Tweets,

Today 6 of us walked Nisqually in cool, overcast conditions on what turned
out to be a very interesting day.

We got off to a good start with a WESTERN MEADOWLARK in the field between
the trail to McAllister Creek and the twin barns. As we scoped this one out a
pair of SANDHILL CRANES flew over heading toward Luhr Beach. Tide was way out
so lots of mud flats for them. Lots of sparrows and a couple of mixed flocks
of passerines during the day.

At the twin barns overlook we were treated to a MERLIN harassing a KESTREL.
We heard later that a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was seen chasing a KESTREL in the
same area. Not a good day to be a KESTREL!

The mixed flocks of passerines included YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, YELLOW
WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, RUBY CROWNED and
GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLET, BROWN CREEPER, BLACK-CAPPED and CHESTNUT-BACKED
CHICKADEE, and DOWNEY WOODPECKER.

The day concluded with a distant look at a WHITE-TAILED KITE viewed from the
parking lot out toward McAllister Creek. Not a bad way to end the day.

All told we had 47 species, with the WHITE-TAILED KITE being new for the
year, giving us 134 species for the year.

Until next 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