Tweets,

Today 10 of us started our walk at Nisqually at 8:30 AM in cold, clear
conditions as we walked the outer dike for the first time this year. Two turned
back early and two more walked ahead. Those who stayed were treated to the
best birds of the day, six COMMON REDPOLL in the alders near the gate on the
Nisqually River side along the ring dike. They were with 2 AMERICAN GOLDFINCH,
and gave us good looks.

Other good birds included all three MERGANSERS, BLACK BRANT, HORNED GREBE,
along with one EARED GREBE, and SURF SCOTER. All these birds were seen along
McAllister Creek out toward Luhr Beach, with the exception of the COMMON
MERGANSER that were seen along the Nisqually River.

Things were pretty slow early as it was cold at the start. Most of the
ponds were frozen and the waterfowl were hunkered down along the grassy edges.
Once we got to McAllister Creek things picked up quite a bit. There was an
EURASIAN WIGEON at McAllister Creek as well as there first flock of DUNLIN of
the many we saw. A BALD EAGLE sat in a roost tree near the nest tree, but we
saw no action at the nest.

Sparrows and TOWHEE finally showed up as we got out near the photo blind and
were common the rest of the loop. NORTHERN HARRIER and RED-TAILED HAWKS
were also common, and the only raptors we saw besides the BALD EAGLES.

All told we saw 55 species for the day with COMMON LOON, HORNED GREBE, EARED
GREBE, BRANT, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, SURF SCOTER, WESTERN GULL, and COMMON
REDPOLL being new for the year.

Mammals seen included EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL, RACCOON, HARBOR SEAL, and a
CALIFORNIA SEA LION up the Nisqually River.

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