Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 8/31/06
Date: Sep 1 07:05:00 2006
From: Scrubjay323 at aol.com - Scrubjay323 at aol.com


Tweets,

Yesterday 5 of us enjoyed a great walk at Nisqually from 8:15 to 1:15. It
started out cool but quickly warmed up.

Highlights included a WHITE-TAILED KITE and a couple of sightings of
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS. The KITE was observed from the viewing platform at the
twin barns as it sat on the top of a small tree out toward the northwest
corner of the refuge. After a few minutes it flew to a lower bush near the
McAllister Creek trail.

The BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER(s) were seen in the riparian area between
the Nisqually overlook and the ring dike, on the inside of the trail as we
walked out to the ring dike and again on the outside of the trail as we walked
back from the ring dike. The bird was seen in a small mixed flock that included
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, BROWN CREEPER, WILSON'S WARBLER, and WARBLING VIREO.
We also has a flock of BUSHTITS, a female WESTERN TANAGER, and a couple of
DOWNY WOODPECKERS in the same area. As we watched the birds on our return from
the ring dike a TURKEY VULTURE flew over.

At the ring dike we did see an AMERICAN BITTERN. On the trail to McAllister
Creek we had a fly over by a WILSON'S SNIPE and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. As we
returned from McAllister Creek a pair of PURPLE MARTINS flew over the trail.

All told we saw 44 species for the day with the WHITE-TAILED KITE and
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER being new for the year. We now have 132 species for the
year.

Mammals seen included several HARBOR SEAL, EASTERN GRAY SQUIRRELS, and
COTTONTAIL RABBITS. Salmon must be in the rivers as we saw HARBOR SEALS at the
Nisqually overlook and on McAllister Creek at the overlook there.

Until next week when we walk the full loop....

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