparently have moved into the interior of the refuge and can
be seen by scanning the low vegetation out toward the Nisqually Reach.

Other birds of note included an AMERICAN BITTERN of the trail to McAllister
Creek and a GREEN HERON near the hummingbird sign inside the boardwalk on the
Nisqually River side.

There were plenty of ducks and geese, but they are pretty scattered as there
is an abundance of water on the refuge after the recent rains. Raptors were
a plenty with NORTHERN HARRIERS and RED-TAILED HAWKS the most abundant . We
also saw PEREGRINE FALCON, BALD EAGLES, AMERICAN KESTRAL, and COOPER'S HAWK.

Passerines were scarce, but we did manage to see most of the expected birds.

All told we saw 46 species, with BARRED OWL and SNOWY OWL being new for the
year. Our yearly total now stands at 141 species.

Mammals seen included 2 COLUMBIAN BLACK-TAILED DEER and 5 HARBOR SEALS in
the Nisqually River.

Until next week...

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