Tweets,

Today 11 of us enjoyed a pleasant day at Nisqually. No rain gear needed and
relatively mild temps!

Highlights included seeing a GREAT HORNED OWL and two owlets at the nest
tree inside the boardwalk between the twin barns and the Nisqually River side.
Same place they were last year. We saw them about 12:30 or so. The adult was
visible all morning, but the young were in and out of the nest hole.

Other highlights included first of the year RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS and
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. We saw many TREE SWALLOWS and finally saw a VIOLET-GREEN over
the pond behind the visitor center about 1:15 as we finished up. We also had
a great look at a female MERLIN perched in a tree on the way out to
McAllister Creek.

Water levels are finally dropping but there was a nice verity of waterfowl
around. Nothing spectacular and not in great numbers, but a good verity. Many
of the ducks we saw, as well as the other birds, were paired off. Must be
spring.

We also saw four of the five woodpeckers expected on the refuge, missing
only the hairy woodpecker. Summer migrants still haven't arrived yet, but they
can't be far away. Maybe next week.

All told we had 51 species for the day, with GREAT HORNED OWL, VIOLET-GREEN
SWALLOW, and RUFOUS HUMMER being new for the year.

Mammals seen included COULMBIAN BLACK-TAILED DEER, EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL,
MUSKRAT, MINK, and OPOSSUM in the same snag near the gate at the end of the ring
dike. And I thought that snag fell apart enough last year to move the
OPOSSUM. Just goes to show what I know.

We also saw a RED-EARED SLIDER swimming at the ring dike and a GARTER SNAKE
along the trail near there.

Next Thursday we walk the 5.5 mile outer loop. Should be an interesting day
if the weather holds. 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