Tweets,

Nine of us walked Nisqually yesterday in blustery, often rainy conditions.
Not the best day in the world, but better than most lately. Nothing special,
just a nice average days as far as sightings go.

We had a good variety of birds, just not many of any of them. The SNOW GEESE
are still around mixed in with the CACKLERS and CANADAS. There are lots of
ducks including EURASIAN WIGEON, HOODED MERGANSERS, and COMMON MERGANSERS. I've
never seen so much water on the refuge as there is right now.

We did find a couple of mixed flocks of passerines that included both
CHICKADEES, both KNIGLETS, BROWN CREEPERS, DOWNEY WOODPECKERS, and a couple of
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. We did see a flock of PINE SISKINS near the Nisqually River.

There were several BALD EAGLES of various ages about, as well as NORTHERN
HARRIERS and RED-TAILED HAWKS. We had two sighting of AMERICAN KESTRAL and a
PEREGRINE FALCON was seen behind the visitor center.

All told we had 45 species and are now at 63 for the year. Monday the outer
dike trail opens so our species list should increase as we walk the outer
flats. SNOWEY OWLS are still seen on the outer flats so we should see them in the
coming weeks.

Mammals seen included EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL, HARBOR SEAL and BLACK-TAILED
DEER.

I will be out of town the next two Thursdays but someone will lead the walk.
I'll be back February 16th.

Until then......

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