Tweets,

Today seven of us walked Nisqually from 8:15 until 12:30. It sure was a
quiet day! We saw 47 species, but we saw more AMERICAN BITTERN (4) then
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS (1). Weird.

Most of the winter residents have moved out and waterfowl numbers are way
down. We did see CINNAMON TEAL, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, WOOD DUCK, and HOODED
MERGANSERS, but no pintail, wigeon, green-winged teal, or coot.

We had a good day on COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and YELLOW WARBLERS. And
GOLDFINCH were pretty common. We found a BEWICK'S WREN nest, but the BUSHTIT nest
appears to have served its purpose.

There were GREATER YELLOWLEGS and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER on the pond to the
right on the way out to McAllister Creek, as well as a WILSON'S SNIPE that
flushed there.

A GREAT HORNED OWL adult and chick were visible in the trees near the
boardwalk from the twin barns to the Nisqually River side.

Mammals seen included MINK, swimming across the Nisqually River near the
overlook, COTTONTAIL RABBIT, and COLOMBIAN BLACK-TAILED DEER. We had a couple of
RED-EARED SLIDERS in the pond behind the visitor center.

I will be out of town next week, so Eric Slagle, Dawn Bailey, and Maurie
Kirschner will lead the walk, so I'm sure there will be lots of great birds seen.

There were no new bird for the year seen today, so we are still at 116 for
the year.

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