Tweets,

Today 11 of us enjoyed a cool but dry walk at Nisqually. I had hoped for a
lot of bird activity between storm fronts and wasn't disappointed.

We got off to a good start at the viewing platform at the visitor center
with PEREGRINE FALCON, RED TAILED HAWK, HOODED MERGANSER, RING NECKED DUCK,
BUSHTIT, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, and both KINGLETS. Thought about staying in
place and letting everything come to us but decided to move on. We saw a couple
of WESTERN MEADOWLARK off the trial to McAllister Creek just past the first
set of ponds.

I won't complain about lack of water anymore. Lots of water and more
waterfowl, but still need more waterfowl to arrive. Present were lots of MALLARDS
and some GREEN WINGED TEAL, a few NORTHERN PINTAIL and AMERICAN WIGEON. Oh,
and there were loads of GEESE, CANADA and CACKLING, with one GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED on the pond behind the visitor center. There were a few BUFFLEHEAD and
AMERICAN COOT around, but not the numbers I would expect.

We had another good day for raptors with lots of NORTHERN HARRIER and
RED-TAILED HAWK around. We also saw a couple of BALD EAGLES, a COOPER'S HAWK, a
MERLIN, the WHITE-TAILED KITE, and a SHORT-EARED OWL. The KITE was out beyond
the ring dike and we saw the SHORT-EARED OWL flying along the scrub line out
beyond the twin barns overlook.

As we returned from McAllister Creek we watched the PEREGRINE FALCON
enjoying a snack of DUNLIN. We had seen a small flock of DUNLIN on the pond on the
right as we had started out to McAllister Creek. The WHITE-TAILED KITE
appeared to be feeding when we saw it later in the morning.

All told we saw 46 species with the SHORT-EARED OWL being new for the year.
Mammals seen included EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL and HARBOR SEAL.

For those of you visiting Nisqually during the week there is some work being
done on the trail so there are some temporary closures on weekdays only.
These are posted at the visitor center as they occur. There are no additional
closures on the weekends besides the outer dike closure during the hunting
season.

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