Tweets,

Yesterday 11 of us enjoyed a nice walk at Nisqually, again going out to the
photo blind on the McAllister Creek side and not going to the ring dike. This
time we were looking (in vain) for the SNOWY EGRET that had been seen there
recently. Alas, no luck. It was not seen at all yesterday.

We did have a good day highlighted by four BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS flying in to
the exposed mud at McAllister Creek where the trail from the parking lot
intersects the McAllister Creek trail. We also got good comparison looks at GREAT
and LESSER YELLOWLEGS as they foraged near each other near the photo blind.

The wooded areas were fairly quiet when we got there but we had good looks
at a DOWNEY WOODPECKER and RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER working the same small trees
at the same time. First time I've seen two different species of woodpeckers
in such close proximity.

We also saw a couple of VAUX'S SWIFTS over the visitor center as we finished
the walk about 1:00 PM. Swallow numbers were down but all the species were
present.

All told we had 48 species for the day with the BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS being new
for the year.

Mammals seen included a MINK, a COYOTE pup, and a RACOON. The COYOTE clearly
needs some guidance if it is to survive, as it wasn't afraid of us at all as
it sat near the trail at the willows on the way to McAllister Creek.

Until next week...

Phil Kelley
Lacey, WA
scrubjay323 at aol.com
360-459-1499

" We were few and they were many. Now we are many and they are few"
Confucius