Tweets,

Today 10 of us enjoyed a productive walk at Nisqually under overcast skies,
but no rain. The season is definitely changing as waterfowl are getting
scarcer and passerines are getting more common.

Highlights included at least a dozen pairs of CINNAMON TEAL, spread from the
parking lots to McAllister Creek to the twin barns, several pairs of WOOD
DUCK, and several RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS.

The trail to McAllister Creek hosted many swallows hawking the bugs coming
off the ponds. Included were BARN, CLIFF, TREE, and VIOLET GREEN SWALLOWS.
There also was a flock of about 10 LEAST SANDPIPERS on the mud flats in the same
area.

We saw one AMERICAN BITTERN at the end of those ponds and had several GREAT
BLUE HERON fly over the refuge. There was a MOURING DOVE at McAllister Creek
and a TURKEY VULTURE flew over the refuge as we ended the day.

All in all we saw 51 species with TURKEY VULTURE, LEAST SANDPIPER, MOURNING
DOVE, and BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD being new for the year. We now have 103 species
for the year.

The only mammal seen was an EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL.

Until next week when we will do the short walk again...

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




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