Tweets,

Today 7 of us started the walk at Nisqually NWR at 8:15 in bright sunshine,
but cool temps. four of us completed the outer dike hike, while three folks
had to leave early and turned back early. We finished the full loop at 2:00.

The welcoming committee of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were split up today,
with one being across from the parking lot and the other two across the trail
toward the twin barns. They were the first of many waterfowl we saw, although
the waterfowl were scattered throughout the refuge. Also near the parking
lot was a large flock of 400+ AMERICAN WIGEON. Included in that flock were 2
EURASIAN WIGEONS. Later in the day we saw 2 more (the same?) AMERICAN WIGEONS
out near the outer dike trail on the sound end of the refuge. We had all the
usual suspects with HOODED MERGANSERS on the pond behind the visitor center,
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS on McAllister Creek out near Luhr Beach, and COMMON
MERGANSERS on the Nisqually River.

The outer dike trail yielded BLACK BRANT, HORNED GREBE, SURF SCOTER, and
WESTERN GULL, all new for the year. The interior of the refuge provided TREE
SWALLOW, 1 over the photo blind on the McAllister Creek side, and 2 over the
observation platform out by the sound. In addition we added BUSHTIT,
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and DARK-EYED JUNCO to the year list. I also saw a PILEATED
WOODPECKER in the large cottonwood trees by the entrance to the maintenance area
as I was leaving the refuge.

We saw 2 NORTHERN SHRIKE, an adult on the way out to McAllister Creek, and a
juvenile out at McAllister Creek. I think the juvenile was watching us,
because we saw him several times along McAllister Creek.

All told we saw 58 species for the day, giving us 74 for the year.

We also had a big day for non-feathered critters. We saw a MINK out at
McAllister Creek, HARBOR SEALS out on the mud flats, 3 EASTERN GRAY SQUIRRELS, the
OPOSSUM in the stump at the end of the ring dike, a RACCOON sleeping on a
branch high in a tree near the Nisqually River, and a BLACK-TAILED DEER inside
the boardwalk on the Nisqually side.
Lastly there 2 RED-EARED SLIDERS on a log next to the pond behind the
visitor center. All in all a very good day to be out and about.

Until next Thursday, when we will do the 4 mile walk....



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