Tweets,

Two of us braved a cold day to walk Nisqually yesterday. We had intermittent
periods of freezing rain early and periods of drizzle later in the morning.
Most of the ponds were frozen, so waterfowl numbers were down and waterfowl
were scattered for most of the day. Passerines were hunkered down early, but
stirred a bit as it warmed up.

Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were near the start of the trail to
McAllister Creek with a small flock of CANADA and CACKLING GEESE, and there were some
MALLARDS, PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and AMERICAN WIGEON in the grass near
the frozen ponds near the parking lot. At noon as I was leaving the refuge I
looked at a huge flock of WIGEON on the icy pond directly across from the
parking lot. There had to be at least 700 birds in the flock. Maybe I can spot
an EURASIAN WIGEON in this flock. Wrong! I spotted 7 EURASIAN WIGEON in this
flock. Sure glad I stopped to look.

Other highlights included a MERLIN in a small tree just north of the
junction of the crossover boardwalk from the twin barns and the Nisqually River
trail. It was on the edge of the large field behind the twin barns. It sat there
for a few moments and then took off like a shot toward the twin barns. We also
saw several BALD EAGLES, NORTHERN HARRIERS, RED-TAILED HAWKS, and a
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.

As we came back from the ring dike we spotted a pair of WESTERN MEADOWLARKS
on top of a small shrub out in the open area of the refuge. Passerine flocks
were small and scattered, but we did see both KINGLETS, BROWN CREEPERS,
BEWICK'S WREN, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, and DOWNEY WOODPECKER.

Mammals for the day included BLACK-TAILED DEER, a doe and two fawns, 2
HARBOR SEALS and 2 CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS. One of the sea lions was above the
Nisqually River overlook, almost up to the I-5 bridge. Must be salmon in the river.

Total species for the day (and the year) is 41.

Until next week, when the roads will be better (I hope).

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