Tweets,

Today five of us braved cold, foggy skies & walked Nisqually NWR. It was
cold and damp much of the morning. I really enjoyed the condensation dripping
off the trees down the back of my neck. Yech!

In spite of the conditions we had a pretty good day, with a good mix of
species. All the usual ducks were there including the three GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE, but many fewer CANADA and CACKLING GEESE. Not sure if the heavy fog
grounded them early, or if they have begun moving out. There were at least
three EURASIAN WIGEON in a large flock of AMERICAN WIGEON behind the Twin Barns,
and there was a LESSER SCAUP on the pond behind the visitor center.

We did see a couple of small flocks of sparrows including about 10 or 12
SONG SPARROWS by themselves. First time we've seen a flock of SONG SPARROWS like
that. WHITE-CROWNED and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS were in their own flocks.

We also saw a couple of mixed flocks of KINGLETS (both types), BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEE, BROWN CREEPER, BUSHTITS, PINE SISKINS, and DOWNEY WOODPECKERS.

Nothing real special for the day, but 49 species total. LESSER SCAUP today,
and GREATER YELLOWLEGS and DUNLIN Saturday bring us to 77 species for the
year.

Mammals today include our friend the OPOSSUM at the end of the ring dike, a
HARBOR SEAL, a VOLE in the woods trying to avoid becoming raptor food, and
three BLACK-TAILED DEER inside the boardwalk, two does, one with a fawn.

Until nest 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