Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 1/4/07
Date: Jan 4 20:34:36 2007
From: Scrubjay323 at aol.com - Scrubjay323 at aol.com


Tweets,

Today 7 of us enjoyed a pleasant, if cold, walk at Nisqually. At least the
forcast rain never occurred! Highlight included 4 sightings of NORTHERN
SHRIKE and 3 EURASIAN WIGEON in the large mixed flock of waterfowl behind the twin
barns.

The NORTHERN SHRIKE sighting were of 2, possibly 3, birds. We saw the same
adult off the trail to McAllister Creek on the way out to the creek and in a
different location on the way back to the parking lot. We saw a juvenile
behind the twin barns and he (it?) got pretty close to the viewing platform
affording great views. We saw another (the same?) juvenile about an hour or so
later near the start of the ring dike trail.

We also searched a flock of PINE SISKIN and GOLDFINCH that was near the
closed gate just past the ring dike for COMMON REDPOLL but could not find any.
They were last reported just before Christmas.

NORTHERN HARRIERS and RED-TAILED HAWKS were very common as were the usual
wintering waterfowl. There is plenty of water available, so the ducks are
pretty scattered. We had COMMON MERGANSERS and COMMON GOLDENEYE on both
McAllister Creek and the Nisqually River. There was a female LESSER SCAUP on
McAllister Creek.

We had a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK make a pass (failed) at a small flock of
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS along the trial out toward the ring dike and saw several
small flocks of KINGLETS, both RUBY-CROWNED and GOLDEN-CROWNED. Sparrows were a
bit scarce, but we did see SONG and GLODEN-CROWNED, as well as JUNCO and
SPOTTED TOWHEE.

All told we saw 44 species on a relatively quiet day. Mammals seen were
EASTERN GRAY SQUIRRELS and a HARBOR SEAL in the Nisqually River.

Remember, the outer dike remains closed until January 29th, when waterfowl
season closes.

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