Tweets,

Yesterday 5 of us enjoyed a pleasant if cold walk at Nisqually. Most of the
storm damage is repaired and all the winter trails were open.

Highlights included a MERLIN on the way out to McAllister Creek and a
PEREGRINE FALCON in the big fir behind the visitor center. We also saw our first
GADWALL of the winter as well as a male COMMON MERGANSER on the Nisqually
River.

We missed the COMMON REDPOLLS seen on the Olympia CBC last Sunday as well as
the SWAMP SPARROW. We met another birder as we left the viewing platform at
the twin barns heading to the Nisqually side and he said he had just seen
the REDPOLLS in the alders just west of the riprap near the Nisqually overlook
near where they had been seen before. Alas, birds have wings and they must
have moved on as we never did relocate them. We did see a small flock of
GOLDFINCH just past the gate past the ring dike that had a couple of PINE SISKINS
with it, but no REDPOLLS. I guess I go back this morning to try to spot
them.

There were waterfowl everywhere, including a flock of about 30 SNOW GEESE
associating with a larger flock of CACKLING GEESE. MALLARDS, PINTAILM and
AMERICAN WIDGEON were pretty common as were GREEN-WINGED TEAL. NORTHERN HARRIERS
and RED-TAILED HAWKS were common and we got a couple of good looks at BALD
EAGLES.

All told we saw 49 species for the day. We still have 136 species for the
year.

Mammals seen included EASTERN GRAY SQUIRRELS and HARBOR SEALS.

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