Tweets,

Today 6 of us walked Nisqually on a gorgeous day, sunny and a light breeze.
We were rewarded with 43 species including lots of immature birds, including
way too many COWBIRDS.

Highlights of the day included an immature VIRGINIA RAIL out near McAllister
Creek that popped out of the reeds as we looked at a couple of LEAST
SANDPIPERS. The RAIL stayed in view for better than 10 minutes, affording us all
multiple great views. Later in the day we saw an OSPREY soaring over the ring
dike area. It had something small in its talons, but it didn't appears to be a
fish.

Once again raptors were scarce with only BALD EAGLES showing, in addition to
the OSPREY. SWALLOW numbers are down over all, but lots of juveniles on the
roof of the visitor center. We did see a family of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES in the
woods to the right of the visitor center and did see a family of BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEES in the riparian area out toward the ring dike.

Mammals seen included EASTERN GRAY SQUIRRELS and COTTONTAIL RABBIT.

The OSPREY was new for the year, giving us 127 species for the year.

I will be out of town next week, but Eric Slagle will lead the walk at the
usual time.

See you in two weeks.

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