Tweets,

Today at Nisqually we didn't have the weather variations the Michael Hobbs
had yesterday at Marymoor. We just had rain, drizzle at first, then heavier,
then it poured, and back and forth. We missed the sun (boo!) and the wind
(yeah!), but we sure got the rain. I think even the ducks were looking for an
umbrella. Five of us started the walk but one got smart and left early.
They only got half drenched.

Interestingly, we saw a couple of flocks of mixed sparrows and a couple of
mixed passerines. The sparrow flocks included GOLDEN-CROWNED AND
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS with the odd SONG SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, or LINCOLN'S SPARROW
thrown in. We also saw several SPOTTED TOWHEE.

The passerine flocks consisted of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLETS, and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, with the odd BROWN CREEPER or DOWNEY
WOODPECKER mixed in. We did have one flock of BUSHTIT and saw several NORTHERN
FLICKERS and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER.

Waterfowl are becoming more plentiful with a good sized flock of AMERICAN
WIGEON behind the twin barns and our first EURASIAN WIGEON of the year. There
were more NORTHERN PINTAIL today than I can remember in a long time.

The only raptors we saw were a couple of NORTHERN HARRIERS, several
RED-TAILED HAWKS, and an adult BALD EAGLE.

All told we had 41 species for the day. Not bad considering the weather.
Nothing new for the year.

Mammals seen were EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL, a HARBOR SEAL eating a salmon above
the Nisqually River overlook, and a LONG-TAILED WEASEL along the boardwalk
on the Nisqually side.

Until next Thursday when we hope the weather is better.....

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